Einlagenversorgung beim kindlichen Knick-Senk-Fuß – Sinn oder Unsinn?

Background

The use of shoe insoles and their therapeutic benefit in children with flexible flat foot is subject of controversial discussion in the international literature. Because of increasing cost pressure in health care systems and requirements of evidence-based medicine, a critical analysis of the clinicalfunctional effect of orthopaedic insoles in children with pes planovalgus is necessary.

Methods

A structured literature search was carried out in Pubmed using the keywords or links “pediatric pes planus”, “flexible flat foot” AND/OR “insoles” AND/OR “orthosis”. Biomechanical and material-technical requirements for insoles for flat feet, their ideal treatment period and the clinical results are to be highlighted.

Results

Overall, the informative value of the available studies on insoles for children with flexible flat foot is low. In view of these studies, scientific evidence can hardly be generated due to the small number of patients, imprecisely defined target parameters and frequent lack of validated scores or PROMS.

Conclusions

Prospective studies on the therapeutic benefit of shoe insoles in children with flexible flat foot over a long period of observation with clearly defined target parameters are imperative. Further analyzes are also required with regard to the optimal materials and construction of such shoe insoles.