As a child, I remember being "treated" for flat-footedness, with incredibly boring exercises involving picking pencils up with my toes. I was also subjected to some Rube Goldberg apparatus which applied a tingly electric current to my feet immersed in a water bath. I'm lucky I wasn't electrocuted.
Now some evidence-based medicine on the topic from the current issue of Pediatrics: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/123/3/e386?etoc Tudor, A. et al (2009). Flat-footedness is not a disadvantage for athletic performance in children aged 11 to 15 years.Pediatrics, 123, March 3, pp. e386-e392 [free pdf seems also to be available, although I didn't bother] So I've gotta find another explanation for why I never made the Olympics. Other good news for kids in the same issue of Pediatrics: 1) TV apparently doesn't rot young minds after all Television Viewing in Infancy and Child Cognition at 3 Years of Age in a US Cohort. Pediatrics 2009; 123: e370-e375. 2) Getting the lead out. Lead levels in children decline sharply from 16 years earlier Trends in Blood Lead Levels and Blood Lead Testing Among US Children Aged 1 to 5 Years, 1988-2004. Pediatrics 2009; 123: e376-e38 Stephen ----------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University e-mail: [email protected] 2600 College St. Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Subscribe to discussion list (TIPS) for the teaching of psychology at http://flightline.highline.edu/sfrantz/tips/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
