Prevention of flat feet in preschool children
Modern children spend a lot of time sitting still on computers, phones and other devices, forgetting about active games. This lifestyle leads to the development of many diseases, not least of which is flat feet.
The first serious preventive examination of a child in our country begins only at the age of 7, upon entering school, despite the fact that the problem of foot health can manifest itself much earlier. Most parents do not notice these changes and are not aware of the consequences.
Flat feet are one of the most common and difficult to treat diseases of modern children. It is characterized by changes in the longitudinal and transverse arches due to weakness of the ligamentous and muscular apparatus.
Depending on the cause of the disease, flat feet can be congenital or acquired.
Congenital pathology is most often diagnosed in children under one year of age and can be corrected by realigning the bones. In the most difficult cases, doctors may recommend surgery. However, this happens extremely rarely, since anesthesia is not recommended for children under one year of age.
Acquired flatfoot in children from one to 13 years of age is divided into 4 types: traumatic, paralytic, rachitic, static.
Traumatic pathology develops due to the presence of mechanical damage to bones (ligaments, muscles). To prevent the development of pathology after healing, doctors initially recommend undergoing therapeutic massage.
Paralytic pathology develops due to the presence of a number of serious diseases, namely: polio, stroke, traumatic brain injury. The cause of this type of disease is paralysis of the muscle tissues of the foot.
Rachitic pathology is formed due to a history of rickets, which provoked deviations in the development of natural bone formation.
Static pathology is the most common type of disease, which develops due to weakness of muscle tissue and ligaments. Therefore, therapeutic massage is the basis of a complex of preventive measures. The reasons for the development of this form of the disease can be different, namely:
Symptoms of the disease
The symptoms of the disease largely depend on the cause of the disease and the environment conducive to progression. So, for example, a violation of the shape of the arches of the feet can lead to a change in the structure of the musculoskeletal system, which is accompanied by pain in the feet, knees, pelvis, lumbar region, and head.
Therefore, if parents notice changes in their children’s gait or club feet, they should immediately consult a doctor. The reasons for the development of pathology may be different, but timely diagnosis and prevention of flat feet in kindergarten will help protect the child from developing more serious diseases.
The most common concomitant diseases of flat feet are osteochondrosis, arthrosis, and scoliosis.
Prevention of changes in the shape of the arches involves performing not only a set of therapeutic measures, massage, but also observing the rules of personal hygiene. In order to exclude the causes of the disease, treatment must be continuous until complete recovery.
Prevention of flat feet includes various measures that have a positive effect on the formation of the arch of the foot: massage, good shoes, therapeutic exercises.
When choosing shoes for the prevention of pathology, you need to pay attention to the following points:
If a child is at risk of pathology, then prevention of flat feet should be started as early as possible by performing special exercises for preschool children.
Therapeutic exercises for foot problems should always begin with a short warm-up. To do this, the child must take off his shoes and stand barefoot or wearing thin knitted socks on a non-slip surface.
Then you need to turn on fun children's music and start warming up with your child in the following sequence:
On the inside of the foot.
On the outside of the foot.
At a slight angle.
On an uneven surface. As such a surface, you can use special preventative mats from the store or made by yourself. These products provide acupressure of the feet, improving blood circulation and muscle tone.
Exercise "Little Ducklings"
All exercises are performed in a sitting position. The handles are positioned behind the body.
"Ducklings are walking." In the starting position, we walk in place, trying not to lift our socks off the floor.
"The ducklings are catching up." From the starting position, resting on the outer arch of the foot, raise the inner one and return to the starting position.
"Ducklings quack." From the starting position, the heels rise, spread in different directions and the children shout: “Quack-quack-quack.”
The exercises should be performed for at least 1 minute, repeating 4 to 6 times each.
Therapeutic gymnastics exercises
The effectiveness of exercises and measures to influence the muscles of the foot may vary. They are selected depending on the degree of development of the disease, the child’s age, interests and personal preferences.
Remember that children are more interested in doing exercises in the company of you, so try to engage your child as enthusiastically as possible.
Therapeutic massage for flat feet should be performed by a qualified specialist who can correctly select the most effective technique. However, if it is not possible to get a massage from a professional, then you can do it at home.
Therapeutic massage should be performed not only on the feet, but also along the entire leg (if necessary, on the lumbar region). Massage is done by kneading, stroking, rubbing the body.
By following all the specialist’s recommendations, you can restore the shape of the arch of the foot in preschool age so that flat feet never bother the child.
Flatfoot is a deformation of the foot in the form of flattening of the longitudinal or transverse layer. According to ICD-10 codes, a number of classifications of such foot deformities are called. Only a doctor determines the presence of flat feet and prescribes the necessary treatment.
According to ICD 10, a list of types of deformities is described. Each one is assigned different codes.
The following types of flat feet are distinguished:
There are varying degrees of disease depending on the angle of the arch of the foot. Each degree is characterized by separate clinical signs.
The first degree reveals mild clinical signs. Sometimes the patient simply does not feel any discomfort while walking. Disorders in the lower part of the musculoskeletal system are often invisible. Patients are able to use their own feet “normally.”
The second degree is intermittent, or moderate flat feet. Pathologies are visible to the eye. As the disease progresses, patients experience pain in joints and muscles, and their gait changes. Sometimes patients go clubbing.
The third degree is pronounced flat feet. Complete deformation of the foot occurs. With this degree of disease, pronounced gait disturbances and spinal curvature are detected. There is a high risk of disability for the patient; with severe flatfoot, progressive destruction of the musculoskeletal system occurs with ensuing dire consequences.
The presence of the disease can be detected by the following signs:
The presence of flat feet can be recognized by external signs:
The most characteristic sign of the disease, which makes it easier to identify flat feet, is pain. The calf muscles hurt, the muscles in the legs ache, signaling problems with the tarsus. It is typical that the pain does not occur immediately, intensifying towards the end of the day, when tension and fatigue accumulate in the muscles. The pain can be severe if a person has been standing for a long time.
How to determine flat feet is a question that is relevant for many. Simple tests have been developed to help determine the presence of flat feet. The technique is simple.
It’s easy to do a small test at home: coat your soles with paint and leave an imprint on paper. The load with this method for determining flat feet is uniform.
Draw a line on the resulting print to measure its relationship to the length of the foot. When the footprint occupies more than half the length of the foot, this indicates flat feet. However, the final diagnosis of flat feet is carried out in a clinical setting.
At home, it is possible to conduct a test using the Friedland method. The method of checking the foot is simple: the height and length of the foot are measured. The height is multiplied by 100 and divided by the length. Normally, the result is a number from 29 to 31. A decrease in the indicator indicates the presence of flat feet.
A test for the presence of flat feet based on the footprint of the foot is also done in a clinic. At home there is no way to determine the degree of transverse and longitudinal flatfoot; it is better to entrust the diagnosis to a doctor. The doctor carries out diagnostic measures.
At the clinic, the patient will be given comprehensive information on how to identify flat feet and prevent their occurrence.
Sometimes you can hear that all children are born with flat feet. It's true: even at home, children will be able to detect the defect visually. Until the age of two, a child has a flat arch. This is a physiological condition: the child’s bone tissue is soft, elastic, filled with a fatty layer. When children stand on their feet, intensive development of the foot begins: the amount of minerals in the bones increases.
Gradually, the outline of the foot takes on an adult appearance. The longer the child is on his feet, the faster the process happens. Before the age of five, the foot is formed; parents need to be attentive so as not to miss the onset of development of dangerous foot disorders in children.
The health of children requires attention, and great responsibility lies with the parents. The child is unable to specifically describe his own symptoms, pointing only to pain. Parents discover something is wrong when they see irregularities in gait, notice lameness, and the child’s desire to play sedentary and quiet games.
For the health of the child, it is important to conduct a high-quality diagnosis. Acceptable - following a trace on paper at home. It is possible to use vegetable oil: the mark is also noticeable.
Take paint or oil and rub the child’s feet with it. The child stands on the paper, leaving an imprint. If the footprint shows flattening in a thin area of the foot, this is a sign that the child is developing flat feet. It is possible to show the mark on paper to the doctor.
A pediatric orthopedist diagnoses severe degrees of flat feet in a child using x-rays. The method is low-traumatic for the child’s psyche and is informative.
In cases of severe flat feet in children, the orthopedist makes a diagnosis based on the footprint by measuring the podometric index. Often the foot is examined using casts. The method provides comprehensive information about the formation of all parts of the foot. When flat feet are detected in children, the pediatrician registers the patient.
To prevent children from developing flat feet, pay attention to their shoes. It should have a solid back and heel. It is important that it is small. The insole should have a slight thickening to prevent the formation of flat feet. Shoes are selected according to size, no more and no less. Boots must support the ankle joint.
Exercise is good for adults. They are performed at home. A pediatrician will prescribe a set of necessary measures. It is important to walk barefoot on hard surfaces. Women need to remember that wearing high-heeled shoes contributes to the intensive development of flat feet. A sedentary lifestyle is a significant factor in the development of foot disease. Every day you need to move and do as much physical exercise as possible.
Preventing flat feet is much easier than treating the disease. Remember this if you want to have a healthy musculoskeletal system. Eliminate risks to health and life.
Parents should be able to identify flat feet in a child, or at least notice its first signs. But how to determine flat feet without having the slightest idea about it? You will find the answer to this difficult question by reading this article.
The fact is that regular examination of the child can prevent the development of the worst enemy for children's feet - flat feet. Of course, you can examine your child yourself, having studied all the intricacies of the methods that we will present below, but you should keep in mind that this article is for informational purposes only and is not a guide to self-medication - entrust the health of your children to professionals - experienced doctors in the field of orthopedics.
As you know, children are born with so-called “imaginary flat feet.” From the moment a child begins to learn to walk, the longitudinal arch of the foot begins to gradually decrease. By the age of 3 years, intensive strengthening and development of ligaments and muscles occurs, as a result of which the height of the arches increases. But it also happens that at 2-3 years of age, due to weakened muscles and ligaments, the arched structure of the foot does not form in a child - and as a result, flat feet develop.
In order to prevent the development of flat feet, it must be diagnosed as early as possible.
Since it is almost impossible for parents to determine flat feet (if any) on their own, it is recommended that starting from the age of one, the child should be shown to an orthopedic doctor. Diagnosis of flat feet is carried out by an experienced orthopedic doctor who, using modern techniques, knows how to determine flat feet.
Determination of flat feet in a child is made on the basis of data from a direct orthopedic examination, measurements of the foot, possible complaints, as well as additional methods of determination. Diagnostics allows you to determine the degree of flat feet, the level of pathology of the joints of the feet, all changes in the functions of the foot and the musculoskeletal system in general.
Today, there are many methods for determining flat feet. Let's look at the most effective of them.
Plantography is a method for determining flat feet, which allows you to determine the condition of the arches of the foot, in which an imprint is taken from the plantar part of the foot - a plantogram. The plantograph itself is a wooden frame with a stretched canvas covered with plastic film. The canvas is moistened with special stamp paint. A sheet of paper with the child’s data is placed on the side painted with paint, and the child stands with both feet in the middle of the frame, and foot prints remain on the paper.
The doctor evaluates the study based on the location of the lines on the print: a tangent line is drawn to the points of the inner edge of the foot that are most protruding, and a line is drawn from the middle of the base of the big toe to the middle of the heel. Next, a perpendicular is drawn again through the middle of the second line until it intersects with the print.
The doctor can decipher the data obtained using various methods for determining flat feet, usually using the Yaralov-Yaralend, Smirnov, Volkmann or Chizhin method. So, for example, using the Chizhin method, you can determine the degree of flat feet in a child using the data contained in the following table:
Flat feet is a pathology of the foot joint, characterized by changes and drooping of the arch. The condition is a common problem. The causes of the pathology may be working conditions, excess body weight. The situation is aggravated by wearing uncomfortable shoes, chosen without taking into account the characteristics of the foot. It is important to diagnose the disorder in a timely manner. Changes in the later stages are irreversible. A qualified podiatrist will tell you how to identify flat feet.
Many people are interested in how to find out if they have flat feet. The presence of pathology is indicated by various external manifestations. It is important to pay attention to them in a timely manner.
There are other symptoms that accompany changes in the arch of the foot. A person gets tired quickly when walking. By the end of the day, swelling of the limbs appears. A careful inspection of your shoes will help identify flat feet. It is important to determine exactly how shoes or boots wear down. The presence of a disease is indicated by the unevenness of this process. Women with joint deformities usually refuse dress shoes with heels.
Signs may indicate the presence of other musculoskeletal diseases. For this reason, orthopedists recommend checking for flat feet not only through a visual examination.
Methods for determining flat feet at home make it possible to identify the stage of the disease. The more pronounced the disorder, the more clearly the external symptoms are felt.
You can suspect that you have a broken arch of the foot based on the painful sensations that appear. At the first stage, slight discomfort appears. At the end of the day a person feels tired. At the same time, the feet themselves do not yet undergo degenerative changes. At this time, sets of exercises are effective. Therapeutic exercises, as well as lifestyle correction, will not allow the disease to develop.
Gradually the painful sensations increase. If preventive measures are not taken in the early stages, the feet begin to thicken. The first changes concern the height of the arch of the foot.
Further the situation worsens. The pain becomes chronic. Swelling appears. The foot becomes completely flat. The disease in later stages is complemented by other conditions. May appear:
In this case, preventive measures will no longer be relevant. Joint deformity in the later stages of flat feet cannot be corrected.
Flat feet in humans can manifest themselves in two forms. The longitudinal version involves a simultaneous increase in the length and width of the foot. Due to this, the height of the arch is reduced. Transverse flatfoot looks different. The foot itself is shortened. Only its front part increases. At the same time, the transverse arch decreases. This type of pathology can be diagnosed by painful sensations in the fingers. Their skin often turns red. One of the complications of this condition is bursitis - inflammation of the periarticular bursae.
When diagnosing flat feet, one cannot rely solely on external symptoms. Many people are interested in how to determine flat feet at home. To obtain a reliable result, orthopedists recommend conducting a special test.
To perform this, you will need to apply a thick layer of rich cream to your feet. It can be replaced with any vegetable oil. After this, stand with your feet on a sheet of thick white paper. It is important not to lean on any foreign objects with your hands. In this case, the result may be unreliable. The resulting prints will allow you to assess the condition of your feet and identify musculoskeletal disorders.
Information about the condition of the foot can be supplemented using additional print analysis. In the image, a straight line is drawn from the bone of the big toe to the heel. Fix the center of the resulting line and draw a perpendicular to it. Next, consider the bottleneck of the foot relative to the resulting lines.
Using the technique, not only the presence of pathology is determined, but also the degree of flatfoot. The interpretation of test results is discussed in the table.
This definition of flat feet is suitable for adults. The structure of a child's foot is different. Children have more fatty tissue, which makes it difficult to correctly interpret the results.
The footprint of a child under 5 years old is of little information for parents. The baby should be shown to a pediatrician and a competent orthopedic surgeon. The doctor will analyze external symptoms and tell you how to diagnose foot arch problems in children.
Flat feet in children will be determined by certain features. It is important for parents to monitor their child's gait. The first signal about the development of pathology is clubfoot. When walking, the toes turn slightly inward. Another worrisome symptom is resting on the inside of the arch of the foot. A child with incipient flat feet often complains of tired legs. Due to swelling, shoes become tight and uncomfortable.
If you suspect flat feet, the orthopedist will suggest you undergo additional diagnostics. Modern medicine offers several methods.
If a child is diagnosed with flat feet, treatment should begin immediately. This will avoid serious problems in the future. Therapy consists of performing special exercises. The identified disease is corrected with the help of orthopedic shoes.
Flat feet require timely diagnosis and treatment. Pathology over time leads to problems with the entire musculoskeletal system. Changes affect the knee joints and lumbar spine. They are associated with improper weight distribution when walking and lack of shock absorption in the feet. Following the recommendations of the orthopedist and the rules of prevention will help to avoid dangerous complications.
In search of an answer to the question of how to determine flat feet, you should pay attention not only to medical methods, but also to folk methods. In the latter case, it is important to promptly suspect flattening of the foot in order to take radical measures to prevent pathology at an early age.
Diagnosing flat feet using traditional methods makes it possible to recognize changes in a child’s feet. The easiest way is a home rapid test. To carry it out, you need to lubricate the child’s soles with fatty cream.
After this, the baby is placed with both feet on a clean white sheet of paper. The child must stand upright on it so that the prints are uniform. You need to rest completely on the entire sole.
Normally, there is an indentation along the inside of the foot on the print, which occupies about half the width of the sole. It should be noted that usually in adults its width does not exceed a third of the sole.
Sole print during home express test/
How to recognize flat feet using a home rapid test:
In addition to a quick test, diagnosing flat feet at home can also be based on external signs of the disease.
If adults' legs get tired after walking, and swelling appears when standing in one place, a foot deformity should be suspected;
In the evening, with a flat foot, pain appears, but it is quite difficult to identify them when the child cannot speak. You can only look for painful spots on the sole, and if the child quickly removes his feet, the likelihood of his foot flattening is high. In this case, doctors recommend performing x-rays only in case of serious external changes. First, a foot massage is prescribed, which, in case of 1st degree flat feet, will help strengthen the foot muscles.
A child's foot may quickly increase in size. Parents should be concerned if one is larger than the other. In such a situation, an x-ray will help to recognize the cause of the changes.
In adults, when pain spreads above the knee, as well as impaired mobility of the limb, a photograph of the foot in frontal and lateral projection is prescribed quite often. It is this that allows us to identify the cause of changes.
With transverse flattening in a child, the degree of flatfoot can be determined by additional symptoms. So, with the 2nd degree, there is an outward displacement of the big toe, the formation of a “bump” at its base, and a hammer-shaped deformation of the metatarsal bones.
The above symptoms do not necessarily indicate primary pes planus. It may appear as a secondary symptom of other diseases. In this case, a diagnosis of flat feet is carried out in combination with an extensive range of studies to identify all diseases.
A medical plantograph for determining flat feet resembles a home test. When performing the study, Lugol's solution is used instead of a fatty cream. The product covers the sole firmly and gives more accurate results. It should be noted that x-rays are an even more reliable method for determining the condition of the bones of the foot. The image will also help determine the degree of pathology. In adults, radiography of the foot is almost always used when a flattened arch is suspected.
Podometry using the Fridland method is a rare study. To carry it out, special equipment is required. The method makes it possible to determine the podometric index in adults. This indicator is also used when it is necessary to determine the degree of flat foot, but it is not possible to use x-rays. Podometry evaluates the length and height of the foot (the distance from the navicular bone to the base of the sole). Normally this distance is 27-29 mm. A decrease in the index to 25 mm is a sign of severe flatfoot.
X-ray of the foot in two projections is the most accurate method. For children, x-rays are prescribed according to strict indications, and in adults they are almost always performed if a pathology is suspected. The image allows the orthopedist to assess the angle of the deformity, as well as to reliably determine the degree of flatfoot. X-rays are taken in frontal and lateral projections. In this case, the patient rests on only one leg (functional load). This way the photo turns out to be as reliable as possible. The results of the x-ray are assessed by a radiologist. According to them, the orthopedist-traumatologist prescribes qualified treatment for the pathology.
Basic dimensions for assessing flat feet.
Podometry in adults does not have a high degree of reliability. It is performed only when x-rays are not possible for certain reasons. For example, a person refuses to conduct research because he does not want to be exposed to radiation.
X-rays are contraindicated for children. It is prescribed only if the likelihood of complications from the pathology is more dangerous than the harm from x-ray diagnostics. For example, if a child has muscle paralysis or Down's disease, as they will quickly lead to the development of the 3rd degree of flat foot.
If parents perform a flatfoot test at home and receive suspicious results, the decision about whether to use an x-ray should rest with the doctor. In rare cases, there is still a need for this.
Clubfoot after birth is observed in many children, but it is not necessarily a sign of pathology. The child spends nine months in utero with his legs tucked under. If it were possible to take an x-ray of a pregnant woman, the image would show an inward rotation of the foot. However, after childbirth, the foot gradually straightens out as the ligaments and muscles become stronger. However, if the foot does not return to normal in time, you should consult a specialist.
To summarize, an X-ray of the foot when flat feet is suspected is always performed in adults, as it is a reliable method for determining the extent of the disease. When diagnosing pathology in children, it is better to use other methods.
Podometry at home is the most optimal and least traumatic test for a small child. X-ray diagnosis of flat feet in children is carried out in rare cases. It should be prescribed by a qualified specialist when other methods do not provide the necessary data for competent treatment.
Flat feet are a type of orthopedic deformity. It is determined by a decrease in the height (h) of the transverse and longitudinal arches of the foot, which act as shock absorbers when walking, and by their flattening.
There are primary transverse and longitudinal types of flatfoot, and combined flatfoot occurs when both types are combined. The prevalence of transverse flatfoot in combination with other deviations is 55.23%, longitudinal flatfoot is 29.3%.
When longitudinal flatfoot occurs, the foot lengthens. It lengthens due to a decrease in the height of the longitudinal arch. With transverse flatfoot, it is shortened due to flattening of the metatarsal bones, valgus abduction of the big toe and hammertoe deformity of the third toe.
As body weight increases (obesity, pregnancy), the load on the arches of the feet increases, which leads to progression of the disease.
By nature, flat feet are distinguished:
Factors contributing to the development of flat feet include genetic predisposition, excessive stress on the arches of the feet (wearing heavy objects, obesity, pregnancy), wearing inappropriate shoes (high heels, tight shoes, narrow toes, platform shoes), muscle atrophy due to long-term absence loads (long-term immobilization for fractures, sedentary lifestyle, weightlessness in space).
Often, older women pay for wearing high-heeled shoes in their youth with “bumps” in the area of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. The ideal heel size for adult shoes is 3-4 cm, for children's shoes - 1-1.5 cm. Platform shoes and sneakers are also considered unfavorable.
For the proper development and training of the arches of children's feet, it is sometimes necessary to force them to walk barefoot on sand, pebbles, and grass. This massages the muscles of the foot.
Walking barefoot on parquet, laminate, or floor tiles is considered unfavorable.
Diagnostics and treatment of flat feet are carried out by podiatrists (doctors, foot specialists) or orthopedic traumatologists. Flat feet can be determined visually, by the appearance of the foot, by the wear patterns of shoes (flat feet are characterized by rapid wear of the inner surface of the heels and soles), by gait, and also using radiography, plantography, podometry, and electromyography.
Podography is a method that makes it possible to analyze the biomechanics of walking and the temporal characteristics of movement. For this technique you will need special shoes and a metal walkway. Using this method, you can study gait, heel roll phases, and calculate the gait rhythm index. With flat feet, the support time is shortened and the total duration of the double step increases.
Using electromyography, you can determine the condition of the muscles. This is possible by recording the bioelectrical activity of muscle tissue. The condition of the muscles of the foot and lower leg makes it possible to clarify the severity of flat feet.
Most often diagnosed at 16-25 years of age. There are several ways to determine this type of flatfoot.
Friedland's technique involves determining the height of the foot (the distance from its base to the back of the navicular bone). After this, measure the length of the foot (the segment from the tip of the first toe to the edge of the heel bone). The height in mm is multiplied by 100 and divided by the length. The value you are looking for is the podometric index. Normally it is 29-31. A decrease indicates the presence of flat feet.
Diagnosis of flat feet using plantography
Plantography also helps determine flat feet - a foot print obtained by painting the skin of the foot with any dye (blue, green, magenta, ordinary watercolors).
To evaluate the resulting footprint, you need to draw a line parallel to the inner contour of the foot, and perpendicular to it in the deepest place of the notch of the foot to the outer edge of the foot. If the footprint in the narrowest part is half or more perpendicular, then flat feet are diagnosed.
With static flat feet, areas of increased pain form:
The intensity of pain increases after a long walk, decreases after proper rest and night sleep. Pastosity of the feet and ankle joints occurs, walking is impaired, the gait becomes awkward, with the toes moving farther to the sides. With longitudinal flatfoot, just as with transverse one, certain problems arise when choosing shoes.
To clarify the diagnosis, an X-ray examination of the bones of the foot is performed in 2 projections. It is performed while standing.
This examination is of particular importance for resolving expert questions (the question of suitability for service in the army, the possibility of entering a military school, the consequences of injury, when determining the degree of disability, and so on).
On radiographs, 3 lines are drawn that make up a triangle, with an obtuse angle looking up.
The angle of the normal longitudinal arch is 125-130°, h arch >3.5 cm.
There are 3 degrees of longitudinal flatfoot:
Footprint at different degrees of the disease
This foot deformity, which appears due to ligament failure, is manifested by flattening of the transverse arch. Usually combined with valgus deviation of the first finger.
Normally, when walking, the greatest load falls on the first metatarsal bone (50% of the total), the smallest on the fourth and fifth metatarsals. With transverse flatfoot, the load on the first metatarsal bone decreases (up to 14%), and the load on the middle metatarsals increases compensatoryly.
In a healthy person, the first finger deviates in relation to the metatarsal bone within 100, the fifth finger - 50. With transverse flatfoot, the valgus deviation of the first finger is distinguished by degrees:
Characteristic deviation of the 1st and 5th fingers with flat feet
“Bumps” in the area of the first metatarsophalangeal joint and valgus deviation of the first finger are visually determined. When the disease is severe, the second toe goes beyond the first. Clinically, transverse flatfoot is expressed by pain that occurs after intense walking, especially in tight shoes, with narrowed toes.
Characteristic is the development of bursitis in the zone of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, the appearance of calluses, corns in these areas, and the development of an ingrown nail of the first finger. Problems arise when choosing shoes (with this pathology, you have to choose wide shoes that do not cause discomfort and do not lead to the formation of calluses, especially in the area of the first metatarsophalangeal joints). Arthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joints forms with limited range of motion in them. The gait becomes less flexible.
It develops more often in obese women aged 35–50 years. With increasing body weight and wearing tight shoes, the disease gradually progresses.
If all these nuances are observed, diagnosing flat feet, its stages and forms will not cause much difficulty.
Even in ancient times, medical luminaries determined that there are biologically active points on the feet, which are unique projections of all organs and systems. The correct anatomical structure of the human foot, which includes two arches, maintains correct posture and uniform distribution of body weight. This, in turn, ensures healthy musculoskeletal system and muscles. And the health of these important systems is a guarantee of the health of the whole organism. How to detect flat feet in time?
The presence of transverse and longitudinal arches of the foot in a person is the key to the correct distribution of the load of body weight. The longitudinal arch runs from the toes to the heel along the inside of the foot, and the transverse arch is distributed between the bases of the toes (from the big toe to the little toe).
In the first 2 years of life, small children do not yet have arches, since they do not experience stress and have little weight. The legs are very soft to the touch, as they are lined on the inside with a layer of fat, and look completely flat. The formation of the future foot begins with the baby’s first steps, as the child learns to walk. His muscles and ligaments become stronger, which gradually form anatomical arches. In the interval between “children and adults,” the child’s feet undergo several metamorphoses.
Signs of flat feet in children are the complete or partial absence of arches, the consequences of which become unpredictable. Children develop complications such as spinal curvature and clubfoot, and adults develop osteochondrosis, arthrosis, arthritis, intervertebral hernia and many other diseases. Therefore, diagnosis of flat feet should be carried out as early as possible in order to have time to carry out treatment. According to statistics, if the disease is treated on time (before the age of 5-6 years), then all unpleasant consequences can be avoided.
Even before you see a doctor to determine flat feet, you can check for the first signs of the disease at home. It is easy for adults and children to identify the first signs if you follow the simple rules of the instructions.
Diagnosis of flat feet in medicine is called plantography. To do this you need to do the following:
How to check for flat feet using an index? To do this, you will need two measurements - foot length A (measured from the big toe to the end of the heel) and foot height B (measured from the floor to the top of the foot). The index is measured using the formula C=B*100/A.
In some cases, the diagnosis may be erroneous, since the presence of a fatty layer on the child’s foot may incorrectly display the mark on paper. Before determining flat feet in children, it is necessary to carry out additional diagnostics - x-rays. This method must be used in all doubtful cases if the child’s footprint resembles flat feet, and the index indicates a normally formed foot.
Since a person normally has two arches, there are several degrees of longitudinal and transverse flat feet. In addition to the difference in symptoms, there are common features that are characteristic of both types of flat feet.