This is a community program of ACC to support parents in early detection and treatment of musculoskeletal diseases at school.
Dr. Wade Brackenbury, General Director of the ACC Clinic, said that flat feet and scoliosis are two common diseases of school age, which pose a risk to children's long-term health. Over the past 17 years, ACC has regularly organized periodic foot and spine screenings for school-age children, especially preschool and primary school children, to raise awareness among parents and the community about the risk of affecting children's physical development.
Recent screening data at a number of schools in major cities show that a significant proportion of school-age children have these two musculoskeletal syndromes. Only in the first 5 months of 2023, ACC Clinic has conducted periodic screening for more than 1.000 students aged 3-10 at a number of schools in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Accordingly, more than 30% of students aged 6 years and older have flat feet.
Early screening helps detect flat feet in children
“The golden age to screen for flat feet is when the child is from 2 to 6 years old, so for this primary age group, it may be necessary to wear orthopedic soles continuously to avoid complications caused by flat feet. However, if flatfoot is detected between the ages of 3-7 years, it will be easier to treat and the child can develop normal arches as they grow up," said Dr. Wade.
Currently, treatment of flat feet with medical orthopedic insoles is an effective and non-surgical method
Regarding spine problems, nearly 25% of primary school age children have signs of abnormal development in the spine. This can be a result of using electronic devices, or because children have bad posture habits, and lead a sedentary lifestyle.
Scoliosis affects the body shape, making children lose confidence. In some severe cases, the disease also adversely affects respiratory and cardiovascular function and is a cause of chronic back pain in old age.
For free screening, parents can call to make an appointment and take their child to the center's 4 addresses in Da Nang, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
