By Dr. Louis J. DeCaro
I was recently asked what is the earliest I put orthotics on kids. I answered “When the egg meets the sperm!” Well today I had a child present with hypotonicity at 16 months who is delayed and just beginning to pull to stand. I also had dad take off his shoes. Dad, 36yo, was also seeing me as a new patient due to a lifetime of foot and ankle pain and posterior tendon dysfunction. This picture (the right foot shows better than the left because the child was squiggly) clearly illustrates genetics at its finest and the need for early intervention! Littlesteps size 00 (not SMO’s) for the child, custom UCBL orthoses (not surgery) for dad! Mission accomplished!
We would love to see your patient’s Family Pho-toes! It’s a great way to get kids into your practice. When you see the parents, ask if you can look at their children’s feet. It’s a great way to build your business, as well as potentially helping to prevent future discomfort in these kids.