According to statistics, for every man with flat feet there are 10 women with a similar disorder. In addition to the main reasons leading to flat feet, one cannot fail to recognize the fact that the height of the heel greatly influences the development of foot deformities.
When wearing heels, a woman's center of gravity shifts forward, increasing the load on the ankle joint, further leading to the foot turning inward. The ideal heel size varies between 3 - 5 centimeters.
With the development of pathology in a person, the main function of the limbs decreases, provoking an increase in shock loads as a result of jumping, running and walking. Balance and smoothness of gait are disturbed, it is difficult to stand on your feet.
Often high heels cause static flat feet.
Most women who do not give up wearing heels can gradually develop flat feet.
The foot has two arches:
As a rule, women are more likely to develop transverse flatfoot. As a result of the shift of body weight onto the toes, the transverse arch of the arch begins to flatten, developing flat feet.
Constantly wearing high-heeled shoes provokes partial and even complete disappearance of the arch, resulting in fatigue, swelling, and pain in the legs. The height of the heel causes severe overstrain in the hip, knee and ankle joints, a situation that is fraught with the development of flat feet and arthrosis.
Tension in the ankle joint caused by wearing heels leads to narrowing of the blood vessels, which impairs circulation. After work or a walk, a woman feels tingling and numbness in her feet.
From what has been said, we will compile a list of the reasons for the development of the disease:
If a woman is unable to give up heels, doctors recommend following a number of simple rules.
To overcome flat feet, it is important to follow your doctor’s recommendations and choose comfortable and proper shoes. Doctors advise when choosing shoes to focus on the following principles:
According to doctors, the greatest results are provided by special orthopedic shoes, which affect the ankle joint in several directions at once. In most cases, orthopedic shoes are prescribed when first-degree flatfoot is detected.
If the foot has a flat-valgus shape, orthopedic shoes should have a high and rigid heel. In order for the treatment to quickly give a positive result, it is better to wear shoes made to order according to the plaster imprint of the foot.
For flat feet, on the way to healthy legs, as well as a beautiful gait, one of the most important components is the heel. In the modern world, almost every second person can hear about the presence of pain in the back and legs, these are bells to a disappointing diagnosis - flat feet. Deformed feet or flat feet occur for various reasons.
The most important cause of flat feet, namely its appearance and development, is the heel. This usually happens when its height exceeds 5 cm.
Deformation of the feet in women appears due to the fact that most ladies prefer to wear shoes with heels, while completely forgetting about their optimal height.
And moreover, many young ladies are ready to sacrifice their health, endure pain, and have flat feet, so that their shoes look stylish, fashionable and have a heel.
You can even take, for example, the popular series “Sex and the City”: for their heroines, wearing Manolo Blahnik heels sometimes means more than men. Beautiful, but dangerous. High heels cause damage to internal organs, pain in the knees and spine, and development of flat feet.
When girls and women wear heels, when walking, their feet slide down and rest against the toe of the shoe. As a result, the distance between the support points of the foot begins to come closer, the aponeurosis loses its load, and then ceases to tighten the support points. Heels cause pain in the back, legs, and flat feet.
In the evening we change the height of our feet, at home we like to wear slippers or walk barefoot on a flat, flat surface, but, alas, degradation has already begun and the upper point of the transverse arch sags without support. Over time, the foot will stop springing and sag - flat feet, pain in the lower back, knees, etc. will appear.
It is also impossible to completely abandon heels, even if you are diagnosed with flat feet. If your shoes do not have height, many people like to wear ballet flats, sneakers, moccasins no less than heels - you also increase the chances of developing flat feet and you can also see an orthopedist.
It turns out to be some kind of contradiction, isn’t it? You cannot wear high shoes, sneakers, or ballet flats. You can and should wear shoes with heels, and the ideal option in calculating the heel would be the formula used to calculate its height.
First, you should measure your height and leg length. We measure the length of the legs from the belt line to the floor. Then you should divide your height by the length of your legs. From this number we should subtract the number of the ideal ratio of height and leg length, it is 1.61.
The resulting number should be multiplied by ten. The final result in centimeters will be the optimal height of your heel. It will give you an easy gait and relieve pain in your legs, as well as relieve flat feet.
Height can be calculated using another heel formula. You need to measure the length of your foot in centimeters and divide it by seven.
The height with both formulas should be the same. Usually its height does not exceed four centimeters.
Heels - make the right choice, because the health of your body and the beauty of your legs depend on its height, and it will also prevent flat feet in the future.
Foot deformities may also be present in children. Moreover, flat feet in children can be either congenital (quite rare) or acquired.
Usually, when children are diagnosed with flat feet, doctors prescribe them to wear special shoes. Children can often wear orthopedic shoes at an early age. When choosing it, you need to pay attention to the presence of a small height, for example, a platform. Its optimal height is usually 2-3 centimeters. Doctors say that rollers can be used to prevent flat feet. They will also help relieve leg pain.
Foot deformity or flat feet, in both adults and children, is accompanied by a number of symptoms that are worth paying attention to. The sooner you seek help, the more effective further treatment will be.
Often, with such deformation (flat feet), children and adults experience constant aching pain in the lower back and feet during long walks. Also, paying attention to the shoes, you will notice that the heel and sole will be knocked down on the inside if you have flat feet.
The original purpose of shoes was to protect the soles of the feet from sharp stones, thorns and poisonous insects. Over the years, the functions of shoes began to include completely different tasks - to embellish the appearance or show what their owner does. High heels, hard synthetic material, and narrow shoes cause irreparable harm every day, often causing the development of flat feet. But the right shoes can become a “medicine” for the feet and correct their shape. What shoes to wear if you have flat feet, and what criteria should you follow when choosing them?
The feet have two anatomical arches, the task of which is to absorb shock during pushing, running and jumping. If you imagine a foot without arches and the ligaments that strengthen them, you get a rather unsightly picture. Imagine that the foot is completely flat and consists only of hard bone, then when moving, all impacts will echo into all the bones of the skeleton, head and spine, and the joints will quickly wear out.
This is approximately the same mechanism and the main cause of diseases associated with flattening of the arches of the feet and the development of flat feet. When treating the initial stages of the disease, much attention is paid to insoles, arch supports and the selection of the right shoes. If the disease progresses, massage, therapeutic exercises, and in severe cases, surgical treatment are usually prescribed.
This information may be useful not only for those who have flat feet, it is simply necessary for all those who have small children or teenagers, because flat feet can only be completely corrected in children under 6-7 years of age. According to statistics, parents, not knowing this information, often buy models that cause irreparable harm to the child. And for those who are faced with a problem and want to know what shoes are needed for flat feet, these selection criteria should become something of a commandment.
Orthopedic shoes for flat feet are prescribed immediately when the disease is detected and, as a rule, have the necessary insoles. Most often, boots are selected individually or made to order. Modern orthopedic shoes are aesthetically pleasing and look no different from conventional models.
Children's orthopedic shoes for summer.
Flat feet are easier to prevent than to treat, especially for children. Try to choose comfortable and practical models for every day, and leave elegant ones with high heels for “going out.” In addition, do not forget about convenience and comfort, which applies equally to children and adults.
Useful article. But I would like to say that people who do not have flat feet also need to choose the right shoes. After all, very often people “get” this disease because of fashionable shoes. And every person needs to do exercises for their feet. To prevent flat feet, my dad always walked barefoot on the grass in the morning in the summer.
I have had flat feet all my life. I always wore very high heels, stilettos and platforms. To be honest, I feel much better and more comfortable in high heels than in low heels. I only have a problem, any shoes rub me with calluses, both in winter and in summer, both boots, and shoes, and sneakers, and sandals. And as for shoes without backs, yes, they are generally uncomfortable, but it seems to me that such shoes would not be comfortable for everyone?!
From a very young age you need to watch out for flat feet. Often, orthopedic shoes solve many problems with flat feet and other leg defects. Comfortable, individually selected with special insoles, will make your walking easy.
Flat feet can be cured not only in childhood. There is no need to be misleading. The human body is flexible, like plasticine; with desire and time, everything can be sculpted, acquired and removed at any age.
I would prefer leather shoes. No synthetic material can compare with natural leather in its properties. If possible, the sole should also be made of leather.
Shoes should also have a heel, usually of medium size. In children's shoes, it should have a height of 0.5 centimeters, I heard somewhere, and in terms of area it should occupy at least a third of the entire sole. The toe should be wide.
High-quality shoes are pleasant to look at, have no external or internal defects, do not stain your hands, and do not have an unpleasant odor. It does not rub when walking and does not cause allergies.
The sole should be flexible and bend well when walking. You shouldn’t take the sellers’ word that the hard sole “breaks apart.”
These criteria for choosing shoes are also useful for those people who do not have flat feet.
Thank you for this article, and the videos, which really helped to understand this topic, for a long time I could not find a solution, how and what, and your article helped me a lot, thank you.
We ran into this problem when my little brother started growing up. And the doctor concluded that if measures are not taken, he may develop flat feet. And, for small children this is a big problem.
As a solution to the problem, the doctor suggested buying special shoes. At that time it was the Antelope store. And everything worked out.
Many years later, I also buy these shoes for my child, even though this is not absolutely necessary.
I myself have a problem with my feet, since I have third-degree flat feet and had to buy special orthopedic soles for my shoes. But after reading the article, I can now choose good orthopedic shoes for myself.
Thank you very much, my flat foot hurts a lot after wearing wedge shoes, I’ll run to change the shoes, I wore them for 12 hours, only at home
According to scientists, flat feet and heels go hand in hand. Anatomically, the human foot is designed to distribute weight evenly over the entire surface of the sole. However, such a mechanism functions only when a person walks barefoot on an uneven surface or wears orthopedic shoes.
Increased shoe instep leads to flat feet
A completely different load distribution mechanism is activated when a woman wears high-heeled shoes. In them, the heel is raised high, and the body weight is distributed on the front of the foot. If this condition lasts for a long time, you should not be surprised that the foot becomes wider in the front, and an outgrowth appears at the base of the first toe (transverse flatfoot). The primary indicator of its appearance is frequent calluses on the plantar surface of the big toe.
Swelling of the legs with flat feet
It’s not surprising that women’s feet swell and hurt in the evening when walking in high heels. The classic “stiletto heel” leads to a redistribution of the load on the front area of the foot. In this case, the anatomical points of fixation of the sole on the horizontal surface are displaced.
The “hairpin” does not have a large support area. To avoid falling, the woman is forced to balance, tensing her calf and hip muscles. Walking in high heels puts a lot of stress on the ankle joint. The cause of swelling in the evening in such a situation is constant trauma to the muscles and ligaments with the formation of inflammatory changes, as well as impaired blood supply in the lower extremities. These changes are the minimum sacrifice a woman has to pay for a high rise.
If stilettos are worn for a long time, irreversible complications develop that will require surgical treatment.
It cannot be reliably stated that only a high instep of the foot leads to the appearance of a transverse flat foot.
The cause of the disease may be congenital weakness of the muscular system, so high heels will act in this case as a provoking factor (like obesity). Without their influence, perhaps the genetic determination of the ligamentous-muscular aponeurosis would never have been identified, and the flattening of the foot would not have developed. But since these factors created excessive pressure on the sole, flat feet formed.
Of course, once a flat arch is diagnosed, a woman will have to stop wearing high shoes forever. Among orthopedic shoes, she will find equally attractive models or make custom-made shoes, but the heel size will have to be limited to 3 cm.
Massage after walking in high heels
Despite the fact that orthopedists always recommend avoiding high heels for flat feet, not every woman can afford this. What to do in such a situation? You will have to find a compromise between health and a stylish look. To do this, you should learn how to choose the right clothes for your feet:
Go to the store to buy shoes in the evening, when your feet are somewhat widened. If your sole size is different, choose shoes for larger feet.
There is an opinion that a real woman should wear shoes exclusively with heels. And models with flat soles are intended for older ladies and “blue stockings”. However, this opinion is completely wrong; just look at the fashion collections of this season to be convinced that flat shoes are in trend today.
Of course, such shoes will be preferred primarily by tall girls. But petite fashionistas shouldn’t give up comfortable and fashionable models with flat soles. But for overweight women, low-rise shoes are worse, since the heel visually makes the figure slimmer.
Today, women's flat shoes are presented in a wide variety; let's look at which models you should pay attention to when planning to replenish your wardrobe.
A pleasant surprise for lovers of classic style are flat pumps. These are elegant models with a pointed toe on a flat sole or on a small 1-2 cm square heel. The last option (with a small heel) is more convenient and safe from a physiological point of view.
You can wear classic flat shoes with the same clothes as traditional stiletto pumps. They look great with office suits and business dresses, as well as casual clothes.
When choosing summer shoes without heels, you should pay attention to pumps made of perforated leather, as well as models with a cutout on the toe or with an open heel.
Closed shoes without heels look impressive when complemented by a strap located on the instep. However, shoes with a strap are only suitable for girls with long legs, since the presence of a strap visually shortens the legs.
Many people think that evening shoes without heels are nonsense. But modern designers are decisively breaking existing stereotypes. Low-cut pumps can be used for an evening out, you just need to choose an elegant model. You can, for example, buy patent leather shoes without heels, or purchase a model decorated with rhinestones, beads or other decorative options.
For a special occasion, textile pumps made of satin or lace are ideal. These shoes look great, but they are not very practical; they are best worn only indoors.
Many people think that ballet flats and flat pumps are the same thing. In principle, the differences between these types of shoes are insignificant. Classic ballet shoes have a rounded toe, while pumps have a pointed toe. In addition, ballet flats often have an elastic upper edge, which ensures a more secure fit of the shoe to the foot. Some types of ballet shoes are complemented by ribbons that wrap around the ankle and tie in a beautiful bow.
Ballet shoes are made mainly from leather and textiles, but there are also suede models. Ballet flats in bright colors are very popular today; they fit very well into summer looks.
This is the name given to textile shoes without heels, designed to be worn in the warm season. Classic espadrilles should be made from natural materials. The top is made of linen and the sole is made of jute, however, today models with soles made of polymer materials are more common. Sometimes you can see espadrilles with moderate height wedges. The top of the shoes can have a variety of colors; you can often see shoes with a print.
Espadrilles are unpretentious shoes; they fit well into a variety of summer looks. These shoes are worn with shorts, cropped trousers, overalls, tunics or flared flowing skirts.
Today, moccasins are soft shoes without heels with a characteristic seam on the toe. These shoes have a flat sole; moccasins are made from soft leather, suede or velor.
These shoes are intended exclusively for leisure, so they do not fit into business style. Moccasins are worn with shorts, trousers, overalls, but you can also wear such shoes with knee-length skirts.
This type of shoe looks like moccasins, the difference being the presence of a thicker sole and a low square heel.
Loafers are closed shoes, so those fashionistas who would like to purchase fashionable and comfortable autumn shoes should pay attention to this style. Models with tractor soles will be especially practical.
The design of loafers can be varied. The classic decor option is leather tassels and metal buckles. Patent leather shoes without heels look very stylish. You can wear loafers with skinny trousers, jeans, as well as skirts and dresses.
Initially, these types of shoes were worn exclusively by men, but relatively recently, oxfords and brogues have successfully joined the ladies' wardrobe. Oxfords are closed shoes with laces and pointed toes. Brogues differ from oxfords in the presence of perforations, in addition, they are often sewn using a combination of materials.
In the women's version, oxfords and brogues can have almost any color. This type of shoe looks perfect with pantsuits, but they can also be worn with dresses. These are great spring shoes that can be worn with a straight coat or a classic-cut trench coat.
Ladies also “borrowed” this type of shoe from men. The “ancestors” of slippers were the house shoes of the English lords, so these shoes are soft and comfortable, like slippers. A distinctive feature is the presence of a one-piece tongue. On the toe of the shoes there is often embroidery, applique or other decorative option.
Sleepers should be worn with casual clothes; they do not look good with romantic and business dresses and suits.
Recently, high-heeled shoes without heels have come into fashion. These are shoes on a high and massive platform, and the heel has no support, that is, literally, the heel hangs in the air.
These shoes were invented by Noritaka Tatehana, a designer from Japan. Despite the fact that such shoes look unusual, platform shoes without heels are popular among fashionistas.
Of course, they should not be worn every day, these are shoes for special occasions. Wear shoes with knee-length cocktail dresses. There is no point in wearing such shoes with a floor-length dress, since the shoes will not be visible.
Let's figure out what to wear with shoes without heels. There are many options.
The best option is to combine flat shoes with trousers or jeans. This look is ideal for a walk, meeting with friends or for a long shopping trip. You can choose different models of jeans, you just need to make sure that they are not too long. If a fashionista wears jeans with heels or wedges, then putting on ballet flats, you just need to tuck the legs a little at the bottom.
Classic trousers can be worn with loafers or oxfords; this look is suitable for the office if complemented with a formal shirt and a fitted jacket. For work, you should choose beige or black flat shoes. For everyday wear, you can buy colored models, for example, espadrilles with leopard print.
Long-legged, slender girls can wear ballet shoes with leggings and a tunic, but short fashionistas should avoid this combination.
Flat shoes also fit perfectly into feminine looks based on dresses and skirts. Flared and airy clothing models will look especially good.
Flat pumps go perfectly with baby-dollar dresses, as well as fitted models with moderately full skirts. Espadrilles or loafers can be worn under a sporty dress.
Pumps without heels and a cocktail dress will look ideal. In this case, you should choose evening models with beautiful decor. For example, this option can be chosen for a prom. There are also wedding shoes without heels; as a rule, tall brides choose them. In addition, many brides purchase white ballet shoes as replacement shoes to change their shoes after the formal part of the holiday is over.
Shoes without heels are present in the collections of many designers. Even a big fan of stilettos, Christian Louboutin includes ballet flats in its collections. The brands Giorgio Armani and Dolce & Gabbana presented pointy shoes this season, complemented by instep straps, including those made of lace. And Marc Jacobs offers bright pumps in blue, yellow and orange tones; these shoes will ideally complement bright summer ensembles.
Flat feet is a foot disease associated with deformation of its shape. Shoes for flat feet should be carefully selected, since the foot bears a greater load than the foot of a healthy person. Choose the right shoes based on the following criteria:
Flat feet are expressed in varying degrees of change in the shape of the foot. There are two types of flat feet: transverse and longitudinal. The angle of the arch of the foot determines three degrees of deformation: first (mild), second and third (more pronounced) . Each degree is characterized by features of the choice of shoes.
In the first degree, flat feet are not so pronounced, and therefore shoes should be chosen taking into account the height of the heel and according to your own feelings: how comfortable it is in it, how long you can walk in it without pain. Despite its slight severity, initial degree flat feet still cause discomfort, so you should not wear shoes with high and thin heels, or heels that do not support the entire heel. In addition, shoes with wedges and platforms do not allow the foot to bend even at the first stage of change, so they are also undesirable.
It is best to choose shoes with an easy instep, flexible soles and a supportive heel counter. If such shoes are not comfortable, you can switch to softer options made of suede and nubuck.
It must be remembered that if you wear the wrong, uncomfortable shoes, then the first degree of flat feet will easily turn into the third.
At this degree (as it is also called moderate), the foot changes its appearance and the flattening is noticeable to the eye. Stage 2 gives already certain pain in the ankle and the foot itself. The choice of shoes in this case is decisive for a person. It is necessary to pay great attention to the orthopedic function and order special insoles.
With this degree of deformation, the foot no longer functions correctly, but with defects in weight distribution: a certain part of the sole accounts for the majority. Because of this, tension in the ligaments occurs, pain occurs, and the heel moves slightly. Shoes should support the back of the foot without pinching the toe to prevent further changes.
That is why you cannot wear shoes with flat feet with high heels or with tapered toes for a long time, as pain begins to torment you, and your legs get tired much faster. Properly chosen shoes prevent diseases not only of the feet, but also of the entire musculoskeletal system. The main recommendations on what shoes to wear for moderate degree 2 flat feet are:
Since the foot needs a stable position, it is best to choose boots with laces, which allows you to adjust the density of the shoe to your foot.
If the 1st degree of flatfoot is not yet expressed, then in the 2nd degree the foot needs a special arch support more than ever. The main types of instep supports that are used for 2 degrees of deformation:
If the 2nd degree progresses significantly, then you should abandon regular shoes altogether, since a large deformation of the foot provokes many diseases of the spine and legs. In this case, it is better to order and wear orthopedic shoes, made specifically taking into account the type of deformation and the characteristics of the natural shape of the foot.
Longitudinal flatfoot can be either acquired due to insufficient load on the foot, or congenital. Most often, it is accompanied by the growth of corns and the protrusion of the bone at the big toe, and therefore high-heeled shoes do not need to be worn in this case at all.
You should also avoid wearing shoes frequently in the summer, such as flip-flops and sandals, which do not have backs or heels: they flatten the foot even more and provoke pain in the legs, causing surprise among its owners.
Shoes such as wedges or platform shoes should be purchased in consultation with an orthopedist so that the sole is made of soft materials and bends easily.
If the sole is hard, then it does not wear out.
Grade 2 is also different in that it often takes the form of plano-valgus deformity, when the thumb forms a deviation and the bone grows. If the foot has such flat feet, then shoes must be worn with a high back, which is difficult in hot weather. In this case, we can recommend such an option as the currently fashionable sandals covering the lower leg, with an open toe and a jumper over the leg.
In the third degree, flat feet have a pronounced external defect, as shown by numerous photographs and photographs of the foot. What kind of shoes should I choose for such a foot deformity?
Most often, simple shoes and the recommendations listed above for grade 2 are not enough. With severe flat feet, a person experiences constant pain and difficulty walking for a long time; in addition, he develops spinal diseases and disc displacement.
Therefore, only orthopedic shoes can help, which are created from a cast of the foot with the help of the recommendations of an orthopedist. Modern models of orthopedic shoes are no different in aesthetics from ordinary ones. I would like to recommend at this stage of the disease (however, it is better to listen to this advice at 1 or 2 degrees of flat feet) and special gymnastics, videos of which can be easily found on the Internet.
Not only adults, but also children suffer from flat feet, and then the disease becomes a real problem, as it provokes scoliosis, curvature of the legs and other associated deformities. Which shoes to choose in this case:
Remember, in children, flat feet can be considered a characteristic flatness of the leg, so examination by an orthopedist and surgeon is mandatory. You also need to take into account that children’s flat feet are much easier to treat, so massage and special shoes are mandatory.
To summarize, we can say that when choosing, there are basic “don’ts”:
If someone says that flat feet close the way to wearing fashionable shoes, then they will be mistaken. In fact, there are many models in modern fashion that correspond to all of the above. Therefore, put away your grandmother's shoes and open a fashion magazine: there you can find everything that is good for your feet.
The feet are that part of the human body that undergoes heavy loads every day, supporting the weight of the entire body. Thanks to the correct structure of the foot, we can move normally on two legs and maintain balance. Foot deformation leads to severe disorders of the musculoskeletal system, so transverse flatfoot requires special attention.
The disease often develops in childhood, but as the child grows, the pathology can be eliminated forever. In adulthood, transverse flatfoot can only be cured surgically. To avoid serious complications in the musculoskeletal system, it is necessary to begin treatment at the first symptoms of flat feet.
The human foot is a rather complex mechanism, thanks to which the load during movement is distributed evenly, impacts on the ground are softened, and balance is established. The skeleton of the foot consists of three sections: metatarsus, tarsus and toes.
Thanks to the complex structure of the skeleton, ligaments and muscles, the arches of the foot are formed. Properly formed arches ensure the normal performance of all of the above functions. But if there is a violation of the arches and they flatten, then they talk about flat feet. Transverse flatfoot is called flattening of the transverse arch of the foot, and if flattening of the longitudinal arch occurs, then longitudinal flatfoot is diagnosed.
Normally, the foot has 3 points of support, these are the heads of the first and fifth metatarsal bones, as well as the heel. But with flat feet, the fulcrum points change, due to which the load is distributed incorrectly, and the foot ceases to absorb impacts normally. As a result, pain occurs in the foot itself, as it begins to get tired, and the ankle, knee and hip joints also suffer due to constant shock and vibration.
Transverse flatfoot can develop for a variety of reasons; the pathology occurs in both children and adults.
The main causes of flat feet:
According to doctors, flat feet most often develop due to excess weight and wearing bad shoes; for this reason, the disease occurs several times more often in women than in men. The development of flat feet is promoted by wearing narrow shoes with high heels, as well as shoes with flat soles.
It is very important to pay attention to the presence of a small heel of up to 1.5 cm when buying shoes for children. This is necessary for the correct formation of the arches of the feet as the child grows. Properly selected shoes will help prevent flat feet as your baby grows up.
Many patients are interested in what flat feet are and how to determine its presence in a child or an adult. The symptoms and treatment of transverse flatfoot are generally the same; in order to identify the pathology, a simple test must be performed. You need to wet your foot and stand with it on a sheet of clean paper, a wet imprint will remain.
Flat foot test
The notch that appears on the print in the center should exceed half the length of the entire foot in width. If the notch is too short, then it can be assumed that the person has flat feet.
It is worth noting that this method is not suitable for children, since children have physiological flat feet, which does not need to be treated. Only an orthopedic doctor can say for sure whether everything is normal in an adult and a child, so if you have any suspicions, you need to visit a specialist.
Flat feet are accompanied by the following symptoms:
Depending on the appearance of symptoms of the disease, 3 degrees of flatfoot are distinguished. Flatfoot of the 1st degree is characterized by weakening of the ligaments, in this case there is no visible deformation, and unpleasant sensations arise during prolonged walking and disappear after a night's sleep.
Level 2 flat feet can be seen with the naked eye, the foot flattens and becomes wide. Patients complain of more severe pain, which can be constant and with minor exertion. Flat feet of the 2nd degree changes the gait, the patient may limp and bend the toes inward, then they speak of clubfoot.
Flat feet of the 3rd degree is the most severe stage of the disease, severe pain appears, it spreads to the ankle and knee joints. Such foot disorders are accompanied by pathologies of the spine and joints; the patient is diagnosed with scoliosis, arthrosis and other pathologies. In advanced cases, patients cannot move normally without special shoes.
There are also types of flat feet, depending on the angle of deviation of the big toe and the angle between the bones of the metatarsus. Normally, the first indicator is less than 14 degrees, and the second is less than 9.
The higher the degree of flatfoot, the greater the likelihood of complications. Thus, foot pathology can cause diseases such as arthritis, arthrosis, osteochondrosis, radiculitis, scoliosis, intervertebral hernias, heel spurs, and varicose veins. And this is not the entire list of dangerous diseases.
Only an orthopedist can correctly diagnose pathology, especially in children. You should not try to undergo treatment on your own or choose shoes, as you can harm your feet even more.
At the first appointment, the doctor will examine the foot; as a rule, this is enough for an experienced doctor to make the correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment. In severe cases, it may be necessary to undergo a series of tests to accurately determine the severity of the disease.
To do this, the patient will be sent for x-rays to study the degree of deformity of the foot, and may also require electromyography to detect muscle weakness. Modern diagnostic methods make it possible to accurately diagnose and identify the degree of transverse flatfoot.
Patients who are faced with a similar pathology are interested in how to treat flat feet. In children, treatment for flat feet is carried out using conservative methods, since the bones in children are still growing, they are flexible and are able to return to the correct position.
For an adult, conservative treatment will not help get rid of the problem forever, but will only alleviate the condition and prevent the leg from further deforming. Treatment of flat feet in the final stages in adults is carried out surgically; the operation is complex and painful, but it helps to restore the person’s ability to move independently.
To avoid surgery, you need to start treating flat feet as early as possible, before severe pain and severe deformation appear. Conservative treatment will help stop the progression of the disease, and the patient’s condition will significantly improve.
Treatment of flat feet consists of the following measures:
Therapeutic exercises are necessary to strengthen the muscles of the foot. Weak muscles cannot normally withstand the load, which is why all the weight during movement is transferred to the joints and bones, deforming them and destroying them. Massage will help improve blood circulation in tissues, relieve inflammation and pain.
Orthopedic insoles must be used for flat feet; they help place the foot in the correct position and prevent further deformation. Orthopedic insoles also help relieve the patient from pain, corns and calluses; they are also used to prevent disease.
Orthopedic insoles and shoes need to be selected correctly; it is best to entrust this process to an orthopedic doctor. The specialist will be able to identify the extent of the disease and prescribe a suitable model of insoles.
Physiotherapy is necessary to improve blood circulation, relieve pain and fatigue in the legs, and is prescribed by a podiatrist if necessary. Also, for severe pain, analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed internally and externally.
If a patient is diagnosed with third degree flatfoot, conservative treatment is ineffective, and the quality of life is severely deteriorating, surgical intervention is necessary. Various operations are performed, in some cases it is necessary to correct bones, in others muscles.
Young people of military age are interested in the question of whether they are accepted into the army if they have flat feet. This pathology is quite common in our time, and with sore legs a person cannot play sports, which is necessary for military service.
To answer accurately whether they are recruited into the army if they have a flattened foot, you need to figure out what degree of disease the conscript has. In the army there are 4 degrees of the disease:
It is possible to say for sure whether a person will be accepted into the army in a particular case only after passing a medical examination. Doctors will send the conscript for x-rays and conduct an external examination. If the changes are minor, they may provide a temporary delay for treatment. The conscript will be prescribed to wear orthopedic insoles, engage in physical therapy, after which he will have to undergo a medical examination again.
We figured out what transverse flatfoot is and how to treat it, whether people with flatfoot are drafted into the army, but it is best to prevent the development of the disease, but to prevent it in time.
Prevention of flat feet is as follows: