Before understanding how and why flat feet are diagnosed, you need to define what is meant by this term. In medical practice, this is what is called the lowering of the arch of the foot under the influence of negative factors. Due to the lowered arch, the property of the leg is lost - the shock absorber effect. The pressure of body weight is redistributed to other parts of the musculoskeletal system - joints, hips and spine. Such a process entails the development of painful conditions associated with the work of the skeleton.
The disease does not belong to the category of ailments that appear unexpectedly; its development can be diagnosed and stopped in time. Depending on the scale of changes, the stages of development of flat feet are distinguished:
2 cm in height. In addition to the feet, ankles and legs begin to hurt regularly. Gait disturbances appear.
Flat feet are characterized by two types - longitudinal and transverse.
When longitudinal, the arch is affected, which can be observed on the inside of the foot. People aged 15-26 years suffer. Caused by weakness of the connective structures in the legs, caused by heredity or long walks in high heels. Normal for children under 10 years of age.
The transverse type captures the arch that runs under the base of the toes. It develops towards adulthood after 35 years due to the fact that ligaments and muscles weaken, and the arches drop under constant pressure. Often provokes the formation of heel spurs.
Sometimes the shape of both arches changes at once. This type is called longitudinal-transverse.
Symptoms indicating incipient flat feet are ignored in most cases. But with sufficient attention to your condition, further development of the disease is prevented and the risk of complications is minimized. The first “bells” are signs of flat feet:
Only an orthopedic specialist should finally confirm the diagnosis. Not a single method for determining flat feet at home gives an accurate result. But if any suspicions arise during home tests, this is a good reason to go to see a doctor without delaying indefinitely.
For this method of determining flat feet, you will need a clean sheet of paper and paints or brilliant green. If you don’t want to wash your feet afterwards, oil, rich cream or Lugol’s solution will do. Both feet are generously lubricated with the chosen substance, after which the person stands on a sheet of paper. You need to stand straight, in a natural position. The prints on the plantogram are studied. Normally, a notch is noticeable on the inside of the foot, occupying slightly more than half the length of the edge. Weak expression of the depression or its absence indicates the development of the disease.
Doctors also use plantography, but they have a special device to increase the accuracy of the study - a plantograph.
Even if you don’t have a centimeter, paints or ointments at home, it is still possible to diagnose flat feet at home. There is a method based on the study of special lines, which gives an idea of the occurrence of the disease. The test does not determine the severity of its development, but at least makes it clear whether there is reason to worry. Traits are built in 2 ways:
When carried out at home, the method cannot be called accurate, because there is an increased error in the measurement results.
It helps both to find out about the presence of flat feet and to determine the severity. Normal index values are 29-31. Measure 27-28 indicates suspicion of the initial stage of the disease, and if the index drops below 25, then it is defined as pronounced.
Doctors use a method based on an analysis of the patient’s walking mechanics and the time indicators of his movements. The patient puts on specialized shoes and walks on a metal walkway. Close attention is paid to his gait, its rhythm, and the time of rolling on the heel. The disease shortens the duration of the support phase and increases the period of the double step.
X-ray is able to accurately identify flat feet and many of its details during diagnosis and treatment - the nature of the changes that have occurred, the dynamic process of their formation, the stage of the disease and progress during therapy. Several photographs are taken in a state of stationary load - in the anterior-posterior and lateral projections. Among the numerical indicators, the angle of the longitudinal arch and its total height can be used to analyze the patient’s condition.
“Which method is more accurate?” - X-ray. It is this examination that is used for the final diagnosis, monitoring the effectiveness of therapy and determining the suitability of young men for military service.
The methods for determining flat feet in a child at home or with a doctor do not differ from the methods used on adults, but the results are assessed differently. It is difficult to detect the disease in children - until the age of two, their feet are completely flat and have no arches, since they are covered with a layer of fat and experience almost no stress. Only when the little one begins to actively walk and run does he develop arches and some deviations can be noticed. You can also start preventing them by buying your child good, comfortable shoes and regularly visiting a doctor.
In childhood, it is much easier to completely cure flat feet than in adulthood, because the child’s skeletal apparatus is still developing and is easy to change. Therapy carried out before the age of six almost eliminates the likelihood of encountering the same problem in adulthood.
You should suspect something is wrong if your child:
To prevent flat feet, it is enough to follow simple rules:
Buying shoes for children to grow into or too small/big for you can lead to flat feet.
At the beginning of its development, flat feet are rarely taken seriously as a disease that can cause significant discomfort. This is a dangerous and wrong opinion, because if you let it go, you can poison the joy of walking and reduce the quality of life, and face more serious problems. In order to prevent the development of the disease, you need to follow preventive measures and immediately seek help. Do not ignore pain and discomfort in your legs. Attention to the well-being of yourself and your children is the key to a healthy and comfortable life.
FAQ
The site provides reference information. Adequate diagnosis and treatment of the disease is possible under the supervision of a conscientious doctor.
Arches of the feet
The arches of the foot are the most important structural element of the foot, which determines its entire functional ability.
In general, the arches of the feet act as springs and levers, providing maximum comfort of movement with minimal consequences for the body. Damage to this link can lead to disruption of the entire musculoskeletal system, since the body is a single whole and the slightest change in any part of it affects its entire functioning. Thus, flat feet can lead to damage to the knee and hip joints, deformation of the spine and disruption of the functioning of internal organs. This is due to the fact that if the foot cannot cope with its function (shock absorption, balance, etc.), then the structures above begin to perform its function (knees, hip joints, spine). And since they are not adapted to this type of load, they fail much earlier.
The longitudinal arch is located along the inner edge of the foot. The longitudinal arch is divided into external and internal arches. The external longitudinal arch is formed by the metatarsal bones (4th and 5th), cuboid and calcaneus.
The external longitudinal arch performs a supporting function to a large extent when standing and walking.
The internal longitudinal arch is formed by the sphenoid, first and second metatarsal bones, as well as the talus and navicular bones. Unlike the outer arch, the inner arch performs a more springy function.
Transverse flatfoot
The foot normally has 3 points of support: C - heel, A - head of the 1st metatarsal bone, B - head of the 5th metatarsal bone. With flat feet, the support points change. Such changes radically change the mechanics of walking, contributing to various disorders of the musculoskeletal system (arthrosis, scoliosis, etc.).
External signs of flat feet
Pain is the main signal of a problem
Most often, pain with flat feet occurs in the foot (often the top of the arches, the calcaneal tubercle), calf muscles, aching muscles of the lower leg, under the knee, and aching tarsal bones. In the later stages, the thigh muscles, knee, hip joints, sacral and lumbar spine hurt. The pain does not occur immediately, but gradually and intensifies towards the end of the working day, especially if during the day the person walked for a long time or was in a standing position. In the unadvanced stages of the disease, the pain subsides by the morning after a night's rest.
To make an approximate diagnosis of flat feet, you can conduct a simple test yourself. Lubricate the soles with some kind of coloring substance (mascara, iodine, brilliant green, etc.), or with a thick cream. Then leave an imprint on a piece of paper so that the load on your feet is even and you are in your usual standing position. On a piece of paper, draw a line parallel to the plantar notch from the toes to the heel, and draw a perpendicular to it at the deepest point of the notch to the outer edge of the foot. In the case when the imprint of the narrow part of the foot occupies half or more of a line drawn perpendicular to the first line, this indicates a possible flat foot.
Internal causes are everything related to the developmental characteristics of the human musculoskeletal system.
External causes are all factors that lead to weakness of the muscular and ligamentous apparatus of the foot and the development of flat feet from the external environment:
Sneakers can also do a bad job. When moving, the sneakers take on most of the load, this is due to the good shock-absorbing ability of the sole and their ability to perfectly fix the foot. Thus, the muscles and ligaments of the foot do not function properly and ultimately lose tone and become sluggish, which favors the development of flat feet.
Walking in stiletto heels
In children under 10 years of age - this is the norm.
5 types of flat feet depending on the cause
Stages of longitudinal flatfoot
— From time to time, give the arch muscles a rest, placing your feet parallel to the outer surfaces
- It is advisable to change working conditions
- wearing insoles - arch supports
- wearing orthopedic shoes
— other types of treatment
— surgical treatment in the absence of effect from conservative methods
Assessment of the degree of transverse flatfoot
Assessment of the degree of longitudinal flatfoot
With flat feet, the inner surface of the sole and heel wears out first; normally, the outer part wears out first.
In most cases, the diagnosis of flat feet can be suspected based on complaints and examination data.
Plantography - the essence of the technique is to obtain an imprint of the contour of the foot on paper. The foot is smeared with various dyes (iodine, brilliant green, ink, etc.) and a footprint is left on a sheet of paper. In this case, the subject must assume his usual posture, stand comfortably, so that the load on both limbs is equal. The assessment of plantography results should be carried out in accordance with age, since the normal foot print of a child differs significantly from the print of an adult. Plantography provides approximate data on the condition of the arches of the feet; if flat feet are suspected, the examination should not stop only at this technique.
Flat feet is a deformity of the foot of a certain nature. How to determine flat feet and can this be done at home? There are several degrees of development of the disease, each of them is characterized by certain symptoms.
With flat feet, the arch of the leg flattens and the foot becomes flatter. The change can occur in the longitudinal or transverse direction. In accordance with this, two forms of the disease are distinguished: transverse and longitudinal. Sometimes they are both combined in one person.
With transverse flatfoot, which is more common, the arch of the foot flattens in cross section. In this case, the foot shortens, the big toe deviates outward, and the middle toe is abnormally bent. This form is diagnosed in patients aged 35-50 years.
When the longitudinal arch is flattened, a longitudinal form of flatfoot develops. The disease is typical for children and adolescents aged 16-25 years. More often it affects women.
The disease develops gradually. There are three degrees of flat feet. Each of them has its own symptoms.
Symptoms of the disease include the following disorders.
Flat feet in a child are less of a problem than in an adult. On the one hand, the bones in children are easily deformed, but on the other hand, thanks to such plasticity, the disease can be easily corrected if you seek medical help in time.
How does the disease manifest in a child? Parents need to be wary of indirect signs of flat feet in children:
In addition to the obvious external signs of flat feet, there are simple tests that can be done at home. Let us immediately make a reservation that for a child less than five years old, home tests for detecting flat feet are ineffective due to the age-related characteristics of the structure of the foot. In this case, the diagnosis is made in a medical institution after appropriate research.
The easiest and most accessible way to check whether you have flat feet is the paper method. It is carried out in this way.
Flat feet in children or the first degree of the disease in adults are quite difficult to detect at home. If you have any suspicions, you should consult an orthopedist. Using medical diagnostic methods, the doctor will determine the presence or absence of the disease.
The following diagnostic techniques are available in the clinic.
Flat feet can have various causes. Most often, parents are concerned about the question of when to check their child. In children, congenital flat feet are difficult to diagnose before 5-6 years of age, since until then the child has all the signs of a flat foot, and this is the physiological norm. Also, babies' feet will appear flatter due to the accumulation of subcutaneous fat there. Congenital flatfoot can develop due to hereditary factors, due to the general underdevelopment of the bones and ligamentous-muscular apparatus.
Acquired flat feet are caused by the following reasons:
In conclusion, it can be noted that flat feet are a very serious pathology. This disease entails a number of disorders not only of the musculoskeletal system, but also of other systems and organs. Flat feet progresses quickly, so if you find signs of the disease, you should not hesitate to contact an orthopedist. As for flat feet in children, if you suspect it, the child should be shown to a doctor to make a diagnosis using modern methods. A paper test at home for children is ineffective and cannot be objective due to the age-related characteristics of the structure of a child’s foot.
Flat feet in children is a very common disease of the musculoskeletal system. In essence, this is a deformation of a child’s foot with a flattening of its arch. Usually the longitudinal arch of the foot in children is deformed, because of this the sole becomes flat and begins to touch the floor with its entire surface. The consequences of flat feet in children can be very bad for their health and development of the body.
It is possible to accurately determine whether a child has flat feet only when he is five, or rather even six years old. Why is this so, since it is advisable to combat flat feet in children from a very young age, the sooner the better? Firstly, until a certain age in children, the bone structure of the foot is not strong, partly representing a cartilaginous structure; the muscles and ligaments of the foot are weak and easily stretched, so it is impossible to determine flat feet in a child. Secondly, the soles of a small child appear flat because the arch cavity is filled with a soft fat pad, masking the bony base of the foot.
In the case of normal development of the musculoskeletal system, by the age of 5-6 years the arch of the foot acquires the necessary shape for proper functioning. But in some cases, developmental deviation occurs and flat feet appear.
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You can determine flat feet in a child as follows: lubricate the baby’s feet with watercolor paints or regular sunflower oil and place it carefully on a sheet of white paper that absorbs the oil well. Distract your baby's attention for a minute and a half so that he stands still. Then remove the child from the paper and look carefully at the resulting foot prints.
If the marks are imprinted in the shape of a “bean”, you don’t have to worry, this is quite normal. In healthy children, this is how it should be: the arches of children’s feet are slightly raised, and when moving and walking they perform a spring function.
If the entire foot is imprinted, you have something to worry about, the child is predisposed to flat feet, pay attention to this before it’s too late. And if your child is already 6 years old, you often hear that he gets tired when walking for a long time, complains of frequent pain in his legs, then you just need to consult with an orthopedic doctor.
If we consider the ratio of the narrowest part of the footprint to the widest, the arch of the foot is considered normal when it is 1:4, flattened when the ratio is 2:4, and flat when it is 3:4.
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Factors influencing the development of flat feet are:
Existing causes of flat feet often result in serious health complications.
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Sometimes, parents are completely unaware of the seriousness of this disease, since at first it is not noticeable from the outside and, at first glance, does not have a significant negative impact on the baby. It would seem that this is just such a feature, why is flat feet dangerous? However, such a misconception can result in serious consequences of flat feet in children and lead to sad developments.
The presence of flat feet disrupts the “spring” functions of the foot, depreciation almost completely disappears, and all the “recoil” (shaking) when walking falls on the lower leg and hip joints, which can lead to arthrosis. That is why flat feet in a child must be prevented, if possible, and treated without fail.
To combat flat feet in children, gentle therapy methods are used. Preferred are physiotherapeutic treatment of flat feet in children, manual therapy, physical therapy, special massage and gymnastics for flat feet in children. Medicines are prescribed in extreme cases, as painkillers and drugs to treat the consequences of flat feet in children. In therapy, medications, in addition to many side effects and the inability to remove the cause of the disease, can only aggravate it.
For a child suffering from flat feet, the orthopedist will certainly prescribe special shoes to wear: suitable in size, made of natural materials, always with a hard back and a clear fit on the foot, and, of course, with a small heel. Insole supports are selected individually, taking into account the specific shape of the child’s foot.
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The first methods to combat flat feet in children are soft tissue massage techniques and manual therapy. They use special techniques that are aimed at strengthening the muscles that tighten the arch of the foot and improve its blood supply. Massage for a child’s flat feet should also have a gentle effect on the ligaments and joints, and correct the deformation of the child’s foot and ankle resulting from the disease.
Since flat feet in a child have a negative impact on the bones, joints of the legs and lower spine, it is advisable to pay attention to the condition of the spine and musculoskeletal system during the treatment of flat feet in children. Massage and gymnastics for flat feet in a child must necessarily involve these body systems.
Often the disease provokes the development of scoliosis (curvature of the spine). If other pathologies of the musculoskeletal system are detected, the doctor must prescribe a therapeutic massage for the child’s flat feet, special gymnastics and exercises for the child’s flat feet, and in some cases a course of manual therapy is necessary. Manual therapy techniques will help the doctor directly influence the spine that is suffering from the lack of shock absorption, relieve tension in it and eliminate the asymmetry of the sacrum, which sometimes occurs with flat feet and can become the root cause of spinal curvature.
For flat feet, a course of massage is carried out on the baby’s legs directly, as well as on the buttocks 1 time every 1.5 months, and in combination with additional measures to disrupt the child’s posture - 1 time every 3-4 months, focusing on the back, lower back and abdomen.
Massage for flat feet of a child should be carried out as follows:
To begin with, use the edge of your palm or palm to rub the plantar part, from the heel to the toes. We knead the toes and the entire foot with our thumb. Then, with the pad of the thumb, we “draw” the number 7 on the foot, from the base of the baby’s big toe to the base of the little finger and then along the outside of the foot towards the heel.
Then we rub the interdigital spaces of the foot on its dorsum and with circular movements of the condyle (bone protrusions in the lower part of the lower leg).
Next, you need to rotate the foot: we fix the leg with one hand by the condyles, grasping it from behind, and with the other hand we move smoothly along the inside of the foot, starting from the heel to the toes. In the process, we turn the foot outward and slightly lift the area of the child’s big toe upward.
Now you can massage the lower leg. Stroke, rub and knead both sides of the shin with your palms, focusing on its inner surface, pinching and tapping with your fingertips. Massage the lower leg from the ankle joint towards the knee joint.
Massage the thighs and buttocks without special emphasis: stroke, rub and knead the thigh muscles along the bone, and massage the buttocks in any direction. The only addition is the mandatory inclusion of vibration elements (pinch, tap with the edge of your palm, shake).
Back massage for a child with flat feet is practically no different from massaging other parts of the body; the nuance here is more thorough and prolonged rubbing of the muscles of the back and lower back, kneading (especially the sacral “triangle”) and the use of vibration techniques (percussive techniques in the back area must be done without affecting the child's kidney area).
An important element for the treatment of flat feet in children is gymnastics exercises.
Parents must understand that flat feet is an ailment that, in the absence of adequate therapy, full treatment of flat feet in children with massage, gymnastics, and other methods, leads to serious health complications and significant deformation of the bones of the foot, and in addition to diseases of the musculoskeletal system . Modern and timely therapy, treatment of flat feet in children at home, prevention of the disease, will restore the child’s health and confidence in his own attractiveness.
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Treatment of flat feet includes exercises on the leg muscles, since by strengthening them, we do not allow it to develop. In fact, exercises and massages for children at a very young age can prevent the development of flat feet in the future.
From an early age it is necessary to identify and prevent this disease. For preventive purposes, many different means are used:
The most important thing is to choose the right shoes for your child. It should fit exactly on the leg. It should have a small heel (5-8 mm), and, of course, an elastic insole inside, and a strong, hard heel.
However, the exercises will be more beneficial if done barefoot and, if possible, several times daily. One lesson can be done in the morning, immediately after getting up and carrying out the morning procedures, the next - after a lunchtime nap.
In addition, there are recommendations, every day before going to bed, to keep your feet in water at room temperature for 3-5 minutes. The main thing is not to overcool or catch a cold, but it is better to accustom the child to such procedures gradually, at first simply pouring room water over the feet, and then gradually increase the time day by day.
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Of course, try not to miss the summer: on good days, let your child run barefoot on the ground, water, sand, and non-sharp small pebbles. Walking barefoot on a special therapeutic mat with pebbles will provide excellent preventative benefits.
For prevention purposes, you can teach your child various games that contain elements of correction and are presented in an interesting way. This approach will help strengthen your baby’s skills of correct posture. In particular, the following games can be used.
With a baby who has grown up to 1.5-2 years old, you can start playing exercises, such as, for example, “who carries the pillow on his head longer.” You need to select a pillow approximately 10x10 cm in size, and sew peas, lentils or any other cereal into it. Wearing a pillow on your head can help correct your posture or support its correct formation at any age.
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The kids run away as usual. But now you can “save yourself” from the driver by standing on your toes and raising your arms up, as if stretching. The one who is stained is the new driver.
Exercise No. 1. Walking on toes. Correct posture is required: hands on the belt, head straight, bend a little.
Exercise No. 2. Walking on the outside of the foot: tuck your toes inward, place your feet parallel to each other when walking.
Exercise No. 3. Walking on some ribbed surface (“washboard”, for example). Stomping your feet on a ribbed board is very useful. Place the board at a 30 degree angle on some support.
Exercise No. 4. Walking in place without lifting your socks off the floor. At the same time, you should try to raise your heels higher.
Exercise No. 5. Walking sideways on a stick, or simply on a thick cord.
Exercise No. 6. Rolling from toe to heel, preferably while standing on a stick or cord, but you can just do it on any hard surface.
Exercise No. 7. Walking with rolls done from heel to toe. Keep your body straight, do not lower your head. Lift up energetically, pushing off with your heel.
Exercise No. 8. Rolling a stick forward and backward with your feet. The stick should be about 3 cm in diameter. Perform the exercise while sitting, but with emphasis on your legs.
Exercise No. 9. Raising the body on the toes and lowering the entire foot. In this case, the feet stand so that the big toes are together and the heels are apart.
Exercise No. 10. Squats with feet on toes. You can hold onto a support for balance.
Exercise No. 11. Gymnastics is very good for flat feet in a child in a sitting position. You need to sit on the floor, place your hands behind you, and then grab some small objects (sticks, cord, balls) with your toes and move them left and right. Then you can grab larger objects with the inner arches of your feet - a pin, a ball, pull them towards you, and pass them to the person sitting next to you.
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It is recommended that after sleep, the child stretches his feet before standing up: while sitting, straighten and bend his toes, lift his legs up, spread his toes to the sides, make circular movements with his feet, massage the rise of one leg with the other.
Climbing with bare feet on a gymnastic ladder or rope will help strengthen the arches of your feet. Walking on a plank, log, or rocking bridge not only develops the arch of the foot, but also has a good effect on preventing the development of flat feet and club feet in children.
Climbing barefoot on a gymnastic or rope ladder will help strengthen the ligaments and muscles of the feet, ankle joints, toes, and also develop dexterity, courage, and determination in the child. The main thing is not to overestimate your baby’s capabilities, take into account his individual capabilities. And then he will be healthy and happy!
A little more about the treatment of flat feet in children:
Depending on the degree of flatfoot, appropriate treatment of the pathology is prescribed. The severe stage of the disease is accompanied by symptoms of pathological changes in the spine, which further increases the load on the foot when walking. To prevent serious complications that can only be effectively treated surgically, flat feet in children should be detected promptly.
Scheme for determining the degrees of flat feet
The longitudinal arch is located along the inner edge of the foot. It is formed by the calcaneus, cuboid and metatarsal bones, strengthened by the plantar aponeurosis. This structure allows the foot to perform a shock-absorbing function when walking and jumping, and to prevent damage to the anatomical structures of the foot.
The internal arch is formed by the second and first metatarsal, sphenoid, scaphoid and talus bones. It performs a spring function when pressure is applied to the sole from above.
The relationship and size of the angles between these anatomical components are measured on x-rays, which makes it possible to determine the stage of flatfoot.
Curve of flattening of the longitudinal arch of the foot
The angle of the longitudinal arch is normally 124-129 degrees. It is measured between straight lines drawn between the head of the first metatarsal bone, the middle of the cuneiform joint and the top of the calcaneal tuberosity. If you lower a perpendicular from the top of this angle to the base of the foot, its normal height is about 39 mm.
The transverse arch is located between the heads of the metatarsal bones. On a radiograph, when the upper contours of these bones are united by lines, an arcuate line is formed. If it has a linear or curved shape, transverse flatfoot is diagnosed.
The angle formed by the 1st metatarsal bone and the big toe normally does not exceed 15 degrees. The angle between the second and 1st metatarsal bones is no more than 10 degrees.
When positioned on a horizontal surface, the foot has 3 points of fixation: the protruding part of the heel, the head of the 1st and 5th metatarsal bones. When the arches are flattened, the fixation points change, which causes pain, swelling of the sole and other clinical manifestations of the disease.
The convexity of the arch is supported by a powerful ligamentous-muscular complex. The ligaments play the role of a kind of puffs that help fix the structure of the foot. Muscles act as spring shock absorbers.
There are 3 different groups of muscles of the sole:
By contracting and relaxing all these muscle groups, the transverse and longitudinal arch is maintained. The bundles diverging in different directions form a complex functioning complex among themselves. When the blood supply or nutrition to the muscles and ligaments of the foot is disrupted, the bulge becomes flattened.
What reasons influence the formation of stages of flat feet:
Stages of vault change
The clinical classification includes 4 degrees of longitudinal flatfoot.
Swelling in the sole occurs after a long walk and in the evening. To prevent its progression, you should follow the principles of proper walking (toes should not be pointed outward).
After intense physical activity, you need to give your legs a rest. To do this, it is better to place them on a pillow above the level of the heart.
It causes fatigue and swelling by the end of the day. The height is slightly reduced, and the longitudinal angle is expanded. By evening, the flattening of the sole increases. To prevent the transition of the degree to the 3rd or 4th stage, you should avoid prolonged exercise, and when walking, do not spread your toes outward.
It causes pain in the sole even with the slightest physical exertion. The foot flattens significantly, its front part widens, and the big toe moves outward. To alleviate symptoms, wearing insoles and orthopedic shoes is required. In some cases, doctors prescribe surgery.
The foot has a sharp inward rotation of the sole, as well as a flattening of the concavity. This stage of pathology can only be treated with surgical methods, since the symptoms are accompanied by severe pain.
There are as many radiological stages of the disease as there are clinical degrees. To clearly establish the type of pathology in children, after 4 years of age, they undergo radiography of the foot in a lateral projection.
The necessary lines are drawn on the radiograph to identify changes. It is advisable to take functional photographs under load. For this, the child is placed on a wooden stand with a height of 5 cm. When performing radiography, the second leg is moved back, and the person being examined rests his hand on the edge of the chair. The photographs are taken with the subject supporting his leg, standing on a stand.
What lines determine the degree of longitudinal flat foot on an x-ray:
The degree of transverse arch is determined by an image taken in a direct projection with a load.
Determination of the angle and height of the arch of the foot on an x-ray image
X-ray classification of pathology is the most accurate and allows you to correctly treat the disease. It assumes the following degrees of flat feet:
Clinical signs depend not so much on the severity of the pathology, but on its degree. In the initial stages, the disease can be treated by normalizing walking, eating, and following the recommendations of an orthopedist-traumatologist. In later stages (3rd, 4th) surgical treatment will be required.
In young children (under 4 years old), the disease is difficult to detect, but in older children it can be determined by a simple test:
The results will help determine the degree of flat feet. If the curve extends beyond the first line, the child’s arch is normal. At degree 1, the bend of the sole extends beyond both lines. In a situation where the bend does not cross both lines, the 3rd or 4th degree of the disease is diagnosed.
It should be noted that flat feet should be treated immediately after its discovery. This is the only way to prevent progression. In children, this disease is accompanied by spinal pathology over time. And only proper prevention of flat feet will prevent serious complications!