With this pathology, weakness of the ligamentous and muscular apparatus of the foot is observed. Deformation and arthrosis of the joint of the first toe are caused by increased and uneven load on the forefoot, which is aggravated by wearing shoes with a narrow toe and/or high heels.
1. Outward deviation of the thumb up to 15 o.
2. Thumb deflection is from 15 to 20 o.
3. Thumb deflection is from 20 to 30 o.
4. Deviation of the thumb is more than 30 o.
The curvature of the finger is preceded by the inconvenience of wearing shoes and the appearance of pain when walking. Due to the deformation of the joint, the foot changes, an elevation appears in the middle, where painful calluses and corns easily form. The second toe also changes, takes the shape of a hammer, and a callus also forms on it.
Non-surgical methods of treating hallux valgus include wearing orthopedic arch supports and night splints, insoles, interdigital spacers, physiotherapeutic treatment, and therapeutic exercises for the toes and feet. To reduce inflammation, intra-articular administration of diprospan and hydrocortisone (hormonal drugs) is used.
There are a large number (more than 100) methods of surgical treatment of hallux valgus. The main ones are presented below:
However, it should be taken into account that in some patients re-formation of the “bone” is observed. In the postoperative period, patients are forced to limit physical activity on the foot for a long time. This creates some inconvenience.
2. You should start from the lumbar region. Movements - stroking and rubbing, from the center outwards.
3. Next, you should move to the area of the buttocks, where circular stroking, rubbing and kneading, tapping and stroking are used.
4. On the back of the thigh, intensive rubbing is carried out from the knee joint up the thigh, chopping and stroking.
5. The lower leg should be massaged differently, on the inner and outer surface. All techniques (rubbing, kneading) are carried out intensively inside, and gently outside. This allows you to stimulate the internal muscles and relax the external ones, which leads to correct placement of the foot.
To correct the alignment of your feet, you should wear orthopedic shoes with a high hard back or insoles. An orthopedic surgeon will help you choose the right ones. Shoes should fit well on your feet. You cannot wear shoes that have already been used. You can walk around the house without shoes.
Newborns usually have a physiological varus position of the lower extremities. By the end of the first year of life (9-12 months), the varus curvature decreases. This is due to transformation processes in the skeleton during the period of adaptation to the vertical position. As the child begins to walk, his limbs gradually straighten. The child compensates for the lack of strength and tone of the muscles of the limbs at the beginning of walking by reflexively placing his legs wider, while simultaneously bringing the knee joints to the midline. As a result, the physiological varus position of the knee joints in children after one year changes to a physiological valgus deviation of the legs. This deviation reaches its maximum by the 2-3rd year of life and normalizes by 5-7 years, when the valgus angle in the knee joint should not differ from the normal angle in adults (172-174°).
Such changes in the normal physical development of a child are determined by normal physiological ratios of body weight, the development of muscles and ligaments, as well as the intensity of epiphyseal growth of skeletal bones. The progression of deviation of the legs after 5-7 years indicates that the normal correlation of the above-mentioned relationships has not occurred. Corrected by massage and gymnastics for X-shaped deformation of the lower extremities,
In childhood, the elements of the knee joint, including ligaments, tendons and muscles, are more pliable, and the epiphyseal cartilaginous growth plate is the place of least resistance.
Risk factors for X-shaped deformity of the lower extremities are early walking, frequent illnesses that weaken the body in general, general muscle hypotonia, casting at an early age, injuries, excess weight, as well as untreated muscular dystonia.
First of all, parents should pay attention to the child’s gait, possibly to complaints from the child about fatigue and pain in the legs. determine the presence of an X-shaped deformation of the legs by placing the child on a hard surface with his back to you, legs together, the baby looking straight (do not turn the body). Pay attention to the child's shins; normally, the knee joints should touch and the inner ankles should touch. With an X-shaped (valgus) deformity of the knee joints, the inner ankles will not touch, but the knee joints will touch each other.
Pathology is considered to be the distance between the inner ankles with knees touching in a standing position, more than:
1.5-2 cm at the age of 2 years,
3 cm at the age of 3-4 years,
4 cm at the age of 4 years and older.
What to do? How dangerous is this disease? Maybe it will go away on its own? Parents usually ask these questions.
We will answer in order. It is possible and necessary to combat X-shaped deformity of the legs; the most effective way is massage for X-shaped deformation of the lower extremities, as well as gymnastics for X-shaped deformity . Treatment should be comprehensive, massage, gymnastics, in severe cases, special shoes, positioning treatment.
The massage must begin from the back, because all nerve endings located in the muscles originate from the spinal cord. The lumbosacral region of the back is thoroughly massaged. The legs are massaged in a differentiated manner, i.e. stimulating massage of the muscles of the inner thigh and lower leg, relaxing the outer surface of the same areas. Muscle stimulation with a massage along the inner surface of the thigh and lower leg is performed with the aim of encouraging the child to place his foot when walking closer to the midline, and not to the sides, as children do when they begin to walk, and because of which an X-shaped leg (valgus) deformity of the lower extremities. The knee joints themselves are also massaged, with careful treatment of the outer edges of the epiphyses of the femur, in order to stimulate the growth of these elements of the knee joint.
The danger of such deformation is that the spring function of the lower extremities is disrupted, which leads to wear and tear of the articular surfaces of not only the legs, but also the spinal column, the weight is incorrectly distributed to various parts of the musculoskeletal system, leading to poor posture, scoliosis, very often X The -shaped curvature of the knee joints is combined with a flat-valgus position of the feet.
Uncorrected and progressive lateral deviations in the knee area contribute to the development of deforming arthrosis, so it is advisable to use methods for more active correction. Due to severe deformation of the knee joint, children of preschool and school age experience pain, fatigue, and are deprived of the opportunity to play sports and dance.
Massage therapists at the Happy Baby Children's Massage Center will be able to help your child grow up healthy.
Rickets is a disease characterized by metabolic disorders, a consequence of a lack of vitamin D in the body, leading to an imbalance of phosphorus-calcium balance. Bones become soft, thin, easily twisted and brittle. When suffering from rickets, not only the bone, but also the muscular and nervous systems are affected. The causes of the disease are: vitamin D deficiency, lack of calcium, phosphorus, and protein in the child’s body. Most often, premature babies, those with intrauterine or postpartum hypoxia, low motor activity, and children who are often ill are predisposed to rickets. Insufficient exposure of a child to fresh air can also lead to the development of rickets. In a child's body, vitamin D is produced under the influence of ultraviolet rays, so in winter it is useful to carry out preventive quartz treatment, and in summer it is recommended for the child to spend a long time in the fresh air. Practice shows that among preparations containing vitamin D, fish oil is the most effective.
There are 3 degrees of severity of the disease. At grade 1, functional changes in the autonomic nervous system begin (increased sweating, the child is restless, more capricious), and the hair on the back of the head is wiped off. Stage 2 symptoms are changes in the skeletal system. Parietal and frontal tubercles appear, along with deformation of the chest—“rachitic rosary.” At grade 3, disturbances occur both from the skeletal system and from the internal organs, curvature of the spine (scoliosis), and deformation of the limbs are noted.
A comprehensive treatment is prescribed, which includes: long-term exposure of the child to the fresh air, quartz treatment, vitamin therapy, physical therapy, and massage. Massage occupies one of the leading places in the treatment of rickets, since it activates metabolic processes, strengthens the muscular and skeletal system, and improves tissue trophism.
When suffering from rickets, the bones soften and become brittle, so at the beginning of treatment and during the height of the disease, massage is carried out in a gentle manner.
By their nature, violations can be divided into:
These disorders may be present in a child in various combinations. The following discusses massage techniques specific to each of these disorders.
It should be noted that the causes of leg deformities can be not only rickets, but also the child’s early rise to his feet, when the musculoskeletal system has not yet become stronger, defects in the development of the foot, dysplasia and dislocation of the hip, as well as excess weight in the child. The child should avoid standing on his feet for long periods of time, rest his legs more often, and not take long walks.
A strengthening massage is performed according to the general scheme, but more attention is paid to the chest and intercostal muscles, which must be intensively rubbed with the pads of your fingers along the intercostal muscles for 2-3 minutes (Fig. 1). From behind, emphasis should be placed on the interscapular region, back extensors (Fig. 2, 3, 4). From the front - on deformed ribs using techniques of pressing on the sternum with a delay of up to 10 seconds (Fig. 5). Repeat the last technique 2-3 times, and in case of large deformation 6-8 times.
The most common type of foot deformity in children is the so-called valgus foot, which differs from normal by a very low arch and curvature of the axis of the foot. With this disorder, the longitudinal arches of the feet flatten and their inner edges sag. Visually, the feet take on the shape of the letter “X” if you look at them from an upper angle, and the distance between the inner sides of the ankles with the knees pressed together exceeds 4-5 cm. Orthopedists call this condition valgus position of the feet.
Foot pathology can be congenital or acquired: sometimes valgus feet in a child are diagnosed in the maternity hospital, but more often the development of the foot is disrupted for certain reasons at 10-12 months - the period when the baby learns to walk.
The diagnosis of “flat feet” can be established no earlier than 6 years. Before this age, improperly placed feet are called flat-valgus.
Treatment of hallux valgus is long and difficult; it requires parents to be persistent and pay close attention to the child. First of all, you need to try to convince the baby of the need for all therapeutic measures, which need to be given the form of a game. Only then will he develop a stable habit of them.
First of all, it is not recommended for a child with hallux valgus to stand still for a long time with his legs spread wide apart. This will increase the inward deviation of the knee joints and the outward spread of the feet. But if you close your legs, the entire weight of the body will fall on the middle of the knee and the outer side of the foot, the purpose of which is to bear such a load.
A sick child should take a break from walking from time to time and refrain from active games. In addition, the baby needs to choose exercises and games that would relieve the impact of the weight of his body on the ankle and knee joints and at the same time contribute to their strengthening and development.
Foot massage for a child with flat feet should be done daily, increasing the load every day. General strengthening exercises for other muscle groups are best performed either sitting or in a “Turkish” position. It is useful for such children to practice on various gymnastic equipment - stairs, trapeze and wall bars. Cycling and swimming give good results. In addition, it is better for overweight children to get rid of excess weight: this will reduce the load on the fragile musculoskeletal system of the feet and knees.
When walking, you need to wear special orthopedic shoes with corrective insoles or outward-sloping heels. However, we repeat, the question of wearing it can only be decided by an orthopedic doctor. Ordinary shoes should be as comfortable as possible, new and with hard backs. If there is no urgent need to constantly wear orthopedic shoes, you can walk barefoot at home so that the muscles of your feet are constantly trained. In summer, you need to walk barefoot on grass, pebbles or sand, giving your toes and feet freedom of movement.
The normal functions of the ankle and knee joints depend on the condition of the surrounding muscles. With the help of massage and special exercises, stretched and weakened muscles can be strengthened, and overly tense ones can be relaxed. Therapeutic massage should be carried out in courses, each of which includes 12–20 procedures with breaks of 2 to 4 weeks. Carry out the procedures every other day or daily, gradually increasing their intensity towards the middle of the course. When performing massage techniques, sudden movements should be avoided, as the massage should leave a pleasant impression on the child.
For all techniques, the starting position is: the child lies on his stomach with a cushion placed under his shin.
“A clubfooted bear is walking through the forest,
He collects cones and sings a song.”
All of the above exercises for hallux valgus in children can be successfully performed in water during daily bathing (except the last two). Warm water itself helps to relax tense muscles, thereby making it easier for the child to move. It is helpful to place a ribbed mat on the floor of the bathtub and allow the child to walk and bounce on it.
From the moment a child is born until his first independent steps, about a year passes. This time is especially exciting for parents, because often some of them have to deal with the concept of valgus feet.
Of course, at the very beginning of a child’s independent journey, his gait is still uncertain and awkward; everything should soon improve. But this doesn't happen to everyone. It happens that a baby’s life is ruined by a flat valgus foot.
Today, when undergoing preventive examinations, when the child turns one year old and begins to walk, parents often hear from orthopedic doctors that their child has flat valgus or varus deformity of the foot. Obviously, at this time we are talking about some serious orthopedic disorder. But is this really so? Is such curvature dangerous?
According to ICD 10, the code Q66 is assigned for the term “valgus foot” as a type of deformation of a child’s foot. It should be noted that this code has several more varieties, determined by the subtleties of the curvature of the foot. But at the same time, it is again worth paying attention to the fact that the disease code, and, accordingly, the diagnosis itself made by a specialist in accordance with ICD-10 is not a death sentence for the patient and his parents. First of all, this can be stated based on the data of orthopedists themselves, that the development of the foot in children is a rather long process that can last approximately 7-10 years.
But at the same time, parents should also pay attention to the fact that it is also not worth neglecting annual preventive examinations and the assumptions made by specialists that children have a varus or flat valgus foot. This is also confirmed by the famous children's doctor E. O. Komarovsky. It is obvious that timely treatment in the future will save children from major problems with health and gait in particular. Massage plays a special role in this.
Flat valgus placement of the feet, as noted before, is detected in children at a very early age, when the baby is just getting up on his still fragile legs.
At the present stage, medical professionals urge parents to conduct examinations of their children as early as possible. After all, this is what makes it possible to identify the presence of deformities such as plano valgus or varus in the early stages.
Particular attention is paid to the fact that any type of foot deformity in children is not a disease, but is recognized as just a temporary phenomenon that can be eliminated in a relatively short time if all necessary measures are taken.
So, what is flat valgus foot placement? Sometimes, you can notice in a small child a phenomenon that is popularly called “kissing knees,” that is, the legs of such children take on an X-shape. This position of the legs is what experts call “flat valgus foot.” In this case, the ligaments of the child’s legs are not able to withstand axial loads, while the middle part of the foot seems to “fall in”, while the front and heel parts of it turn outward.
The direct opposite of this phenomenon is considered to be varus foot, when the child’s legs take on an O-shape.
Orthopedists note that this curvature is rarely congenital. Congenital pathology is found in only about 10-11% of children who have been diagnosed with this condition.
Even a “neglected” bone can be cured at home. Just remember once a day.
Any deviation, including plano valgus or varus foot in children, has its own causes.
The first, although relatively rare, cause of the development of a defect is considered to be congenitality.
Among other things, experts note a number of other reasons for curvature of the feet or provoking factors:
By the way, these same reasons can also cause a child to develop varus foot.
In addition, there is another reason for the formation of this foot defect. It lies in the inability of the human body to absorb calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D.
Often, flat valgus foot is found not only in children, but also, for example, in women who spend most of their time in high heels. Therefore, it is important to pay special attention to what shoes are selected to be worn not only by a child, but also by an adult.
The diagnosis of “valgus feet” in most cases suggests that parents will now have to more carefully select shoes for their baby, especially if these are his first shoes.
What kind of shoes should be in this case? The answer, of course, is obvious. Shoes must be orthopedic.
When choosing boots for children, it would be useful for parents to pay attention to a number of quite important criteria, such as, for example:
All these criteria must be taken into account, even if the child is only one year old and is just learning to walk.
Of course, a flat valgus foot also means that the shoes of a child or an adult should not be easy to fasten, but it would be better if the shoes had laces or Velcro. This will allow you to regulate the volume of the boot, and then with a chubby leg the volume can be increased, and with a thin leg it can be reduced, so that the child’s boot or sandals do not dangle like a glove on a pencil.
Dr. Komarovsky also says that if the foot is deformed, it is recommended to wear orthopedic shoes. In addition, he points out that orthopedic shoes should be worn approximately 5-6 hours a day. You should not wear these shoes without taking them off all day. If the shoes are chosen correctly, you will soon notice the first improvements. Orthopedic shoes primarily have a noticeable effect on correcting the child’s posture. Then the foot itself gradually straightens.
The next important step to correct the situation, mainly in childhood, is massage. A young mother can also give a massage to a child, especially if he is already one year old. If the baby is still very small, and the cause of changes in the foot lies in congenital pathologies, then it is better to entrust the massage to a specialist.
Therapeutic massage is known to help with various diseases, with flat valgus deformity of the feet not an exception. Massage is of particular importance in the treatment of newborn children, since their bones and ligaments are still quite soft and therefore they are quickly restored to a normal healthy state.
The massage should begin by kneading the back, gradually moving down to the child’s lumbar and buttocks. When performing a therapeutic massage, special attention should be paid to the joints and muscles of the legs, and, naturally, the feet.
Massage, of course, involves movements of varying directions and intensity. For example, it is recommended to massage a child by including kneading and rubbing, shaking and stroking.
Important! All these manipulations will allow the child’s leg muscles to become stronger, and his foot to take the correct position.
If a child is already at least a little independent or a foot deformity is detected in an adult, then along with massage it will be useful to do some simple, but at the same time very useful exercises.
In order to do exercises for the feet, you do not need to purchase special equipment. The most effective, for example, are exercises with a rolling pin.
In order to perform this exercise, the child should sit on a chair, put the rolling pin on the floor and roll it back and forth with his foot. The same exercise can be done by replacing the rolling pin with a small ball. A small wooden jagged ball is ideal.
The exercises can also be performed as follows: you need to “collect” a handkerchief or paper napkin with your toes. This exercise should also be done while sitting on a chair.
Other exercises must be done standing. For example, you can roll from toe to heel, or walk on your toes. The “Goose Step” exercise is also interesting, where the child is asked to squat down and walk a little around the room in this position.
The no less useful exercise “Crocodile” brings special joy to children. To complete it, you will need the help of another person, preferably an adult. The child stands in his arms, and the assistant takes his legs. In this position, a child with a flat valgus foot should walk a couple of circles around the room.
It is obvious that such exercises will not only bring positive changes in the near future, but will also bring a lot of pleasure and joy to children.
Of course, massage and therapeutic exercises (therapeutic exercises) are very important, but, in addition to this, parents should also pay attention to the fact that it is useful not only to carry out the measures recommended by experts to return the foot to a normal healthy position, but also to take on a little more responsibility for the health of your child. The point, in particular, is that with a valgus foot, the child needs to spend as little time as possible at the computer or in front of the TV screen. It is more useful to spend this time climbing stairs, pedaling a bicycle or running barefoot on smooth pebbles, sand or soft grass.
It is important to start treatment on time; the later it is started, the less results can be achieved.
In childhood, certain types of foot deformities are often detected. The most common type is hallux valgus. Undoubtedly, it is possible to correct the situation with the help of, for example, massage. Allows you to study massage for hallux valgus in children video.
In order to understand whether massage for hallux valgus can really be useful, you must first have an idea of what foot deformities in children are and what causes them.
With a planovalgus foot, changes are very easy to notice visually. Moreover, determining the deformation will not cause significant problems for a specialist. With hallux valgus, the child's foot takes on an X-shape.
This change in foot alignment can be either acquired or congenital, although the percentage of congenital deformities is much lower. An orthopedist can determine changes in the foot during a preventive examination of a child at 10–14 months, when the baby first stands on his own legs and begins to walk.
As a rule, before a child reaches the age of six, orthopedists are in no hurry to make a diagnosis of “flat feet,” calling this type of deformation “planovalgus feet.”
The cause of this curvature can be many factors, including poor nutrition of the mother while carrying a child, and a lack of all necessary vitamins and minerals in the baby’s body, and wearing low-quality shoes, congenital disorders or injuries acquired during childbirth, and muscle weakness.
The most correct behavior for parents if they suspect some curvature of the child’s leg is to consult an orthopedic doctor. Next, it is important to follow his recommendations:
It is believed that massage, in case of early detection of changes in a child’s feet, can largely change the situation for the better.
Massage is an amazing technique for influencing the body of a child or an adult. With the help of massage, you can not only prevent some diseases associated with deformed posture and gait disturbances, but also cure them. For example, massage has a therapeutic effect for hallux valgus in children. It can also be used as a preventative measure.
Not every parent decides to give their baby a massage on their own, preferring to seek help from a qualified specialist whose work has many positive reviews. Undoubtedly, a high-quality massage can be performed by a specialist, but you can also try to do it yourself by studying the video.
Preventive massage when diagnosing “planovalgus curvature” is not something very complicated. It includes a number of easy-to-follow steps.
Regardless of whether the massage is aimed at eliminating an existing foot deformity or preventing its occurrence, it will in any case involve strengthening the child’s leg muscles.
Massage for planovalgus curvature is done not only on the foot itself. In the process of work, the lower leg, the foot, the knee joint, and even the lumbar region, and the entire back are covered, since all these departments are interconnected. When children have curvature of the foot, massage is also performed on the toes.
Both therapeutic and preventive massage require some preparation. In addition to the special knowledge gained during training, even by watching videos, it is important to pay attention to such seemingly small things as the warmth and softness of the palms. The massage therapist's hands should be relaxed and there should be no jewelry on them. Before the procedure, it is recommended to lubricate your hands with cream or special massage oil.
Any massage requires consistency in performing manipulations in order to achieve the greatest effect. In addition, the selection of certain massage techniques should still be determined by an orthopedist depending on the age of the baby or the degree of complexity of the foot deformity.
As noted earlier, this procedure for hallux valgus is carried out in accordance with the sequence of manipulations.
The first action that the massage therapist should perform is as follows. The baby is lying on his back, the person performing the massage, be it a specialist or one of the parents, lifts his leg perpendicular to the plane in which the child lies.
The thigh is grasped by the massage therapist's hand so that it is located in the middle between the thumb of his hand and the other four fingers. In this position, light and slow stroking is performed at first, followed by an increase in strength and speed. However, you shouldn’t start massaging your feet just yet. Similar movements must be done at least 6 times.
Flat valgus feet require not only correction of the feet themselves, but also strengthening of the muscles of the thighs and lower legs. The next exercise will be aimed at making these muscles stronger and more resilient. The massage therapist places one hand on the baby’s leg at hip level, and the other in the calf muscle area. Applying light pressure, the specialist makes movements reminiscent of those that a housewife makes when she wrings out washed laundry. It is important not to overdo it and allow the child to experience severe pain. Such manipulations on each leg are performed about three to four times.
The next action comes down to taking the child’s foot in one adult’s hand. With the second hand, the masseur easily and smoothly carries out stroking movements. You need to start from the heel, gradually moving towards the toes.
After this, you can proceed to the next massage procedure. At the same time, the foot is also in the massage therapist’s hand, while with the other hand he must make sharp but painless movements, reminiscent of peeling a carrot. This massage exercise helps strengthen the muscles of the leg in general and the foot in particular.
Particular attention should be paid to sensitive points that are located on the sole of the foot. The fact is that the human foot has special points, each of which is responsible for one or another organ. By influencing these points, it is possible to have a beneficial effect not only on the correction of planovalgus deformity, but also on the entire child’s body.
Don't ignore your child's toes. You can stroke them with light movements, or rub them with some effort.
To strengthen the articular ligaments and the joints themselves, it is also necessary to massage. To do this, the child’s foot is taken in one hand, and with the help of the other hand, the adult must carry out light circular movements alternately, first in one direction, then in the other.
At the end of the session, it is necessary to relieve tension from the muscles so that the child does not feel stiffness after a therapeutic or preventive procedure. To do this, you need to place the baby on his stomach. The massage therapist's hands, clasped, are placed on the baby's buttocks. Then you need to slowly, without pressure, move your hands from the buttocks along the inside of the leg to the feet. This will relax the baby's leg muscles.
This is just one of the massage options for hallux valgus in a child, but you can also watch other videos that also suggest learning therapeutic massage.
Massage itself is in some cases only part of the treatment. In others, it can be called a full-fledged therapy for hallux valgus. But in both scenarios, the positive effect of the massage must be additionally supported by something. First of all, you should pay attention to the fact that the child, if we are talking about a child of non-infant age, spends as much time as possible in active movement.
In other words, the child’s life should be organized in such a way that he spends more time in outdoor games, climbing stairs or, for example, a wall bars.
It is also useful to walk barefoot on smooth, medium-sized stones or on fresh grass. If it is not possible to travel outside the city, where the child could walk barefoot in a meadow or along the sandy bank of a river, then you can purchase special orthopedic rugs for your apartment that imitate different surfaces.
Speaking of orthopedic accessories, it is important to note that the effect of the massage must be secured by wearing orthopedic shoes specially selected for a particular child.
The child’s nutrition is also important. Considering that flatfoot may be the result of a lack of minerals or vitamins, the diet of a child undergoing treatment with massage should be structured in such a way that this deficiency is fully compensated.
Almost a year passes from the exciting moment of the birth of a baby to the first very important steps in life. At first, babies walk awkwardly and waddle. With increasing walking skills, almost everyone's gait straightens, but there are cases when a child continues to walk, stepping primarily on the inner surface of the foot - this is a valgus foot - a defect that can complicate the life of a little person. This negative point will be discussed today.
Mommy's happiness takes the difficult first steps with concentration.
What is flat-valgus foot deformity?
This X-shaped position of the feet relative to each other is called “plano-valgus foot deformity.”
It is not difficult to determine the diagnosis: the baby’s feet will be located at a certain angle.
What are the reasons for the development of this disease? Hallux valgus in children can be:
The prerequisites for the occurrence and development of acquired hallux valgus deformity may be:
The most obvious symptoms of the defect are visible when the baby walks:
The little man walks courageously, overcoming fatigue.
These symptoms, except for the first two, can be found in all children who begin their first journeys on their own legs. As the baby acquires the necessary walking skills, the symptoms will disappear. It’s another matter if the child has been walking on his own for a long time, and these last 4 symptoms appear. There is no point in panicking, but you should consult a doctor for clarification of the reasons for such pathological manifestations.
The doctor, depending on the degree of deformation and the severity of the pathology, will determine the severity of the disease:
Any degree of the disease can be successfully eliminated.
Often, children diagnosed with “plano-valgus foot” develop flat feet. In later childhood, the consequences of a valgus defect include osteochondrosis, arthrosis, scoliosis, various deformities of the pelvic, knee and ankle areas. Less commonly, one of the limbs is shortened. Clubfoot develops when the foot is varus - in the opposite direction from the valgus.
Only a professional doctor can prescribe treatment for a small patient. To get rid of congenital hallux valgus, fixing plaster bandages, splints or splints are used. A pediatric orthopedist can and should select a fixing element. It takes into account the individual characteristics of the development of the defect in the child and, based on:
The outcome of numerous studies will enable the orthopedist to direct treatment in the right direction.
Treatment of acquired hallux valgus defect is usually carried out in a comprehensive manner:
There are a wide variety of ways to get rid of the disease.
Just as with congenital pathology, orthopedic splints, plaster casts and other fixing elements are widely used to treat acquired hallux valgus.
Why does the skin peel off on the arms and legs of an infant? This article will tell you how to restore softness and velvety to your skin.
Due to its effectiveness, massage for flat-valgus feet occupies a special place among all technologies for combating the disease. It regulates the tone of the muscles of the lower leg and foot, relieves excess tension and makes the muscles stronger, more elastic and resilient, and improves blood circulation. An increase in the latter helps to normalize the development and growth of the legs. To help your baby get rid of hallux valgus, you need to massage:
It is necessary to pay attention not only to problem areas.
Before starting the massage, you must first lay the baby on his tummy so that his feet hang over the edge of the massage or changing table, and place a small pillow in the shape of a bolster under his shins.
We begin massaging the back by stroking along the spine. We stroke the baby from the lower back towards the neck. Gradually increasing the distance between your hands, we stroke the entire back to the sides and armpits. From stroking we move on to light rubbing. We run them with our fingertips over the entire surface of the baby's back. Then we bend our fingers so that their tips touch the palms, and use the resulting ridges to make rubbing movements. One hand moves in one direction, the other in the opposite direction, as if sawing. You need to complete the back massage with stroking.
Let's start the therapy from the baby's back.
The lumbosacral area should be massaged by alternating stroking and rubbing. We apply a little baby cream to our hands (if the baby is not allergic to it) and begin to stroke his lower back in the direction from the spine in different directions and at the same time downwards. We carry out rubbing in the same direction.
On the gluteal area we perform circular and cross strokes. We rub the baby with the backs of our fingers, knead his muscles, patting, gently beating the baby’s buttocks. We finish the massage with stroking.
From the baby’s bottom we move to the main goal of the event.
We massage small legs in the following order:
Carefully work on the child's legs, using all the methods presented.
Massage of the legs may vary depending on the condition of the baby’s muscles. We begin the general massage with light strokes that promote blood flow to the part of the body we need. The child should be stroked from the heel to the popliteal dimple. There is no need to knead or rub the outer side of the shin too much. Here it is better to focus on relaxing techniques: stretching, stroking and shaking. On the contrary, the inner part of the calf muscle should be vigorously rubbed with the back of the fingers. We make kneading movements with the pads of our fingers. Here you need to apply force. After deep kneading, we perform tapping and “chopping” the inside of the shin with our fingers. We finish the massage of the legs with stroking.
With gentle stroking we soothe the baby's heated skin.
After all the steps have been completed, turn the baby over onto his back and perform a set of massage movements on the front surface of the thigh:
Having changed the position of the baby, we turn our attention to his hips.
all actions from the bottom up and outwards. We massage the front surface of the lower leg from the foot to the knee in the same way as with the front surface of the thigh.
Now you can turn the baby over onto his tummy.
Mommies, don’t tremble, you are doing everything right.
We begin the foot massage by giving the feet the desired position - the soles point inward. First we stroke one of the feet, then rub it vigorously. We perform the same actions with the other foot. We pay special attention to the groove between the baby’s heel and toes. We actively rub and knead it, pinch it. We also stroke and rub the upper part of the foot with slight pressure. Before massaging the top of the foot, the baby needs to be turned onto his back. Separately, massage the big toe and the foot next to it on each leg in a circular motion.
If you are worried that you will not be able to cope with the massage yourself, then it is better to use the services of a professional children's massage therapist or invite him to monitor your actions.
The strengthening effect of massage can be enhanced by special exercises:
We motivate a child from childhood to perform light gymnastics in the morning.
The listed exercises must be performed comprehensively. At first, you and your baby will do them, and when the baby grows up, he will be able to perform therapeutic movements himself.
How and in what amount should a baby gain weight? What to do if the baby eats sluggishly and the treasured grams are not added to anything is described here.
It is very difficult for newborns to get involved in the normal rhythm of life familiar to their parents. Babies confuse day and night, and keep mom and dad from sleeping. Read how to introduce your baby into a normal rhythm of life here www.o-my-baby.ru/razvitie/son/rebenok-putaet-den-i-noch.htm.
Along with massage and special exercises, therapeutic exercises help eliminate pathology. There is a whole gymnastics set of exercises for children who can already stand.
Baths with a grooved surface are a good workout for your legs.
The easiest and most enjoyable exercise to perform is jumping and walking on a small corrugated mat spread on the bottom of the bathtub . The exercise perfectly strengthens the baby’s feet without creating unnecessary stress on the child’s still fragile bone joints. It is necessary to carry out a gymnastic complex several times a day. A pediatric orthopedist should give recommendations on what are the best exercises to use to treat hallux valgus in your child.
You must also attend all physiotherapeutic procedures prescribed by the doctor and not self-medicate your baby.
“Several months ago, my baby, who was then 10 months old, was diagnosed with hallux valgus. They prescribed massage, ozokerite and amplipulse baths, and prescribed shoes to wear. We have been struggling with the problem for 5 months now. There are changes for the better. Massage combined with physiotherapy gives a very good effect! Don’t neglect these treatments!”
A child with incorrect foot placement must wear special, individually selected orthopedic shoes. The peculiarity of the latter is the presence of rigid lateral stops and heels, arch supports, individually selected functional insoles, and a small wide heel. Parents should not select such shoes themselves - this should be done by a knowledgeable specialist. He is also obliged to tell you about the duration of wearing corrective shoes (you cannot wear them all the time - the muscles may atrophy). Doctors recommend even a healthy baby to wear orthopedic shoes, starting from the first steps.
The famous children's pediatrician E. O. Komarovsky advocates walking barefoot at home with hallux valgus: “This has a positive effect not only as a hardening procedure, but also as an aid in the formation of the foot,” he says. Only the surfaces on which the child walks should not be smooth and absolutely flat. The practice of walking barefoot or wearing thin socks is used when performing therapeutic exercises.
Walking barefoot is an important aspect that parents should not miss.
Elina supports Evgeniy Olegovich:
“With a diagnosis of flat-valgus foot placement, the orthopedist prescribed walking in special boots that firmly fix the ankle joint, but we refused to wear such shoes because my daughter experienced discomfort and began to be capricious only at the sight of these boots. We were not overweight and, in addition, she and I practiced a lot of standing and walking barefoot against a support. So we decided: orthopedic shoes are not for us. Now there are significant improvements, but I believe that the difficult question of whether it is possible to do without hard boots or not should be resolved individually for each child in dialogue with an orthopedist.”
How can you avoid the appearance of acquired flat-valgus foot in a child? Prevention of the defect comes down to the following measures:
Be sure to take your baby for a long, daily exercise.
Up to 7 years of age, a flat valgus foot can be completely cured. Until the age of 12-13, you just need to slow down and adjust the process. Later treatment is practically useless.
Let's summarize the main thoughts:
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