Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the foot arches of children with flatfoot and explore parental perceptions following an interprofessional intervention. The subjects were nine children（18 feet）enrolled in elementary school A（grades 1 to 5）and their parents. The intervention lasted 22 months from March 2021 to December 2022, during which eight foot health examinations were conducted at an interval of every 3 to 4 months. All children were accompanied by their parents. The intervention included guidance from nurses on the use of indoor shoes, assessment by a German orthopedic shoe specialist who measured footprints and produced custom orthotic insoles, and consultations with a school nurse. During school hours, the children wore indoor shoes with a folded belt with rings and orthotic insoles. The Y line was used to assess foot arch. We found that six children（12 feet）showed longitudinal arch formation; however, none showed decreased arch height. The median difference between pre- and post-intervention was -4.25 and 0.25, respectively, indicating improvements after the intervention（p=0.015）. Post-intervention, the children’s parents reported that their children usually put on the orthopedic shoes properly; however, they found it difficult to find suitable shoes for them in stores.
