Probably everyone knows that in childhood not only our character is formed, but also our health. While we are small, many diseases can be very easily cured or at least corrected. But adults rarely succeed in such maneuvers. This is exactly the situation with flat feet.
Flat feet can be corrected up to the age of thirteen, but when we grow up, we need to fight not only with the flattening of the foot itself, but also with the consequences of this disease. So, let's try to figure out how to cure flat feet in children.
If you see a doctor with a problem with flat feet, then most likely the first treatment he will offer you is orthopedic insoles. These are special insoles that are used to correct dysfunction and the anatomy of the foot itself. With the help of such insoles, the arch is supported and the heel is fixed in the correct position.
If the child has not yet reached the age of eight, then you can use ready-made orthopedic insoles, which can be easily purchased at a specialized store. If the child is older, then the best option would be to make insoles individually for the child’s foot. Especially for such situations, there are laboratories in specialized stores where, using a cast (and with the help of modern technologies and a three-dimensional computer image), an orthopedic doctor can easily create a design that is suitable exclusively for the form of disorder that is inherent in your child.
If insoles are worn for a long time, they may need to be adjusted - that is, changing the height of individual zones or the relationship between the raised part of the insole and the heel. Your insoles will be adjusted by a prosthetist technician based on your doctor’s preliminary measurements. There are even insoles that parents can adjust themselves.
When choosing material for insoles, it is better to give preference to genuine leather. As for the service life of orthopedic insoles, it is limited to two years.
If you choose the right shoes, they will play the role of not only treatment, but also preventive measures. So, if a child has already been diagnosed with flat feet (and it can only be detected after five years), then the doctor may suggest that the parents order specially made orthopedic shoes for the child.
Orthopedic boots are worn specifically to remove excess load from the foot and thus correct minor deformities, as well as increase the area of support for the child’s legs.
Treatment of flat feet in children will be incomplete if we focus only on orthopedic shoes or insoles. For complete treatment, you also need to strengthen the muscles and ligaments of the foot. Therapeutic gymnastics focuses on exercises with the foot turned to the outer edge, as well as exercises to strengthen all the muscles of the feet and legs. Most often, children do exercises such as walking on their heels and toes, versatile movements of their fingers and toes, rolling, rolling, as well as grasping various objects, walking on uneven surfaces.
Massage is an excellent addition to physical therapy. The massage includes a whole range of different procedures. There are various massage techniques for flat feet in children. However, most techniques are aimed at working with the lower leg and foot. Some specialists also practice massage of the lumbar region, because it is the site of branching of the lumbar arteries, so that blood circulation in the child’s legs becomes better.
To complement a professional massage, you can perform special exercises at home. To do this, it is better to take massage mats and special prickly balls. This type of massage improves blood circulation in the feet and at the same time looks like a game.
It is possible to cure flat feet in a child! Every child has every chance to have healthy feet. The main thing is to consult an orthopedic doctor in time. Treatment should begin as early as possible, especially since young children are always very willing to do special gymnastics and various exercises on a massage mat. The main thing is not to delay it and your child won’t have problems with his legs!
Children's flat feet are characterized by deformation of the bony arch of the foot. This congenital or acquired pathology is highly treatable, but only with timely consultation with an orthopedist. In the absence of medical intervention, flat feet can quickly progress, having a negative impact on the child’s spine and gait.
In childhood, it is possible to eliminate degenerative changes by wearing orthopedic devices and using physiotherapeutic procedures. Only in selected cases is surgery indicated. Before treating flat feet in children, young patients are diagnosed to determine the degree of damage to bone and cartilage tissue.
If flat feet of any degree are detected, orthopedists immediately begin treatment. The fact is that the amount of cartilage tissue in the feet is directly dependent on the age of the child. Having corrected the joints and bones in a timely manner, parents do not have to worry about the child’s correct posture in the future.
Pediatric orthopedists practice an integrated approach to the treatment of flat feet, using a variety of techniques that allow them to achieve the following results:
To carry out quick and effective treatment, a thorough diagnosis of the damage that has occurred is necessary. Treatment of pathology of the 1st or 2nd degree does not cause any particular difficulties for orthopedists. It is common practice to wear comfortable orthotic devices that both improve gait and prevent the development of further degenerative changes. For the proper formation of cartilage and bones, regular exercises using massage rollers, mats, and balls are recommended. Their bright color and unusual structure attract kids, so such activities bring pleasure to both children and parents.
Flat feet of the 3rd degree is characterized by severe deformation of the feet. This begins to affect the child’s gait and posture, and his motor activity decreases significantly. Often, when diagnosing, pediatric orthopedists discover concomitant pathologies:
But even in such serious cases, doctors try to do without surgery. The situation can be corrected with the help of orthopedic shoes, sessions of classical and acupressure massage, and physiotherapeutic procedures.
An integrated approach to the treatment of flat feet does not only involve the use of drugs and physiotherapeutic procedures. Following the following advice from orthopedists will help speed up recovery and avoid complications:
To treat flat feet in children, orthopedists recommend frequent barefoot walks.
With flat feet, the shape of the foot changes, which affects the functioning of its longitudinal and transverse arch. The foot consists of many bones and cartilage, connected to each other by ligaments. Therefore, massage for children should begin with a specialist who has the skills to therapeutically influence all bone structures of the foot. After 12-15 sessions, you can carry out treatment procedures at home.
Massage manipulations should be regular, as the speed of recovery depends on this. During the session, the following muscles are necessarily involved:
When doing a massage, you should vigorously knead and rub the areas where these muscles are located, and then stroke. If the manual procedure is performed correctly, the child should not experience any discomfort. The massage process involves the ankle and sole. Specialists do not limit themselves only to babies’ legs, vigorously kneading the back and buttocks.
Any flat feet can be cured using various devices. Pediatric orthopedists strongly recommend that parents purchase a massage mat. For the treatment of flat feet, a device made of plastic, rubber or rubber is best suited. The best option would be to purchase a combined rug that imitates various natural surfaces, for example, large, medium and small sea pebbles.
Regular walks on such a massage device can speed up recovery. What you can notice after a month of systematic training:
In addition to the mat, it is worth buying soft massage balls. Such devices are equipped with bulges of various lengths. By rolling a ball with his foot, the child learns to coordinate movements and maintain balance in an unstable vertical position. Blood circulation in the foot improves, increased muscle tone disappears, and permanently clenched toes straighten.
The child really likes the massage mat, and it is used not only to treat flat feet, but also to prevent it
Many parents wonder whether it is possible to cure flat feet in children without the use of medications. As a rule, pharmacological drugs are used only for already developed complications, the symptoms of which are manifested by pain and swelling. To improve the child’s well-being, pediatric orthopedists prescribe syrups or suspensions with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties:
It is advisable to use external medications only for severe pain. The doctor will select medications individually for each small patient, taking into account his weight and age, as well as the degree of diagnosed foot injuries. With serious deformities of the feet, blood circulation in them may be impaired. This causes swelling and a decrease in the functional activity of veins and capillaries.
To strengthen blood vessels and restore blood supply to bone and cartilage tissue, orthopedists prescribe gels and ointments:
All these pharmacological drugs have age restrictions, so they cannot be used in the treatment of flat feet in children without a doctor’s permission.
A common cause of foot deformities is rickets, caused by a deficiency of vitamin D in the child's body. When this pathology is detected, not only the missing biological substances, but also drugs that enhance immunity are included in the therapeutic regimen. If a child is diagnosed with paralytic foot, then muscle relaxants are required to relax muscle spasms. Antibiotic therapy is carried out only when an inflammatory process develops in the foot, complicated by a bacterial infection.
Exercise therapy and gymnastics at home can significantly strengthen the ligamentous apparatus to provide optimal support for the arches of both feet. After a course of exercises, blood circulation in the feet improves and lymph flow accelerates. The production of fluid inside the joints gradually normalizes. The child begins to move freely without experiencing stiffness. Thanks to improved blood supply, biologically active and nutrients enter the cartilage and bone tissues, ensuring their rapid regeneration.
Walking barefoot along the shore of a reservoir - small pebbles and river sand - will help reduce the severity of pain and inflammation. Parents should encourage the child, praise, and show by example how to perform the exercise correctly. The most effective activities are those conducted in a playful way with mom and dad.
Here are some of the exercises recommended by pediatric orthopedists:
Experts have developed interesting exercises to treat flat feet in children.
Regular walking on toes, heels, and the inner surface of the feet helps treat flat feet in adolescents and young children. While standing, you need to squat, trying not to lift your feet off the floor. All classes are conducted barefoot, and their duration should not exceed 15-20 minutes. If parents notice that the baby is tired or the exercises give him discomfort, then it is necessary to take a break or postpone classes until the evening. One of the most important conditions for the effectiveness of physical therapy is the absence of excessive loads.
When diagnosing a child with 1st or 2nd degree flat feet, the orthopedist recommends constant wearing of shock-absorbing devices. They can be purchased in special stores by presenting a prescription prescribed by a doctor. The third degree of flatfoot requires the use of custom-made orthopedic shoes. It should be worn not only on the street, but also at home, alternating with walking barefoot.
Orthopedic devices are needed for the following:
If orthopedic shoes can also be used to prevent flat feet, then insoles, arch supports and interdigital inserts are intended only for its treatment. Regardless of the type of device, they are made to facilitate the movement of children and adolescents and the gradual formation of the correct arch of the feet. Wearing insoles and shoes must be combined with daily therapeutic exercises and massage courses.
In the treatment of flat feet of 1st and 2nd degree, children's orthopedic insoles are used
One of the effective methods for treating flat feet in a child at home is foot baths. They help restore blood circulation in the feet, eliminate swelling and inflammation, and relieve discomfort. The best time to perform a muscle-relaxing procedure is in the evening, 1-2 hours before bedtime. Water should only be at room temperature.
You can add sea salt, fir extract, decoctions or essential oils of the following medicinal herbs to it:
In the treatment of flat feet in older children and adolescents, contrasting foot baths are used. First, the child immerses his feet in hot water, and after a few minutes lowers them into cool water. This procedure not only strengthens ligaments and tendons, but also increases the body's resistance to viral and bacterial infections. On an outpatient basis, electrophoresis is indicated for children with foot deformities. The essence of physiotherapeutic manipulation is the impact of weak electrical impulses to deliver drugs to bone tissue. Typically, the procedure uses solutions of calcium salts, chondroprotectors, anesthetics, and anti-inflammatory drugs.
In addition to electrophoresis, the following manipulations help treat children's flat feet:
The choice of procedure is made by the pediatrician, who takes into account the age of the child and the degree of diagnosed damage.
He also determines the duration of physiotherapy and the number of sessions required for treatment. To prevent foot deformities, doctors recommend that parents of children predisposed to developing flat feet encourage them to go swimming. This sport is beneficial for the entire musculoskeletal system, but especially for the feet. Rope climbing and exercises with a gymnastic ladder will help eliminate already developed foot deformities.
Flat feet are the result of the process of flattening and loss of the correct arched shape of the foot under the influence of numerous unfavorable factors.
One of the main stages in the evolutionary development of man was the transition to upright walking. At the same time, the loads on both the axial skeleton and the skeleton of the limbs have changed dramatically. The main device for reducing stress was the arched foot. By performing a shock-absorbing function, the arch-shaped foot significantly reduced the load on the spine and made it possible to expend less force to maintain balance when walking upright. Flat feet disrupt this function and loads increase and can cause various diseases.
At birth, a child has flat feet; this foot structure lasts until two years and is normal. The function of the arch in children at this age is performed by the fat pad, which is located on the heels and toes. Its main function is to protect the foot.
After two years, the skeleton of children begins to ossify and become stronger. At the same time, the fat pad begins to disappear and the arch of the foot is formed. This process ends at the age of five. And already from these years the first signs of flat feet may appear. At an earlier age, we can only talk about the prerequisite for the development and equipping of the child with orthopedic shoes.
It is important to visit a doctor
Flat feet is a deformation of the bones of the foot, since bone diseases are difficult to treat, including surgical intervention. The best thing to do in case of flat feet is preventive measures. To do this, children must be under the timely supervision of specialists - at three and six months of age, in order to avoid rickets, as well as at one and three years of age.
From the age of three, annual visits to an orthopedist are necessary so that in case of violations of the healthy state of the child’s skeleton, they can be identified in a timely manner. In kindergartens, children's posture should be under constant supervision, and for children who do not attend kindergartens, it is strongly recommended to visit a specialist on their own.
If signs of flat feet are detected, it is important to register with an orthopedist to receive the correct treatment appropriate to the deformation and degree of flat feet.
There are 2 forms of flat feet: longitudinal and transverse. The longitudinal form of flatfoot is characterized by flattening of the arch of the foot along the axis. The transverse form of flatfoot (less common) is characterized by the fact that the child’s foot is flattened in the toe area due to the fact that the support is on all the toes, while normally the support is on the outer toes, and the rest, without touching, form an arch.
Subsequently, the child’s walking, support and posture will be impaired, his legs hurt and take on a shape similar to the letter X. The child walks with difficulty, often gets tired quickly, spending more time in his arms or in a stroller. The shoes will wear down on the inner edge of the sole.
Starting from the age of three, you should carefully monitor the child’s feet; at the slightest suspicion, it is recommended to carry out plantography - this is not a complicated procedure for diagnosing flat feet at home. To do this, it is necessary that the child, having wetted his feet, stand exactly on a piece of paper; the resulting prints of his feet are the plantogram. It should be taken to a doctor, especially when the foot print does not have a crescent shape
To what extent is it necessary to combat flat feet?
Disturbances in the structure of the bones of the foot have great consequences, ranging from foot wear to such serious problems as pain when walking, curvature of the spine up to the development of scoliosis, not to mention disturbances in the functioning of the joints of the lower extremities and spine.
With flat feet, you can forget about beautiful slender posture. At the same time, girls will not be able to walk in heels, and boys will not be able to engage in certain sports. To avoid such serious consequences, flat feet must be detected and corrected at the earliest stages.
The diagnosis of “flat feet” means deformation of the shape of the foot and a change in its instep. The foot becomes as if lowered in the longitudinal and transverse arches. There are a variety of methods for treating flat feet, from folk remedies to surgical intervention. However, we must remember: it is better to slow down the development of this disease than to start radical treatment too late.
Causes of flat feet
It is believed that today more than 50% of women and men suffer from flat feet. Such a large number of people with flat feet is explained by foot deformation throughout life due to the shoes we wear, excessive loads, etc. High heels and narrow toes of shoes often become factors in the development of flat feet. Standing for a long time in men and being overweight can also lead to the development of this disease.
Flat feet can be congenital. Most often it occurs due to insufficiency of connective tissue during the development of the baby, which can also affect the functioning of the heart and vision. However, both congenital and acquired flat feet must be fought before it leads to changes and diseases of the entire musculoskeletal system.
Surgical treatment of flat feet is necessary in extreme situations and in advanced cases. This is a rather complex operation that does not always have a guaranteed result.
In order to find a way to cure flat feet, it is necessary to recognize it in time. From the first years of life, children are recommended to be examined by an orthopedist and, if flat feet are detected, undergo constant and systematic treatment. Adults should also carefully monitor the condition of their feet. If you feel constant pain and excessive fatigue when walking or see deformation of your foot, it is better to immediately consult a specialist.
If in childhood flat feet can be cured with conservative methods by constantly exercising, then for an adult such exercises will only help stop the development of the disease.
Massage for the treatment of flat feet
Massage stimulates blood flow and also tones all the muscles of the foot. For the treatment of congenital flat feet in children, massage is extremely popular and effective. The doctor massages not only the entire foot from heels to toes, but also the lower leg towards the foot. During a massage, the doctor kneads the foot, rubs it, and strokes it. Massage is perhaps the most pleasant way to treat flat feet. Therefore, do not neglect it under any circumstances.
Physical exercises for flat feet
Effective treatment for flat feet also includes a number of exercises, the secret of which is that they need to be performed daily. It is enough to spend 10-20 minutes every morning and every evening. Among the exercises for the treatment of flat feet are:
When treating flat feet, natural stimulation of the foot is recommended: you need to walk barefoot on grass, pebbles, and earth as much as possible. At home, use massage mats on which you can stand or roll from heel to toe while washing dishes or brushing your teeth.
Swimming is also highly recommended for children. It is not necessary to let your child out into the open sea; you can use an inflatable pool for your baby: it is enough that he makes a foot stroke when swimming.
If you go on vacation or to the village, allow your child and yourself to walk barefoot on pebbles, logs, wet grass, climb up and down hills. By doing this, you will not only strengthen your foot muscles, but also have fun. Foot baths with a decoction of oak bark or peppermint are often used.
Flat feet ICD-10: M21.4 (Flat foot)
According to statistics, 60% of children aged 6-7 years have manifestations of flat feet, and in adulthood, about 75% of patients already suffer from flat feet.
If you consult a specialist in time, you can forever forget about such a disease as flat feet. Unfortunately, it is possible to slightly improve the condition of the feet only before the age of 12-13 years, when the arch of the foot is not yet fully formed and can be corrected.
At a later age, it is impossible to cure flat feet! And it is necessary to treat concomitant diseases of the musculoskeletal system to prevent their progression and reduce pain.
Dr. Ignatiev’s clinic specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the feet and spine. Make an appointment with a pediatric vertebrologist using contact numbers.
Flat feet is a disease of the feet, which is characterized by flattening of the longitudinal and/or transverse arch, which leads to rapid fatigue and pain in the feet when walking and standing . But since our feet serve as the “ foundation ” of the body, pain can manifest itself in the back, legs (knees, hip joints), unsteadiness when walking, problems with posture, headaches , and more.
With longitudinal flatfoot the longitudinal arch is flattened, with transverse flatfoot the transverse arch is flattened, with mixed flatfoot the longitudinal and transverse arches are flattened. The diagram shows foot prints in normal conditions (a) and with flat feet (b).
Our feet normally perform 3 functions:
When walking, each step is accompanied by an impact on some surface, thanks to the shock-absorbing function (arches) - the force of the push is evenly distributed over the entire foot. But with flat feet, the “impact impulse” is not compensated by the arches of the foot (they are absent) and causes damage to the knee, hip joints and lumbar spine, causing pain in the knees, pelvis, and spine.
Diagnosis of foot sensitivity. Clinic of Doctor Ignatiev
The balancing function ensures that balance is maintained when moving and standing, but since with flat feet the relative position of the parts of the foot is disturbed, the function is not fully performed, then when walking, unsteadiness, instability, and loss of balance can be observed.
The push function provides acceleration when walking. In this case, there is a redistribution of the load on the forefoot, and then a push. But since flat feet often cause pain, shifting the center of gravity and pushing with one point of the foot certainly leads to severe pain and the function is partially lost.
From this we can conclude that with flat feet, the feet cannot fully perform their functions and the quality of life decreases sharply.
This is why it is important to diagnose and treat the problem promptly. The diagnosis of flat feet can only be made at 5-6 years of age, when there are obvious disturbances in the formation of the feet, but a predisposition can be established already in the first years of life. If you establish a predisposition in time and engage in treatment, you will prevent your child from being diagnosed with flat feet in the future! Take care of your baby and make sure that he does not have a predisposition to flat feet or flat feet.
Color podoscopy (Diagnostics of flat feet): A. Longitudinal flat feet, grade 1, overload of the right foot; B. Longitudinal flatfoot in a child. Clinic of Doctor Ignatiev
Normally, the legs are straight and the heel is located in the center of the midline of the leg, but with pathology, the center of the heel may deviate outward (valgus) or inward (varus).
Both varus and valgus are signs of flat feet. With varus, the legs are O-shaped, and with valgus, they are X-shaped.
As the baby develops, he may periodically exhibit both valgus and varus, but by the age of 5 all manifestations should disappear and the foot should be in the center of the midline of the leg. Until the age of 5, one can only talk about a predisposition to flat feet. In childhood, longitudinally planovalgus feet most often occur; if this disease is not treated in time, it will certainly lead to flat feet .
Why is flat feet dangerous?
Flat feet, in addition to pain and disorders in the feet, causes a number of serious changes in the spine, joints and internal organs.
The feet, as the “foundation” of our body, are responsible for symmetry.
With flat feet, disturbances cascade across the entire body, damaging the ankle, knee, and hip joints, pelvic distortion occurs, and scoliosis forms. The lack of shock-absorbing function of the feet leads to rapid aging of the spine, osteochondrosis, and disorders in the spine are reflected in the functioning of the internal organs.
Diagnosis of foot condition
The longitudinal arch is pronounced. Clinic of Doctor Ignatiev
Foot manipulation in adults
At a later age, lifelong use of special insoles (arch supports) or surgical intervention may be necessary.
But remember - insoles and even surgery on the feet will never cure the problems that have arisen throughout the body due to flat feet. Timely prevention and treatment are the key to health.
Good afternoon My daughter is 5 years old. I’ve had valgus feet for a long time, I’ve already read other comments, I understand that you can’t completely cure them, but here’s a question:
In your opinion, is there any benefit from orthopedic shoes and insoles? They say they seem to relieve symptoms, and the doctor advised it. But I don’t know where it’s better to buy in an orthopedic salon or you can order it. I look here and on other sites, but everyone is tormented by doubts, is there any sense in this?
Consultant Ignatieva Galina: We do not use orthopedic insoles in our practice because we do not see any effect from them. If there are severe problems with the feet, it would not hurt to look for the problem higher up - in the hip joints.
Hello, I am 13 years old and have congenital flat feet of the 2nd degree. Will I be able to cure it completely or transfer it to stage 1? But, to be honest, I don’t know what degree, help me! I took a photo of my right leg.
Hello, my 13-year-old son has 1st degree flatfoot on one leg and 2nd degree on the other. Please advise whether it will be possible to cure flat feet or at this age even the 1st degree cannot be cured.
Good afternoon, the boy is almost 15 years old; he was diagnosed with flat valgus feet. My posture is already poor, my knees are painful. Will orthopedic shoes help us? Thank you very much.
Good afternoon. My daughter has 1.6 flat-valgus feet and similar bunions. How is it possible to vilikuvat?
In this case, an in-person consultation is necessary. It is necessary to find out why this problem arose. At this age it is still possible to correct it, but the examination will show how much.
Hello! A 3.5 year old child was diagnosed with flat valgus feet. Is this curable at this age?
Good afternoon, I wanted to ask, my daughter has planovalgus in both feet, age 4.5, is it possible to cure this??
It cannot be completely cured, since the main formation is the first year of a child’s life. But you need to treat! You also need to examine the hip joints and spine. There is no isolated problem with just the feet. Contact us for an in-person consultation. Sincerely
Hello, a 2-year-old child was diagnosed with flat-valgus foot and was prescribed treatment in the form of massage, exercise therapy, orthopedic shoes for up to 3-4 years. How effective is it and can you cure it, and in how many sessions? Thank you!
Good afternoon You did not answer my question ?!
Flat feet is a deformation of a person’s feet with an unnatural lowering of the arch until the possibility of normal movement (walking, running) is lost. The reasons why this disorder occurs are numerous: excess weight, heavy work loads, long and constant walking, shoes that are not the right size. Not everyone knows what symptoms indicate the development of this disease, and below it will be explained how to determine flat feet at home, what preventive measures to take, how to treat the disease if it has already appeared in a child or is progressing in an adult.
There are several types of the disease. According to the degree of occurrence, acquired and congenital types of flat feet are distinguished. The first is more common and is divided into static, paralytic, rachitic and caused by trauma. Congenital flat feet are less common and are a symptom of abnormal intrauterine development. Flat feet in children and adults require treatment from the first signs of detection.
The disease has three stages:
With this type of problem, the foot increases in width: the first metatarsal bone deviates to the side, which is why a bulge appears, known in medicine as hallux valgus. If there is strong friction when walking or running, the bone becomes inflamed. Transverse flatfoot, a photo of which is in our article, occurs due to physical stress on the legs. In women it appears due to muscle weakness, and in men due to foot injuries.
This type requires the selection of shoes of the correct size for fullness; with this disease, you cannot wear high-heeled shoes. With this diagnosis, treatment at home involves therapeutic exercises, massage, and in severe cases, medication.
Important! If self-therapy does not give the desired result, you need to consult a doctor.
Longitudinal flatfoot is the compaction of the arch in the longitudinal direction, when the foot finds points of contact with the surface along its entire length. The size of the foot increases, but with grade 1 of this disorder, the bones are not deformed, so it is advisable to carry out treatment as early as possible. The danger of this type of disease becomes clear from images of the last stage: a person may completely lose the ability to move independently.
Combined, also known as longitudinal-transverse flatfoot, combines the characteristics of the first two types. With this disease, the foot increases in width and length, the arches are deformed until they come into full contact with the floor. Treatment at home for this type of disease requires long-term physical exercise, restrictions on certain types of shoes and loads. More often, adults consult a doctor with an already advanced stage of the disease, so it is difficult to get rid of the problem.
If the disease appears in a child from birth, caused by intrauterine problems during pregnancy, such flat feet are considered congenital, in other cases - acquired. If, when walking, a child is clubbed, walks with his feet resting to the side, or places his foot incorrectly, there is a risk that he has flat feet.
Getting rid of the disease at home must be agreed with the pediatrician, since the child’s body is sensitive to any influences.
Therapy involves exercises with foot compression, gait correction, gentle massage and muscle training exercises.
If there is no disease, but may appear due to increased physical activity, prevention is required. For preschool children, it consists of the correct selection of shoes (special orthopedic, with corrective insoles, etc.), working with a massage mat and gymnastic exercises. For children with this diagnosis, gymnastics classes are restorative in nature.
Important! If no action is taken after detecting an anomaly, the child may receive irreversible foot deformities within 2-3 years.
There are several methods for determining flat feet on your own, but you need to understand who is at risk of developing it. Children's and adults' feet are at different stages of development, and the methods will vary. The standard method for an adult is to stand with your foot on a piece of paper, having first smeared the foot with cream or paint. Based on the shape of the footprint, it will be clear whether there is a disease: if there is a free passage between the two parts of the foot, the foot is developed normally, but if an isthmus appears, there is a risk of encountering flat feet.
In children, it is more difficult to determine the problem, especially if these are preschool children. Diagnosis requires observation of gait and, in most cases, x-rays.
For adults, gymnastics and massage are used. Exercises include flexion of the toes, flexion of the foot itself, local stress in turn on the toes and heel, and moving objects with the toes.
Exercises to treat the disease are quite simple.
Massage techniques strengthen muscles and relieve pain, but if there is a bone, massage must be used with caution. The method is more suitable for prevention.
What if the disease is at an advanced stage? There is no other choice but to cure flat feet in adults with the help of surgery.
The following methods are used in children:
The following exercises are recommended for children:
Gymnastic exercises for illness are aimed at strengthening muscles and correcting the arches of the feet if the illness has already affected the patient. The duration of the exercises ranges from a few seconds to 2 - 3 minutes, the duration of the session is 20 - 40 minutes, depending on the stage of development of the disease. Before getting rid of pathology through exercise, you need to determine its type and stage.
The following video presents a set of exercises for this problem:
Preventive actions for children are reduced to the following list:
To understand how to treat flat feet in adults or children, you need to determine the cause, the degree of development of the disease and act immediately. Prevention is necessary for most people, regardless of the presence of the disease, since how to get rid of flat feet will be more difficult than the process of preventing the disease. With such a disease, the consequences often develop to an irreparable level, depriving a person of the ability to move independently.
The diagnosis of flat feet is heard more and more often, but many take it lightly and do not treat this disease. But flat feet can be cured only at an early age.
For some reason, many parents take the diagnosis of “flat feet” extremely lightly, considering it an ailment with which it is quite possible to live normally. In fact, this disease can cause serious complications, especially when it comes to children whose musculoskeletal system is still immature and weak. Severe flat feet can be determined at home, but still let a specialist do it, who can determine the type of disease and select an individual set of exercises.
Therefore, there is no need to give up on the diagnosis, but try with all your might to cure flat feet in a child. Fortunately, this is not so difficult - no complex operations or expensive treatment are required. To a large extent, the result and success of treatment depends on the parents.
If the baby is only 2-3 years old, do not panic. In most cases, by the age of 5-6 years, flat feet go away on their own - the foot takes on the shape of an adult. If the signs remain, then consultation with a specialist is simply necessary.
Special exercises that help strengthen the foot muscles play a huge role in the treatment of this disease. Exercises can be done at home using simple equipment. A set of exercises is prescribed by a doctor. But, as a rule, they need to be performed daily for 15-20 minutes.
All exercises can be performed as a preventive measure for the disease; they will not cause harm. To make the child perform them more willingly, you can do this in a playful way with fun children's music. For example, invite your child, holding a pencil or felt-tip pen with his toes, to draw various shapes.
To more quickly and effectively cure flat feet in a child, the doctor may prescribe simultaneous courses of therapeutic massage. By the way, massage is a good preventive remedy that can be used from the baby’s two months of age. It is also useful for children to walk barefoot on various uneven surfaces: sand, pebbles, grass. The main thing is to make sure that there are no sharp objects. Foot massage is useful not only for the prevention and treatment of flat feet, it also provides an excellent general health effect.