Children’s Hypermobility — When Should You See a Podiatrist?
Joint hypermobility is common in children — studies suggest up to 13% of girls and 6% of boys in school age meet the criteria for generalised joint hypermobility. Many of these children have no problems at all. But for some, the extra flexibility causes real issues with their feet, legs, and ability to keep up with their peers.
As a parent, it can be hard to know when hypermobility is just a normal variation and when it’s something that needs professional attention.
Signs Your Child’s Hypermobility May Be Affecting Their Feet
The obvious signs like flat feet are easy to spot. But many of the signs are more subtle:
They complain of “tired legs” — Hypermobile children often report leg fatigue rather than specific pain. Their muscles are working overtime to stabilise joints that their ligaments aren’t supporting well, so they tire faster than their peers.
They avoid sport or active play — If your child used to enjoy running around but is increasingly reluctant, it may not be laziness or lack of interest. Sore, tired feet and legs make activity uncomfortable.
They have frequent “growing pains” — While growing pains are real, intense or very frequent leg pain in a hypermobile child may be more than just growing. It can indicate that their muscles are struggling to cope with the demands being placed on them.
They trip or fall more often — Hypermobile ankles are less stable, and flat feet alter balance. If your child seems clumsier than their peers, hypermobility may be contributing.
They ask to be carried — A child who frequently asks to be carried or wants the pram well past the age you’d expect may be telling you their feet hurt.
Their shoes wear out quickly or unevenly — Excessive pronation causes uneven shoe wear, particularly on the inner edge. If you’re replacing shoes frequently, it’s worth checking why.
They sit in a “W” position — While not exclusively a hypermobility sign, children with hypermobile joints often prefer W-sitting because it provides a wider, more stable base. It can indicate their joints are seeking the stability their ligaments don’t provide.
The Beighton Score for Children
The Beighton Score is the standard screening tool for hypermobility and works well in children. For children and adolescents, a score of 6 or more out of 9 suggests generalised joint hypermobility.
However, remember that the Beighton Score doesn’t test any joints below the knee. Your child can score below the cut-off and still have significant foot and ankle hypermobility. A podiatry assessment evaluates the foot and ankle joints specifically.
When Do Hypermobile Flat Feet Need Treatment?
Not every hypermobile child with flat feet needs intervention. Many will develop an arch as they grow and their ligaments strengthen — this process typically happens between ages 3 and 7, though it can be later in hypermobile children.
Consider a podiatry assessment if your child:
- Is over 5 and showing no signs of arch development
- Has pain in their feet, ankles, knees, or legs
- Is limiting their physical activity
- Has balance or coordination difficulties beyond what’s normal for their age
- Is developing calluses or skin changes from abnormal pressure patterns
- Has a family history of hypermobility-related foot problems
The goal isn’t to treat hypermobility itself — it’s to make sure it isn’t causing problems that affect your child’s development, comfort, and ability to participate in the activities they enjoy.
What Does a Children’s Podiatry Assessment Involve?
At Foot Health Clinic, our children’s podiatry assessments are thorough but child-friendly. Here’s what to expect:
Joint flexibility assessment — We assess how much movement is present in the foot, ankle, and lower limb joints. This goes well beyond the Beighton Score to look specifically at the joints that matter for walking and running.
Foot posture evaluation — We assess your child’s arch height, foot alignment, and how the foot behaves both with and without body weight.
Gait analysis — We watch and record how your child walks and runs to identify any compensatory patterns that may be contributing to their symptoms.
Muscle strength testing — We check the strength of the key muscles that support the foot and ankle, as weakness in these muscles is common in hypermobile children.
Footwear assessment — We review your child’s current shoes to ensure they’re providing appropriate support.
Treatment Options for Hypermobile Children
If treatment is indicated, we take a conservative, evidence-based approach:
Custom orthotics — Research shows these significantly reduce pain and improve quality of life in hypermobile children. They provide the support that lax ligaments can’t, helping the foot function more efficiently.
Strengthening exercises — Simple, age-appropriate exercises to build up the intrinsic foot muscles and improve ankle stability. We make these fun and achievable so your child will actually do them.
Footwear recommendations — The right shoes make a real difference for hypermobile feet. We’ll advise on what to look for and what to avoid.
Activity modification — We don’t want to stop children being active. Instead, we help them participate more comfortably, which often means more activity, not less.
Review and monitoring — Children’s feet change as they grow, so we review regularly and adjust the management plan as needed.
Early Intervention Makes a Difference
Addressing hypermobility-related foot problems early can prevent compensatory patterns from becoming established, reduce the risk of overuse injuries as your child gets older, and help them participate fully and confidently in sport and play. It’s much easier to guide healthy foot development than to correct problems that have been present for years.
Worried about your child’s feet? Book a children’s podiatry assessment at Foot Health Clinic Samford — call (07) 3289 6050 or book online.
