We performed a prospective study to determine whether flexible flatfoot
in children can be influenced by treatment. One hundred and twenty-nine
children who had been referred by pediatricians, and for whom the
radiographic findings met the criteria for flatfoot, were randomly assigned
to one of four groups: Group I, controls; Group II, treatment with
corrective orthopaedic shoes; Group III, treatment with a Helfet heel-cup;
or Group IV, treatment with a custom-molded plastic insert. All of the
patients in Groups II, III, and IV had a minimum of three years of
treatment, and ninety-eight patients whose compliance with the protocol was
documented completed the study. Analysis of radiographs before treatment
and at the most recent follow-up demonstrated a significant improvement in
all groups (p less than 0.01), including the controls, and no significant
difference between the controls and the treated patients (p greater than
0.4). We concluded that wearing corrective shoes or inserts for three years
does not influence the course of flexible flatfoot in children.