With age, people increasingly complain of such unpleasant ailments as tired legs and pain in the legs. Some people have joints that are sensitive to weather changes, while others have a burning sensation in their feet after walking. To reduce these phenomena or completely get rid of them, first of all, it is necessary to establish their cause. Only a qualified doctor can understand the cause of leg pain.
Many people try to treat leg pain using so-called general methods, but this is wrong and time may be lost, because similar symptoms in different manifestations combine about 120 different diseases of ligaments, joints, bones and muscles.
There were cases when the patient complained of persistent pain in the knee, characteristic of arthritis, but a more in-depth examination showed a blood disorder. Also, a feeling of pain in the legs can occur due to negative transformations of the vascular system.
- Flat feet. One of the fairly common foot diseases is flat feet. It represents the basis for the development of various foot deformities, diseases of the legs or spine. The result of flat feet in patients is often curvature of the toes, as well as subluxations and dislocations of the foot. Over time, bones form on the thumbs, growing over the years and deforming the bone.
The patient often has problems with shoes, it becomes difficult to walk, and there is a feeling as if his feet are filled with lead. It is difficult for a flat and very flat foot to carry its own body, which causes frequent pain in the lumbar region and joints. Flat feet are one of those diseases that are much easier to prevent than to subsequently treat.
Many people buy it because they have been wearing uncomfortable, tight shoes for a long time. Flat feet in the initial and medium form can be corrected by selecting the right shoes and arch supports, which is why older people are recommended to walk in already worn-in shoes that are comfortable for their feet. In addition, it is useful to walk barefoot on wet sand and grass more often in order to strengthen your feet, and do special exercises to train your legs.
- Heel spurs. Another common condition is heel spurs or heel spurs. These formations are salt deposits due to metabolic disorders. Their appearance in older people is often due to age-related changes and can cause quite noticeable pain. Walking with such a spike is made easier by special unloading rollers.
- Arthrosis. Arthrosis or osteoarthritis is also one of the most common diseases that causes leg pain in older people. There are two varieties of it. In the first variant of the disease, the joints of the fingers are affected - they thicken and look like drumsticks. With the second type of arthrosis, degenerative painful changes in bone and joint tissue occur, developing at the site of early injuries or as a result of the inflammatory process.
For example, a patient had a fractured ankle and the damaged bone was connected slightly inaccurately, hence the development of the degenerative process. Or in his youth a person damaged his meniscus during training, and by the age of sixty he develops arthrosis of the knee joint. So if you have suffered an injury in your youth or at any other age, you should make every effort to see an experienced, qualified doctor who will minimize the consequences of the injury. This will avoid some problems in old age.
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Osteoarthritis can occur in different ways: some people have the feeling that their “legs can’t move”; others begin to have pain in their muscles and joints when climbing stairs. If such symptoms occur, you should immediately consult a competent doctor without wasting time. Gymnastics is useful for patients with arthrosis. All exercises should be easy and not painful. The feeling of pain in this case means that the load has exceeded the limit required by the joints.
Pain with arthrosis in most cases appears with various loads on the joint or during movement, and with arthritis it can also occur at rest. In the mornings at the beginning of the disease, pain is sometimes felt in the hands, fingers are difficult to clench (this symptom is more common in women, men experience similar sensations in the feet). These pains may be temporary and last for several days, but if they do not subside within two months, you should seek medical help.
— Other diseases of the lower extremities. It is also worth noting several other diseases. Periarthritis usually affects the tendons and is characterized by mild inflammation. With bursitis, the periarticular bursae become inflamed. In particular, the membrane under the kneecap suffers from it. Legs always hurt with vascular diseases - endarteriosis, endarteritis, thrombophlebitis, which lead to sclerotic changes in blood vessels.
Flat feet is a disease of the musculoskeletal system. It is accompanied by a modification of the foot. According to deformation, flat feet can be:
What does flat feet look like?
Doctors recommend paying close attention to the symptoms of the disease:
In the initial stages, the disease can be eliminated. Ignoring the problem can have consequences in the form of serious illnesses.
To eliminate the causes of the disease, doctors recommend strengthening the ligaments and leg muscles with regular training.
The human foot has the ability to “spring”. This quality is necessary when walking, running and physical activity so that the body does not get tired. Healthy feet are the key to comfortable movements.
With flat feet, the spring function of the feet is impaired. The load placed on the feet is compensated by the ankle joints and knees. Later, problems begin in the hip joint and spine. The load on the entire body increases.
When moving, the impacts of the foot on the ground are transmitted to the centers of the brain almost unchanged. This provokes microtraumas in the brain. A patient with flat feet complains of headache and nervousness. Pathology can cause the development of osteochondrosis, curvature of the spine, as well as arthritis, arthrosis, and spinal hernia. Therefore, treatment of this disease is important for both children and adults.
The pathology is characteristic not only of people who are exposed to physical activity and prolonged standing. The risk group includes people leading a sedentary lifestyle. Ligaments and muscles lose strength and become weak. It is very important to start timely treatment. It is possible to completely cure the pathology in children under 7 years of age. In an adult, the disease can be corrected.
At home, correction of pathology comes down to preventive measures and improving the patient’s health. Before you start training, you should consult a doctor. A specialist will help you assess the degree of organ damage, the shape of flat feet, and choose the right orthopedic shoes.
Massage daily for 5 minutes before bedtime.
Flat feet are a disease of the entire musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic shoes and insoles only partially eliminate the problem. A set of exercises is needed to strengthen all the muscles of the leg and lower spine. All exercises are done with bare feet.
A set of walking exercises:
Exercises with objects:
Do the warm-up daily, morning and evening, 7-8 times. Duration of treatment is 2 years.
Traditional methods give positive results at the initial stage of flat feet.
Flat feet is a pathology that quickly develops and progresses. This disease is difficult to correct and has many consequences. Comprehensive treatment and following the recommendations of an orthopedist helps reduce the risk of complications and the development of other diseases.
Flat feet have become the number one problem among both young and old people. This cannot be called a harmless change in bone structure, because it is associated with a decrease in the arch of the foot and impaired nutrition of the bones. Transverse flatfoot of the 2nd degree begins to form in adults and, in its advanced form, leads to the disappearance of the transverse arch of the sole of the foot. To determine how to treat a disease, you must understand how it appears.
Transverse flatfoot has been defined as a pathology in the formation of which there is a flattening of the arch at the base of the toes. Hallux valgus deformity is one of the most common types of diseases that occur in the weaker half of humanity. This type of change in the shape of the sole is manifested by the curvature of the big toe and the formation of a growth at its base.
In a normal foot, half of the body's weight is distributed on the first metatarsal bone, which is connected to the big toe. The rest of the load is evenly distributed to the other fingers.
The formation of transverse flatfoot changes the ratio of weight pressure on the sole. The disease shifts the load to the second and third fingers. The first finger takes on only 15% of the load.
Foot deformation provokes the development of other pathologies. The first metatarsal bone rotates and is positioned higher than its normal position. Small bones move to the side and stick out. The little finger and big toe also deviate outward, and this can be seen in the shape of the sole.
No pathology occurs on its own; there are always factors that push the development of the disease. Transverse flatfoot is formed under the influence of the following reasons:
Various diseases associated with weakening of bone tissue cause deformities. Added to all this is the weakness of the ligamentous apparatus. Due to stress, the foot can be subject to injuries, which also provoke the development of the disease.
Lack of movement, sedentary lifestyle, weight gain - these are the factors that lead to the occurrence of pathology.
Doctors in their practice distinguish between degrees of transverse flatfoot. All 3 degrees have their own symptoms.
The first degree is not yet called a disease, but is defined as a signal to action. The development of pathology is aggravated by external factors and increased workload. Typically, at this stage, the patient feels pain only when pressure is applied to the foot area. The manifestation of the disease is expressed by swelling of the legs in the evenings.
Pathology of the 2nd degree is expressed by a change in the angle of the relationship between the position of the first and second metatarsal bones. The pain becomes more intense and can radiate to the ankle and lower leg area.
Flat feet of the 3rd degree creates a distance between the bones of twenty degrees. Stage 3 pathology is characterized by severe pain and significant deformation of the foot. The pain is localized under the head of the metatarsal bone, growing into the lower leg area and even the lower back. In addition, this stage is characterized by swelling of the joints in the foot.
Patients believe that grade 2 pathology is a harmless condition and does not require increased attention.
The disease at the second stage is called the threshold of the disease, beyond which the change in the shape of the foot increases. The clinical picture becomes more pronounced and requires research.
The disease can be identified through examination and additional examinations. One such method is X-ray.
According to X-ray examination, the degree of flatfoot is determined. Often such diagnostic methods are used when a young man is about to serve in the army. Since the army and its rules involve stress on the legs and endurance, it is therefore necessary to check fitness for service.
In addition to the stage of the disease, based on the results of the X-ray examination, the doctor determines what other pathologies the conscript is suffering from. Based on the results, the commission determines whether the young man is suitable and whether the army will be able to replenish its ranks.
The disease is also diagnosed using plantography, which is based on obtaining a graphic imprint of the surface of the foot. This method shows the state of the sole support and determines the degree of development of the pathology. The foot print expresses how flattened the transverse arch of the foot is.
However, there are disadvantages to this method because it does not provide a complete picture of the development of flat feet, namely: it does not reflect the deformation of the foot in the sagittal and frontal plane. For this reason, plantography is not used as an independent research method, but is used along with inspection.
Another way to determine the presence of a disease is podometry. Using this method, the value of the podometric index is calculated, which indicates the presence or absence of pathology.
It is impossible to completely cure flat feet, because the deformation process is irreversible. But you can stop the progression of the disease if you take timely measures.
Transverse flatfoot of the 2nd degree is amenable to conservative treatment methods. The development of the disease increases the likelihood of the occurrence of diseases such as arthrosis, and therefore treatment must be started immediately.
During an exacerbation, doctors recommend taking baths to reduce pain.
You can add sea salt and chamomile extract to water at a temperature of forty degrees. This procedure relieves fatigue and reduces the pain threshold. Before the water procedure, you should massage your feet.
During therapy, it is necessary to get rid of uncomfortable shoes, and for women - from high-heeled shoes. It is important to provide rest to the leg during this period and apply compresses to the foot area.
Doctors recommend preventing the development of inflammation with the help of anti-inflammatory drugs. At the remission stage, specialists treat with electrophoresis and paraffin baths with medications.
After eliminating the inflammation, you can begin therapeutic exercises. One of the reasons for the development of flat feet is weakening of the ligaments and muscle base of the leg. A set of exercises allows you not only to strengthen the muscles of the foot, but also the whole body. In addition, moderate physical activity allows the leg to recover after surgery. Gymnastics also serves as a preventive measure to prevent the progression of pathology.
The exercises are developed by the instructor and should improve coordination of movements and mobility of the foot joints. An effective treatment for flat feet is rolling balls of different shapes and making circular movements with the foot.
The complex includes exercises for flexion and extension of the toes and feet, and toe extension.
To reduce deformation, orthopedists suggest modeling the arch of the foot using special devices. These means include interdigital inserts, thanks to which you can stop the pathological deviation towards the thumb.
Another device is orthopedic insoles, which reduce the load on the foot and support the arch. There are insoles-ties, the effect of which is aimed at reducing the deformation of the sole. These devices are worn for no more than two hours, training the muscles.
If treatment does not produce results, doctors resort to drastic measures - surgery. The indication for using this method is to reduce foot mobility. The operation is carried out in the following ways:
Doctors prescribe surgery in rare cases when flat feet cannot be treated conservatively.
Treatment at home consists of self-massage of the feet and performing exercises prescribed by the doctor. Other folk remedies are powerless in the fight against this disease. Sometimes herbal baths and cold compresses on the leg area have a weak effect on pain and inflammation.
By the age of six, most children develop flat feet. If a child’s illness is identified in time and treatment is taken, then the problem can be eliminated for a long time if he wears the right shoes.
The pathology is best treated in adolescence, when the formation of the arch is not complete. Bone growth continues and the shape of the foot can be influenced. Further, as the child grows older, the chances of getting rid of the misfortune decrease. It is very rare, but in practice there are cases when a child received the disease at birth. In such a situation, treatment should be started immediately after the diagnosis is made.
To treat flat feet in children, doctors prescribe gymnastics, foot and leg massage. Doctors recommend that children who have been diagnosed with congenital flat feet wear plaster casts and splints.
With flat feet, children need to walk barefoot on grass and pebbles. After swimming in the sea or pool, the foot should be rubbed with a towel. This improves blood circulation and tissue nutrition.
Medicines to get rid of the problem in children are not used due to the presence of side effects on the child’s body. In addition, children are not operated on in anticipation of growth.
The best way to avoid flat feet is through prevention. If signs of illness appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. Proper nutrition and exercise are the key to preventing all possible diseases in the body.
Flat feet is a flattening of the arches of the feet, which disrupts the distribution of load on the joints of the legs and spine. This leads to rapid fatigue when walking, pain in the legs and lower back.
Flat feet can be congenital or acquired. Based on the direction of flattening of the arch of the foot, longitudinal, transverse and combined flat feet are distinguished.
In 90% of cases, flat feet are an acquired disease and can develop at any age. Flat feet in adults can be caused by various reasons. Depending on this, the following types are distinguished:
Flat feet can be recognized in the early stages by the following characteristic symptoms:
If these symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor to prevent the development of complications in the joints of the legs and spine. A frivolous attitude towards flat feet can lead the patient to the need for surgical intervention. Flat feet are especially difficult for older people who are overweight.
Flat feet are diagnosed by an orthopedic doctor based on the imprint of the plantar surface of the foot, calculation of the ratio of the height and length of the foot, and X-ray photographs of the foot in two projections. In adulthood, it is impossible to completely cure flat feet.
Treatment is comprehensive and is aimed at preventing further development of the pathology, eliminating pain, strengthening the muscles and ligaments of the foot. For this purpose:
Advanced and rapidly progressing forms of flatfoot require surgical treatment. Physiotherapeutic methods for treating flat feet, including a course of shock wave therapy, can achieve significant relief for patients, relieve pain, and strengthen the muscles and ligaments of the foot.
To prevent the development of flat feet, the following measures are required:
Shock wave therapy (SWT) is a strong complement to the above methods. After consultation and approval of treatment procedures with an orthopedic surgeon, you can begin comfortable and effective treatment.
Due to the steady aging of the population in our country, the number of femoral neck fractures is increasing. A femoral neck fracture in elderly patients is not just a broken bone, it is a condition that threatens their life. The fracture itself is not dangerous and does not pose a problem in treatment. Complications from prolonged immobilization and staying in bed after injury become life-threatening for an elderly patient.
Hip fractures in young people are much rarer and less life-threatening. Due to the high prevalence of fractures of this location among older people, the problem of treating these patients is not only medical, but also social. In this article, we will look at the anatomy of the femur, the causes of hip fractures, and how to treat this injury.
The hip joint is spherical in structure, so movements in it are possible in many planes. The joint is formed by the acetabulum, forming a kind of deep bowl, and the head of the femur, which has the shape of a ball.
The head of the femur is connected to the main part (the diaphysis) by a short section of bone called the femoral neck. Strong and thick muscles and tendons surround the joint. The surfaces of the acetabulum and the head of the femur are covered with articular cartilage.
Articular cartilage is a tough, smooth material that covers the bones at a joint. Articular cartilage allows the bones it covers to glide smoothly past each other without being damaged.
All blood supply to the head of the femur, as well as the cartilage covering it, occurs through the vessels passing in the area of the neck of the femur.
If these vessels are damaged, the nutrition of the femoral head is disrupted and it is destroyed.
Healing of the fracture also cannot take place due to the lack of blood supply to the area.
When the femoral neck is fractured, the vessels supplying the head of the femur are usually damaged. The head of the femur does not receive nutrition and therefore begins to deteriorate.
Fusion does not occur, and the head resolves over time. The supportability of the leg decreases sharply. The patient cannot move without additional support in the form of crutches or a walker.
The obvious cause of a hip fracture is trauma. Older people often lose their balance and fall. The cause of a fall can also be various neurological and cardiac diseases, which can provoke a sudden loss of consciousness and a fall.
Osteoporosis is one of the reasons for the widespread incidence of fractures in older people.
With osteoporosis, minerals are washed out of the bones. Bones become brittle and brittle, which increases the susceptibility to fractures even with minor injuries. Osteoporosis is most common among older, overweight women.
Factors predisposing to the development of osteoporosis include alcohol abuse, smoking, taking certain types of medications, as well as an inactive and sedentary lifestyle.
In young patients, a fracture of the femoral neck is usually a consequence of high-energy trauma from an accident or a fall from a height.
A hip fracture, like any fracture, causes severe pain. The support ability of the lower limb is impaired. A person cannot stand up and lean on his leg. If an elderly person lives alone in an apartment, after a fall he cannot get to the phone and call for help. As a rule, such patients are brought to the hospital several hours and even days after the injury in a state of severe dehydration, which can be fatal for them.
The diagnosis is established based on the collected medical history, physical examination and data from instrumental examination methods. As a rule, the diagnosis of a femoral neck fracture is established without any particular difficulties. Radiography allows us to clarify the nature of the fracture and the degree of displacement of the fragments.
It is important that the doctor receives information about the presence and severity of concomitant diseases in the patient, which is important for determining the tactics for further treatment of the fracture. For example, high blood sugar or high blood pressure in a patient may be a reason to postpone the operation.
There are conservative and surgical methods for treating femoral neck fractures. Without surgery, it is possible to treat patients whose condition allows them to sit up in bed within a few days after the injury, and subsequently get out of bed and move around with the help of crutches. In such patients, surgery can be performed routinely, if necessary, after additional preparation. Conservative treatment may also be indicated for weakened patients with severe concomitant pathology, for whom the risk of anesthesia and surgery can be extremely high.
There are several ways to surgically treat femoral neck fractures.
In young patients, there is a high likelihood of healing of a femoral neck fracture with proper treatment. The operation should be performed as quickly as possible after the injury.
The patient is fixed on a special operating table, the limb is stretched, closed correction of the position of the fragments (reposition) is carried out under X-ray control, then the fracture is fixed through small punctures in the skin with three special screws.
Within a period of up to six months, the fracture most often heals. In the same way, fractures of the femoral neck can be treated in older people without displacement of the fragments.
However, it is worth noting that the risk of non-union of femoral neck fractures in older people is higher than in young people. Also, femoral neck fractures without displacement of fragments are much less common.
For displaced femoral neck fractures in elderly patients, the most commonly used surgical treatment method is hip replacement. Osteosynthesis (fixation of a fracture with screws or plates) is most often futile due to impaired blood supply to the femoral head.
The decision about surgery is made by the doctor together with the patient. After ascertaining the medical history, the doctor performs a thorough clinical examination to measure the level of pain and functionality of the patient. During the examination of the patient, the surgeon examines radiographs, as well as CT and MRI data.
A thorough and complete medical examination before surgery will also be required. This is done in order to minimize the risk of complications during surgery. If a long surgery is expected or the patient's hemoglobin level is below normal, blood transfusions may be required after or during surgery.
Prevention of thromboembolic complications is mandatory.
There are several main types of endoprostheses - cementless and cemented.
Cemented endoprostheses are held in the bone using special cement that fixes the metal to the bone. The surface of cementless prostheses is made in such a way that bone tissue grows into it over time, due to which the prosthesis is held in the bone. In order for the endoprosthesis to grow in, the bone is processed with special instruments.
Both types of fixation of endoprostheses are widely used in medical practice. Also, in some cases, a combination can be used, when, for example, the acetabular component (cup) is fixed with cement, and the femoral component (pedicle) is cementless. The decision about whether to use a cemented or cementless endoprosthesis is made by the surgeon, based on the patient’s age, lifestyle, and the quality of his bones.
The endoprosthesis consists of two main parts.
The acetabular component (cup) replaces the articular surface of the acetabulum. The acetabular component shell is made of metal, inside which is placed a plastic or ceramic liner that is in direct contact with the femoral component.
The femoral component replaces the head and neck of the femur and is usually made entirely of metal. In some designs of the endoprosthesis, the head can be made of ceramic.
Endoprosthetics can be total, when both components are replaced, or unipolar. With unipolar endoprosthetics (hemiarthroplasty), only the femoral component is changed. Hemiarthroplasty is commonly performed for femoral neck fractures in elderly and frail patients.
With this type of endoprosthetics, the earliest verticalization of the patient is allowed, the very next day. This significantly reduces the risk of thromboembolic and hypostatic complications in elderly, weakened patients with femoral neck fractures. Equally important is the shorter operating time for hemiarthroplasty compared to total arthroplasty, which also reduces risks during anesthesia and blood loss during surgery. Currently, our clinic uses modern cemented bipolar hip replacements. A bipolar endoprosthesis is a modern type of unipolar prosthesis in which the head is double.
This design of the endoprosthesis increases the service life of the prosthesis, increases its stability and range of motion.
The surgeon accesses the hip joint; a skin incision is made in the upper third of the thigh. Once the hip joint is exposed, surgeons dislocate the worn head of the femur from the acetabulum. Then the damaged head and neck of the femur are resected with a special electric saw.
Next, the acetabulum is processed using special cutters. During the treatment, worn-out cartilage is completely removed and a hemisphere is formed into which the acetabular component will be implanted.
After shaping the acetabulum, the surgeon fills the socket with bone cement and installs an appropriately sized acetabular component. At this stage, the correct spatial orientation of the acetabular component at the correct angle is important. This affects the service life of the endoprosthesis and the likelihood of complications developing in the postoperative period.
After the cement has hardened and the acetabular component has been fixed, the surgeon begins to work on the femur. At this stage, the bone canal of the femoral canal is developed with special rasps to the required size.
Next, cement is placed into the prepared canal in the femur and the femoral component is installed.
The head of the required size is selected and the femoral component is reduced into the acetabular one.
The surgeon then checks hip stability and range of motion.
Once the surgeon is sure that everything is installed properly, the wound is sutured layer by layer. Drains are installed for a day. The patient is sent to a special ward in the postoperative department.
The patient’s rehabilitation begins from the first day.
A flat foot always attracts attention not only as an orthopedic problem, but also as a cosmetic one, because it lacks natural curves (arches). The basis of flat feet is not the defect in the formation of the arches itself, but muscle weakness or other conditions.
The classic treatment for flat feet in adults is wearing orthopedic shoes and using special insoles. Sometimes doctors prescribe their patients to wear supportive orthoses, but this method is not as effective. Surgical treatment is resorted to only in the most extreme cases.
A normal foot has arches both during rest, when a person sits or lies, and during load when walking and running. There are two types of flat feet: rigid and flexible.
A person with rigid flat feet has no arches in their feet in any position: standing or lying down. Basically, such a defect is caused by some other pathology. The most common cause of rigid flatfoot is the fusion of the metatarsal bones, which are normally separated. Other causes include injury, infection, neuromuscular disease, and autoimmune disease (eg, rheumatoid arthritis).
In a person with flexible flat feet, without load, all the curves of the foot are clearly visible, but when supporting the leg, the arches disappear, flattening under the weight of the body. The main cause of the defect is weakness of the ligaments, muscles or tendons. Basically, flexible flatfoot occurs in children due to the formation of the musculoskeletal system and in older people due to the fact that their muscles and ligaments lose tone.
Flat feet are a normal condition for babies and children under 7 and sometimes 10 years of age. Over time, when the child begins to actively run and jump, the ligaments, muscles and tendons begin to strengthen, and the defect disappears. If a child is bought the wrong, unsuitable or orthopedic shoes (without indications), then there will be no chance to form normal foot arches. This is due to the fact that when walking barefoot or in physiological shoes, for example, moccasins, the foot receives a natural load and develops as it should. If the child is wearing some special shoes, then the load is redistributed and not always as it should be. In this case, proper development of muscles and tendons does not occur. Some of them are overexerted, while others do not receive the load due to incorrectly selected shoes. The child will not only not outgrow flat feet, but will also experience pain in the legs caused by uneven load on the muscles.
Thus, it becomes obvious that the best option for the baby is to walk barefoot at home and wear good physiological shoes or sandals outside.
The answer to this question is very simple. Orthopedic shoes correct existing deficiencies. But is age-related flatfoot a defect? No, this is the stage of development of the foot and the formation of its arches. Therefore, there is no need to spend money on expensive orthopedic shoes, which not only will not cure flat feet, but, on the contrary, will not allow the foot to develop properly.
For a child, you need to select good quality shoes, exactly the right size, with a hard back and flexible sole. By the way, the sole should bend where a person’s foot normally bends. Then such shoes will optimally support the child’s feet and help him develop.
If an adult needs correction of flat feet, the orthopedist will give detailed instructions on how to choose the right shoes according to the patient’s needs.
Although in the vast majority of cases, flat feet have no symptoms other than a cosmetic defect, it is not a normal condition. Of course, it is always better to prevent a disease than to treat it, so it is necessary to prevent flat feet from the very birth of the baby. The best way to properly develop your feet is by walking and running barefoot. In most cases, this condition can only be fulfilled at home. For outdoor use, you need to buy your child shoes with flat soles or minimal heels, ones in which the foot does not slide forward. From an orthopedic point of view, all shoes with heels and platforms are completely unphysiological, so try to explain to your daughters why they should not wear such shoes every day, but only for a very important occasion. Everyone, both adults and children, needs to choose high-quality shoes that will not pinch or loose. It should hold the foot well, be fairly flexible in the center and rigid at the heel and toe.
To strengthen the muscular and ligamentous apparatus, you need to regularly perform gymnastics and go to the pool. Physical activity will not only help to properly form the arches of the feet, but also improve the health of the body as a whole.
All the proposed exercises are very simple. They can be performed by both children and the elderly.
Surgical treatment methods are prescribed mainly for rigid flat feet only if the patient experiences pain when walking. In other cases, doctors recommend physiotherapy, massage and acupuncture.
School of Dr. Komarovsky on the topic “Children’s shoes and flat feet”:
A set of exercises for the treatment and prevention of flat feet:
Old age is a natural phenomenon, accompanied by metabolic disorders and the development of dysfunction in systemic organs. Destructive changes that occur in older people lead to swelling of the legs. In this case, the limbs are very painful, itchy, and sometimes ulcers form on them. If swelling of the legs occurs, the causes and treatment in older people should be determined by a doctor. Swelling signals the development of serious systemic pathologies.
Edema develops on one or both legs at once. Swellings form in different parts of the limbs: from the foot to the hips. The phenomenon can be acute or chronic.
The accumulation of fluid in the interstitial space is the main cause of edema in old age.
Fluid stagnation is caused by:
Stagnation of venous blood is a common cause of leg swelling in older women and men. The movement of fluid in the vessels is disrupted by:
Swelling of the legs in older people is accompanied by:
Swelling usually occurs in the ankle and foot. In a bedridden patient, swelling is localized throughout the entire leg: from the sole to the lower back.
Thyroid dysfunction leads to severe swelling. After pressing on the swelling, a dent remains on it for a long time and does not disappear. In addition to the legs, the tongue may swell. In patients with congestion, constipation and chronic drowsiness occur.
The swelling that appears is difficult to miss. If in doubt, doctors advise measuring the volume of the limb in the morning and evening. If the parameters differ by more than 1 cm, fluid stagnation in the soft tissues is confirmed.
It doesn’t matter what kind of leg swelling occurs: strong or weak, only a doctor prescribes treatment. He establishes the root cause of the swelling, selects suitable medications and folk remedies that can relieve swelling.
Elderly patients with swelling of the legs are prescribed complex treatment. It includes:
Medications that help treat swelling include:
To strengthen vascular walls and restore blood flow, use:
If a grandmother or an elderly man suffers from edema, they are prescribed diuretics. Diuretics quickly remove excess fluid from the interstitial space. As a result, the swelling subsides and the patient's condition improves.
Older men and women should drain every day to improve blood flow. For this purpose, the lower limbs are placed on a hill so that an angle of more than 45 degrees is obtained. Stay in this position for 30-40 minutes.
Physical exercises effectively combat swelling. Gymnastics are done every day after waking up, right in bed. Old people are recommended to do basic exercises:
After doing morning exercises, rub a cream with a cooling effect into the skin of your legs and lie down for several minutes with your limbs raised upward.
Sessions with a professional massage therapist are the best option. A specialist, performing a classic or acupressure massage, helps eliminate swelling.
If it is not possible to visit a specialist, self-massage is performed at home. First, the legs are rubbed with the hands, then the limbs are kneaded with the fists. The procedure is carried out with a decongestant gel or without the use of drugs.
Herbal extracts relieve fatigue and tension, eliminate swelling. Treatment is carried out using:
Plants are used individually or a collection is prepared from them (selected herbs are mixed in equal quantities).
Boil 3 liters of water, pour a handful of raw materials into the liquid. Leave until the temperature of the extract drops to 38 degrees. The product is filtered, poured into a basin, and the legs are steamed for 20-30 minutes.
Folk remedies remove excess fluid from the body and improve blood circulation. Herbal teas, decoctions, solutions for lotions, compresses and massage are prepared.
To eliminate congestion in blood vessels, speed up blood circulation, and quickly relieve swelling of the feet, ankles or other parts of the extremities, medications are prepared for internal and external use:
If an elderly woman or man suffers from edema resulting from heart disease, use the following remedies:
For kidney diseases with edema, the following home remedies help:
The swelling that occurs during the development of inflammatory processes can be cured with the following home remedies:
By following simple doctor’s recommendations, elderly patients protect the body from many serious pathologies. The effectiveness of traditional methods is indisputable, but the choice of method for treating edema must be chosen by a doctor who understands the reasons for its occurrence . However, drug therapy should not be ignored. It will not be possible to get rid of the disease with home remedies alone.