THE FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCE THE OCCURRENCE AND PREVALENCE OF FLAT FEET AMONG PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

The foot represents one of the most complicated anatomical segments of the human body. As, phylogenetically speaking, the youngest organ of “homo erectus”, the foot is subject to various disorders and deformities. Flat feet (pes planus) represent one of the most frequent deformities of the lower extremities, with a loss of the normal physiological arches. The subject matter of this research is the prevalence of flat feet among preschool children. The aim of this review paper is to identify and sum up the relevant literature on the frequency of pes planus and the factors of occurrence among preschool children. The analyzed papers have all been published in the period from 2000 to 2016. The paper implements a descriptive method. The research results indicate an increased prevalence of flat feet approximately around the age of 3, and a decrease around the age of 6. The main factor of occurrence is usually obesity, and the deformity occurs more frequently among boys. The conclusion is that by controlling body weight, daily physical activity, as well as an adequate corrective treatment, we might decrease the prevalence of flat feet and foot deformities among preschool children.