A disorder such as flat feet is quite serious, and in most cases it is easier to prevent than to try to treat it later. The older the patient, the less likely it is to correct such a foot defect.
Flat feet is a severe orthopedic disease. Unfortunately, advanced cases of the disorder often cause large-scale health problems and sometimes lead to disability.
A child's foot is more prone to deformation, but it can easily return to its normal position. An adult's foot can be changed more slowly, but it is much more difficult to bring it back to normal.
Detection of deviations is based on the results of an examination by an orthopedist. The final diagnosis is determined after examining the x-ray.
But you can see the first manifestations yourself:
The most important is the prevention of flat feet in children, because in adults it appears due to the lack of measures and therapeutic exercises at an early age.
What is the most common cause of hallux valgus in children, what are the features of the disease and its treatment.
A rib bruise can have serious consequences if first aid is not provided in a timely manner. You can find out what symptoms accompany the injury in our material.
You can prevent the disease by adhering to the following rules:
Over the years, a deviation may appear due to prolonged wearing of incorrect shoes (tight or high heels). Often a disorder develops and the toes become deformed during important periods of life.
This is the age when the baby begins to walk, the time of active growth, puberty, pregnancy. This also includes menopause and old age in both sexes.
Therefore, preventing flat feet is important regardless of age.
The task of an adult is to strengthen the muscular system, massage the feet and legs for preventive purposes.
Exercises for flat feet in adults must be performed while sitting, legs lowered to the floor at an angle of 90?, arms lowered - this is the starting position. When performing, the speed is average, breathing is free.
Prevention of the disorder in children begins in the first year of life. During this period, it will consist of the prevention and treatment of rickets and other neurological diseases that can cause flat feet.
The moment your baby takes his first steps, you need to think about choosing children's shoes. Research by specialists from India proves that those who spent their childhood barefoot are several times less likely to have flat feet than those who wore shoes from an early age.
Walking your baby barefoot on the grass is beneficial, but walking barefoot on a flat, hard floor is extremely harmful.
But, despite the exercises, a child with flat feet should wear special insoles and arch supports during the entire complex. This will make it possible to maintain the results of gymnastics.
During the period of exercises to prevent flat feet, it is also important to develop correct posture in schoolchildren. To do this, classrooms should be equipped with special desks.
The desire of parents to teach their baby to stand and walk from an early age is completely useless. Teenage girls actively trying to wear heels or tapered shoes should also be discouraged.
Exercises for flat feet for teenagers and children:
Prevention and special exercises for the foot with flat feet are extremely necessary today. Those who put too much strain on their legs need a relaxing massage and rest.
Those who lead a sedentary lifestyle or stay in one position all day long need stimulating massage and procedures to work unused body muscles.
A set of exercises will strengthen the children’s leg muscles and prevent the disease from progressing. Your gait will become beautiful, stable, and healthy legs will open up more opportunities and enrich your life.
CUSTOM ORTHOPEDIC INSOLES
More than ten years ago, a technique was developed for the treatment of flat feet , which is based on the production of individual insoles from special flat semi-finished insoles. The advantage of this development is that the insoles are made taking into account the individual characteristics of each of the patient’s feet.
The basis of such an individual insole-support is heat-labile plastic. The insole takes on a plastic shape under the influence of temperature, is modeled directly taking into account the anatomy of the foot, hardens and fully corresponds to the individual characteristics of the human foot
The process of making custom insoles is quite simple, although it does require skill and a basic understanding of the anatomy of the foot. Frankly, I had to remake incorrectly (poorly) insoles made according to the same principle many times in other clinics.
Initially, the patient’s feet are examined using a plantoscope to identify one or another type of flatfoot in the patient. The size of the feet is determined using the Haider measurement.
Next, a rubber band is placed under the foot across the longitudinal arches; if there is transverse flatfoot, a metatarsal drop is added, which is installed directly under the heads of the metatarsal bones.
The semi-finished insole is heated with a special hairdryer, when the plastic base of the insole becomes soft (plastic) under the influence of temperature, the insole is placed under the foot.
How is arch support modeling done? It’s very simple: by pulling a rubber band, the longitudinal arches of the foot are raised to a physiological height, and the imprint of the metatarsal drop forms the transverse arch of the foot. The manipulation takes 1 minute. The insole is modeled identically for the opposite foot.
All you have to do is wait 5 minutes, the insoles will cool down, you can try them on in your shoes, and wear them to your health!
As a rule, insoles are in most cases used in shoes without heels, but if an insole is needed for shoes with heels, then in this case the insoles are modeled on special blocks of different sizes in accordance with the height of the heel.
After making insoles, some patients experience some fatigue in their legs at first, but this is a completely normal situation, your feet just need to get used to it.
Individual insoles are also made for children, preferably from 2-3 years old. The peculiarity is that children need gradual correction (taking into account the growth of the leg). Treatment of flat feet in children will relieve the child of this problem and allow him to form healthy feet.
SURGICAL TREATMENT OF FLAT FOOT
Currently, surgical methods are used to treat flat feet.
Taking into account the fact that recently a lot of patients want to correct flat feet surgically, I want to clarify this issue completely. It is worth noting that not all types of flat feet can be corrected with surgery!
Surgical treatment is sought if it is impossible to correct flat feet with insoles. Such operations are carried out only in cases of pronounced longitudinal flatfoot of high degrees (grade 2-3). For grade 1 longitudinal flatfoot, it is best to wear insoles rather than think about surgery. If the patient has transverse flatfoot, then to unload the transverse arch of the foot, either insoles or other methods of surgical treatment are used (see section Bones on the feet).
Currently, an innovative method of surgical correction of flat feet—subtalar arthroeresis—is used to correct flatvalgus feet. The essence of the operation is that a special titanium implant is placed from a mini-incision (1.5-2 cm) into the subtalar sinus of the foot. Installation of this implant allows you to change the pathological position of the bones of the foot, thereby correcting the longitudinal arches of the foot and eliminating flat feet.
In our practice we use various titanium implants: VILEX (Germany) or KALIX (France).
The operation takes about 30 minutes. The hospital stay at the clinic is only 1 day.
As a rule, such operations are most effective in adolescence and young adulthood. The optimal age is from 10 to 20 years. At this age, the feet are still growing, they are not yet “ripe”, so surgical correction will be very effective and non-traumatic.
Children and adolescents can undergo surgery on both feet at once.
No cast or crutches required. You can walk immediately after surgery.
After the operation, we make sure to make individual orthopedic insoles for the so-called external support of the operated feet.
The sutures are removed 2 weeks after surgery.
Sports activities are allowed at least 3 months after surgery.
But with severe flatfoot deformity (in a teenager or adult), installing an implant to correct flatfoot is not enough. Along with subtalar arthroeresis (implant installation), it is necessary to perform plastic surgery of the posterior tibial tendon and subcutaneous marginal tenotomy of the Achilles tendon.
Such combined operations are performed only on one foot, since after the operation you cannot step on the foot (crutches are used) + the leg is fixed with a synthetic plaster splint for 6 weeks. Surgery on the opposite foot is usually performed after 1 year.
The subtalar implant requires removal. In children, the implant can be removed upon completion of growth (at the age of 17-18 years); in adults, the implant is removed on average 1.5 years after installation.
Paradoxically, while the implant is in place, the foot remembers the given correction, and after removal it retains its shape.
In older people (over 30 years old), the installation of subtalar implants is not recommended, as it is fraught with constant pain. In this case, other types of surgical treatment are used to correct the flatvalgus foot: arthrodesis of the talonavicular joint or varius osteotomy of the calcaneus.
Fungal diseases are a common problem in humanity. Among the huge variety of medicinal products, Triderm ointment for the treatment of foot fungus and toenails has earned special treatment from specialists. It has repeatedly proven its effectiveness in the fight against fungal infections.
The medicinal composition of the ointment is a modern development of the SCHERING-PLOUGH company. LABO NV, whose products are manufactured in Belgium and also in Portugal.
The antifungal drug Triderm is so effective thanks to its components:
The hormone that is part of Triderm belongs to the group of glucocorticosteroids. It can be addictive like a narcotic. It should not be used uncontrolled or for prophylaxis.
The manufacturer offers 2 forms of the drug.
Both forms have the same effect on skin and nail fungus.
Triderm is recommended for the treatment of infections, both primary occurring on the skin and secondary, which are already a complication.
The medicine has a number of therapeutic effects.
This number of effects provides a wide spectrum of action.
Instructions for using Triderm ointment against fungus draw attention to the fact that before using either one or the other form, you should thoroughly clean the surface of the skin.
The drug should be applied in a thin layer so as to cover a small amount of healthy skin surface around the affected areas.
If there are lesions on the skin in the form of open wounds or abrasions, then you need to make sure that the drug does not get on them. This leads to the absorption of the drug into the bloodstream and causes side effects.
Frequency of application – twice a day. This is morning and evening before going to bed.
If after a month of use there is no improvement in the condition, then it is necessary to stop using Triderm and conduct a more in-depth examination to clarify the diagnosis.
Not recommended for use on large affected areas.
When using Triderm for foot fungus, you should remember about its third-party effects. Each of its three active components is capable of producing certain undesirable effects on the body.
Reviews of the use of Triderm ointment for skin fungus on the legs indicate that side effects are very rare.
Triderm ointment for foot fungus has a number of contraindications.
Pediatricians use Triderm for fungus in children only if necessary and not earlier than from the age of two. Children are at higher risk of developing unwanted effects. The maximum period of use is 5-7 days. In this case, preference should be given to the cream due to its ability to be quickly absorbed. This will prevent the medicine from getting in because your child might smear it on their fingers and then lick them. But if the damage is significant, then ointment is better.
In pregnant women, Triderm for fungus should be used only according to strict indications and being sure of 100% results.
Analogues of Triderm cream are widely available in pharmacies. These are drugs such as Betazon, Triakutan, Celemtoderm, Akriderm and others.
The price range of the cream starts from 681 rubles, and the ointment from 688 rubles.
I helped my friend harvest potatoes in the village. Foolishly, I didn’t take any shoes and had to use the galoshes offered. I steamed in them all day due to the heat, and in the evening I discovered reddish areas between my fingers. Then they began to enlarge, peel off and itch mercilessly. I had to go to the doctor, who offered me Triderm ointment. After just 3 days of use, I got rid of all symptoms and was very pleased with the treatment.
The fungus was discovered during my annual medical examination. Triderm cream was prescribed. At the end of the course of treatment, the disease disappeared and does not appear again. I recommend to everyone.
Most often, people who suffer from varicose veins in the lower extremities, flat feet or neurological disorders complain about tired legs. The legs of those who, due to their profession, walk a lot, spend the working day standing or carry heavy loads, get very tired. These people feel pain, heaviness and burning in their legs after work.
In healthy people, untrained leg muscles ache after a long walk, especially if they have extra pounds.
And in this case, creams, gels and ointments for feet from fatigue and pain help cope with unpleasant sensations.
They have different compositions and different consistencies: ointments are made on a fatty basis, creams and gels are more liquid and are better absorbed. But they all act the same way: they increase blood circulation, improve blood flow in blood vessels and relax spasmodic muscles.
First of all, lactic acid is to blame for this, which accumulates in the muscles during excessive loads.
Athletes structure their training in such a way as to speed up the removal of this substance from muscle fibers, but with spontaneous, irregular excess load (to put it simply, “a walk in the park”), it is released slowly and, when disintegrating, causes heaviness in the legs.
The second reason is sprained ligaments with swelling and pain, when excessive unusual load leads to micro-tears of muscle fibers and damage to the smallest vessels. Tissue nutrition deteriorates and they do not have time to recover.
Creams, gels and ointments for tired and painful legs come in two types: warming and cooling. Both groups of therapeutic and prophylactic agents have an analgesic effect, reduce severity and pain, relieve inflammation and swelling.
In some cases, it is preferable to use warming ointments (they improve blood circulation in the legs when the ligaments are sprained, and lactic acid is washed out faster).
Sometimes cooling ointments and creams give the best effect. Some ointments additionally contain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): diclofenac, indomethacin, ibuprofen and others.
Warming ointments contain substances that irritate the skin, thereby increasing the flow of blood to the muscles.
Such drugs may contain:
Such ointments slightly increase blood flow to the skin and cause a feeling of slight warmth. Methyl salicylate has an anti-inflammatory effect.
Warming foot ointments should not be used immediately after a sprain!
In the first hours and even days, they can increase inflammation, so doctors recommend using them a few days after the injury. They can also be used to prevent injuries, warming up the muscles before the upcoming load.
Capsicam®. This “burning” ointment is intended for the treatment of radiculitis, osteochondrosis, arthritis and neuralgia, but its indications also include a warming massage for athletes. Its main components are camphor and turpentine oil. It is used 2-3 times a day.
Apizartron®. The main active ingredients are bee venom, methyl salicylate and allyl isothiocyanate (has a local irritant effect). The ointment is used for joint diseases, muscle pain and neuralgia, and swelling. Apply 2-3 times a day, intensively rubbing into the skin. After application, the painful area can be loosely wrapped in a warm scarf, and if you rub your feet, wear warm socks.
Viprosal B®. The ointment contains snake venom, camphor, turpentine oil, salicylic acid. It is prescribed for pain of any origin in the joints and muscles. Rub 1-2 times a day; the treated area should be kept warm, but not under a bandage.
Nicoflex (capsoicil, hydroxyethyl salicylate, ethyl nicotinate). Used for neuralgic pain, joint diseases, polyarthritis and arthrosis, as well as for sprains and for warming massage. For sprains, apply 1-2 times a day, morning and evening; when treating other diseases, the frequency of application is determined by the doctor.
Other warming ointments are also very effective - Efkamon®, Finalgon®.
It must be remembered that all ointments can cause allergies and have contraindications, especially if applied to large areas of the skin, such as the shins.
Therefore, you should consult your doctor before using them. If this is not possible, apply a small amount of ointment to the crook of your elbow and wait half an hour. Burning (even severe) and redness indicate the normal action of the ointment, but if a rash or swelling appears, the ointment should not be used.
They increase vascular tone, prevent varicose veins, stimulate metabolism and enhance tissue regeneration.
Cooling foot ointment irritates the surface of the epidermis, relieves swelling, improves blood circulation and reduces leg fatigue. Unlike warming ointments, which actually increase the temperature of the skin, cooling ointments cause a feeling of coldness and freshness, but do not affect the temperature of the skin.
Unlike warming ointments, cooling ointments can be used immediately after an injury or at the moment when you feel pain, heaviness, or fatigue.
The composition of such ointments usually includes:
In order not to provoke blood overflow, cooling ointments are not rubbed into the skin, but applied to it in a thin layer. The ointment will be absorbed by itself.
Some of the ointments can be applied under a bandage, if indicated in the instructions; when using others, you should not warm the muscle with a warm bandage or carry out other thermal procedures.
Ben-Gay®, Bengin, Bom-Bengue. The first of these, Ben-Gay® ointment, is available in three forms: for pain relief, for warming up sports massage and for arthritis. It has a mild effect, the ointment is based on methyl salicylate and racementol, their proportions in each form of the ointment are different. The ointment is applied 3-4 times a day; additional heating of the treated area is not recommended. Bengin and Bom-Benge have a similar composition (methyl salicylate and menthol) and similar properties, but they are applied 2-3 times a day.
Efkamon®. Main active ingredients:
The ointment is used for inflammation of the joints, sciatica, muscles (myositis) and any muscle pain. When applied in a thin layer, the ointment has a cooling effect, but when applied generously, a burning sensation may begin. Apply 2-3 times a day.
Ointment "Sofia" with leeches. Its main components are leech and horse chestnut extracts. Leech extract improves blood circulation; horse chestnut removes swelling, increases blood flow and strengthens the walls of blood vessels. In addition, the ointment contains herbal extracts (chamomile, chamomile, etc.); alcohol solutions of aloe and horsetail; vitamins; softening and nourishing components (panthenol and collagen).
The ointment is used for fatigue and swelling of the legs, heaviness in the legs, muscle cramps and in more serious cases: inflammation of the veins, varicose veins of the lower extremities, trophic ulcers of the lower legs. It is applied 2-3 times a day, rubbing over the skin for several minutes.
Venoruton® gel (other names - Rutozid, Ruton) is considered a good preventative against fatigue in the legs It contains plant components rutosides and alcohol, its consistency is more delicate than that of ointments. Therefore, it is better absorbed and does not need to be rubbed into the skin for a long time. Venoruton® is used for sprains and tired legs; it cools, relieves pain, and relieves muscle tension. The gel is used repeatedly during the day, applied under a bandage, but it should not be insulating.
Therapeutic ointments and creams that are used for varicose veins can also be used by those who do not suffer from varicose veins. It is the stagnation of blood in the vessels of the lower extremities that causes a feeling of heaviness in the legs, and when blood circulation returns to normal, it disappears.
Ointment for varicose veins as an ointment for tired legs is recommended for people who for some reason cannot use cooling and warming ointments (for example, due to a tendency to allergies) or to prevent varicose veins. They usually contain the anticoagulant heparin, which reduces blood viscosity and prevents the formation of blood clots, and relieves swelling in the legs.
Troxevasin® gel (Troxerutin gel) based on the flavonoid rutin has an anti-inflammatory effect, relieves swelling, and strengthens capillaries. It is useful for people who have to stand for a long time to prevent varicose veins. The gel is applied morning and evening, or under a bandage.
Heparin ointment (Hepatrombin ointment, Lyoton® gel) contains heparin and anesthesin. Heparin prevents blood clotting, improves its fluidity and eliminates heaviness in the legs due to stagnation of blood in the veins of the lower extremities, anesthesin relieves pain in tired legs. Gepatrombin ointment additionally includes pine and lemon oils, levomenthol, and Lyoton® gel – lavender and neroli oils.
Pregnant women understandably often experience pain and fatigue in their legs and may develop varicose veins. However, you should not choose your own creams and ointments for tired legs and varicose veins during pregnancy. Some of them are absolutely safe, others can only be used with a doctor's permission.
If your legs are tired, but there are no varicose veins and other diseases of blood vessels, ligaments, and joints, you should not get carried away with ointments and medicinal creams with NSAIDs (for example, diclofenac).
But if ordinary ointments for tired legs do not help you, then perhaps it is caused by a disease that you do not yet know about, and which must be diagnosed and treated.
Fatigue of the legs very often bothers people who suffer from varicose veins in the lower extremities, flat feet or neurological disorders. Fatigue also affects those who, due to their duties, are forced to walk, stand, or carry heavy objects a lot. Their legs experience heaviness, burning and pain.
In any case, various means can help get rid of such discomfort, in particular, creams, gels and ointments for feet from fatigue and pain.
Legs get tired for various reasons. Most often this happens due to:
The problem can be solved in several ways by using appropriate medications.
Warming ointments contain a substance that slightly irritates the skin, thereby increasing the flow of blood to the muscles and the feeling of warmth.
Methyl salicylate has an anti-inflammatory effect.
At the initial stages, such ointments can increase inflammation, so experts recommend using them a few days after the injury. You can also use them for prophylaxis before an upcoming heavy load.
As examples we can cite such ointments as:
Finalgon can be one of the warming remedies for fatigue and swelling of the legs.
Other warming ointments - Efkamon, Finalgon - will also be quite effective.
Before using such medications, you should consult your doctor. If it is not possible to carry out a consultation, then apply the product to the skin of your elbow, wait 30 minutes and look at the result. Severe burning and redness indicate that the medicine is working normally, but if a rash or swelling appears, the ointment should not be used.
Ointments of this type increase the tone of blood vessels, prevent varicose veins, stimulate metabolism and enhance tissue restoration.
Cooling foot ointment irritates the surface of the skin, relieves swelling, improves blood circulation and reduces foot fatigue. Compared to warming ointments, cooling ointments do not cause blood flow and do not increase the temperature of the skin. They cause a feeling of cold and freshness.
If warming ointments can be used a couple of days after an injury, then cooling ointments can be used immediately after an injury or at the moment when pain is felt.
To properly apply the cooling ointment, you do not need to rub it into the skin, but rather apply it in a thin layer. This will help prevent blood overflow. The ointment itself will be well absorbed.
Carefully re-read the instructions and check whether a particular ointment can be applied under a bandage.
Examples of cooling ointments include:
Medicines for varicose veins are recommended for use by those who, for some reason, cannot use cooling and warming ointments as therapeutic and prophylactic agents. For example, this may be due to a person's tendency to allergies. They usually contain the anticoagulant heparin, which reduces blood viscosity and prevents the formation of blood clots, and relieves swelling in the legs.
For varicose veins, doctors may recommend using the following medications:
Most often, pregnant women experience pain and fatigue in their legs. They are the ones most susceptible to varicose veins. But they cannot independently choose creams and ointments for varicose veins, because this can harm the expectant mother.
If ordinary ointments for tired legs do not help you, then the cause may be some kind of disease. Therefore, it is better to consult a doctor to determine the source of inflammation, and then treat it with suitable medications.
Doctors' advice will help you understand the problem and how to quickly relieve fatigue and swelling of your legs. You can learn about them in the next video.
Flat feet is a fairly serious disease that needs to be treated as quickly as possible. If you ignore the symptoms of the pathological process, this can lead to serious complications. In such situations, people begin to develop problems with the spine and joint diseases.
Currently, the following types of disease are distinguished in medical practice:
In addition to the types listed above, when making a diagnosis, flat feet are also classified depending on the severity and can be:
Doctors recommend that you be attentive to your health and, when the first signs indicating the development of flat feet appear, immediately seek advice from a specialist. The main features include:
Symptoms of varicose veins and more can be:
If you have these symptoms, you need to know that this is stage l of varicose veins. How our readers solve foot problems.
As soon as you notice at least one of the signs listed above in yourself or your loved ones, you should immediately seek help from a medical facility. It is strictly forbidden to ignore the signs, as well as try to cope with the symptoms that arise on your own. The seriousness of the disease lies in the fact that in the early stages of development, flat feet can be cured, but later it will be impossible to cope with the pathology.
When a diagnosis such as flat feet is made, both in adults and in children, it is necessary to begin treatment as quickly as possible, which, regardless of what can be done at home, must necessarily be agreed upon with a doctor. Otherwise, the pathology may continue to develop and lead to irreparable consequences. Before choosing a method to remove flat feet, you should first find out the reason that triggered the occurrence of this pathological process.
The following diseases and factors can provoke the occurrence of flat feet:
In order to eliminate all the reasons listed above, you should systematically work on strengthening the ligaments. This can only be achieved through regular training. If flat feet have already appeared, then it should be diagnosed in a timely manner and treated without fail, strictly adhering to all the recommendations of the attending physician, because only he can find a way to cure flat feet in children, adolescents and adults as quickly as possible in a hospital setting, as well as at home conditions.
Before you decide whether flat feet can be cured in an adult or child, you must correctly diagnose and identify the stage of development of the pathology. To do this, you should contact a medical facility as early as possible at the first suspicion.
As practice shows, a diagnosis such as flat feet can be acquired during life or congenital.
To make an accurate diagnosis, many methods are used, which include the following:
Note! The most reliable method for diagnosing flat feet is to visit a specialist.
It is not recommended to detect the development of flat feet at home, since in this case the diagnosis may be incorrectly made, which in turn will lead to the progression of the disease, getting rid of which will be very problematic, and in some cases even impossible.
If an adult is diagnosed with transverse flatfoot, then unfortunately, no matter what treatment is prescribed and where it is carried out in a hospital or at home, it is impossible to completely cure it. Therefore, the best option is to select means to alleviate and eliminate unpleasant symptoms.
For transverse flatfoot in adults, it should be treated in such a way as to eliminate the signs of pathology at home as quickly as possible; it is recommended to use the following methods:
Among other things, in order to get rid of flat feet as quickly as possible for an adult or child, you can use prepared special decoctions, which can be prepared from the following products:
Also, to eliminate signs of flat feet, you can use alcohol tincture of immortelle, which can perfectly eliminate pain.
As practice shows, it is possible to cure flat feet at home only if it is detected in grade 1; as for grades 2 and 3, more serious methods, such as surgery, should be used for treatment.
Despite the fact that traditional medicine, in addition to being very effective and having virtually no side effects, should not be used without a doctor’s prescription. This way you can avoid a number of possible complications and side effects.
During treatment, it is strictly forbidden to stand on your feet for a long time, as well as to allow yourself to become overtired.
The statement that it is easier to prevent a disease than to get rid of it later is fully consistent with such a disease as flat feet. In order to prevent the occurrence of this pathological process, the following recommendations should be followed:
By following these fairly simple recommendations, you can prevent the occurrence of flat feet, and even if this pathological process does affect you, they will help avoid the progression of the disease and the occurrence of irreparable consequences that can negatively affect human health.
Among other things, if even minor signs appear, you should immediately seek qualified help, since only a doctor, based on the diagnosis, will be able to select the most effective treatment.