Author: Nasonova NG
Many people dream of an easy gait, correct posture and walking with their heads held high. But what to do when your feet hurt and swell at the end of the day?
Flat feet is a flattening of the arch of the foot, resulting in a complete loss of all its spring (or shock-absorbing) functions.
Normally, the human foot has two physiological arches:
Both arches of the foot are designed to help a person maintain balance in space when walking and standing. They protect our body from shaking when walking and relieve additional stress from the spine.
There are two types of flat feet:
The human foot functions as a single complex only if the current load on it is balanced by strong ligamentous apparatus and muscles. If weakening of the ligaments and muscles occurs, this leads to a disruption of the normal physiological shape of the foot; it begins to gradually sag and flattens over time, as a result of which its main function – spring (or spring) – is lost.
When the foot is flattened, shaking when walking is compensated by the spine and leg joints (ankle, knee, hip). However, they are not designed for this, and therefore cope with the additional load poorly and begin to fail very quickly.
Very often, one of the manifestations of flat feet is the appearance of pain in the back and legs, especially in the evening. Many patients complain that “the calves seem to be filled with lead.” Flattening of the foot causes rapid fatigue of the legs when walking, and a person experiences pain in the feet, hips, lower legs and lumbar region.
Pain syndrome occurs when the body's compensatory forces cannot fully ensure normal movement.
With this disease, the knee and hip joints suffer, and a person may develop pathological posture.
Congenital flat feet are quite rare in medical practice and are most often associated with intrauterine disruption of the formation of the arch of the foot and its structural elements (bones).
Types of acquired flat feet:
Traumatic flatfoot usually develops after fractures of the bones of the foot or ankle, as well as in case of damage to the soft tissues (ligaments and muscles) that strengthen the arch of the foot.
Paralytic flatfoot (or paralytic flat foot) is the result of damage to the peripheral nervous system and develops after polio. The main cause in this case is paralysis of the foot and tibial muscles.
Rickets flatfoot develops after rickets suffered in childhood. This disease disrupts the normal formation of the bones of a child's foot. A deficiency of vitamin D and calcium makes bones less strong, so when exposed to stress and with a weak ligamentous-muscular system, the child’s foot becomes deformed and flat feet form.
Causes of static flat feet:
However, all of the above signs are characteristic not only of flat feet, but also of varicose veins.
If you experience pain or discomfort in your foot, you should consult a podiatrist.
To determine the degree of flatfoot, the patient must have an x-ray of both feet in two projections with a load (direct and lateral)
In the earliest stages, the failure of the ligamentous apparatus of the foot is less pronounced. Upon examination, the shape of the patient’s foot is not changed. However, there are complaints of pain in the feet when walking for a long time or tired legs at the end of the day. After a little rest and wearing comfortable shoes, the pain in the legs goes away.
— 1st degree flatfoot (mild flattening of the foot). A person experiences pain in the foot after a long walk, and pain occurs when pressing on the foot. The patient’s gait becomes less flexible, the legs often get tired under static and dynamic loads, and the foot often swells by the end of the day;
— 2nd degree flatfoot (or combined flatfoot). Upon examination, it can be concluded that the patient does not have a normal physiological arch of the foot, it seems to be “spread out”. When walking, the legs become very tired, and in the evening the foot becomes swollen and numb;
— 3rd degree flat feet. The patient has a pronounced deformity of the foot. The pain in the foot and lower leg is constant. It is quite difficult for a person to find comfortable shoes. The ankle and foot swell with prolonged physical activity. Most patients experience unpleasant pain in the knee joints. After exercise, a person experiences lower back pain, and in the evening there is a headache and pain in the cervical spine.
In the third stage of flat feet, sports activities and performance become virtually impossible. Considering that running and walking bring a person unpleasant pain and swelling of the legs, over time he tries to move less and lie on the couch more, which can ultimately aggravate the situation, since physical inactivity very often leads to obesity. It is very difficult for a patient to choose comfortable shoes; as a rule, the choice stops at models with flat soles. Incorrect gait and swelling of the foot lead to very rapid wear-out of shoes. At the third stage of the disease, many patients note dry skin on their feet and cracks appear on the heels.
Treating flat feet is not easy.
Once this disease has started, it is almost impossible to stop it. Complete cure for flat feet is possible only in childhood. In adult patients, with the help of various rehabilitation measures, flat feet can only be slowed down for a while and prevent serious complications from developing.
The earlier the first signs of the disease are detected in a patient and the less deformed the foot is, the more favorable the conditions are for stopping the progression of flat feet.
Treatment should be comprehensive and aimed at:
To relieve pain due to flat feet, painkillers and physiotherapy are used.
Objectives of therapeutic exercises for flat feet:
In case of severe pain, severe deformation of the bones of the foot and major problems in choosing shoes, the patient is indicated for surgical treatment.
Considering that flat feet and varicose veins are very strongly interrelated, preventive measures for them will be almost common.
If you want to feel the lightness of your legs, then you must follow these rules:
The success of treatment measures largely depends on at what stage of the disease the patient consulted a doctor.
The most common reason is lack or excess load on the legs. This can be caused, for example, by wearing the wrong shoes. Approximately 3% of people inherit flat feet from their parents.
Ideally, the human foot consists of internal arches and convex surfaces. But for many people, either from birth or over time, the arch of the foot drops - it becomes flat. This is called flat feet.
The most common reason is lack or excess load on the legs. This can be caused, for example, by wearing the wrong shoes. Approximately 3% of people inherit flat feet from their parents. For many, it develops as a result of diseases: rickets, polio, diabetes. Women suffer from flat feet four times more often than men. Risk factors include: uncomfortable shoes and walking in high heels, standing for long periods of time, being overweight, and pregnancy.
The human foot has a unique property - it works as a shock absorber, that is, it springs. Not a single animal, even the highest jumping and fastest running animal, such as a kangaroo or jaguar, can boast of this amazing ability. The foot springs due to the design of the arch, which is supported by a system of ligaments and muscles. When this muscular-ligamentous mechanism weakens for some reason, flat feet develop.
A flattened foot hurts when walking for a long time, and with a high degree of flat feet, even when standing still. But this is only a small part of the problem.
With flat feet, the impulse from steps, not extinguished by the springy arch of the foot, spreads up the skeleton. Loads (and very significant ones) are placed on the joints, spine and base of the skull. The shock-absorbing function is taken over by the spine, as a result of which it wears out faster and weakens. All kinds of pinched nerve roots occur with corresponding symptoms.
When flat feet are advanced, foot deformities occur and a so-called painful bone grows on the big toe. Blood circulation in the lower extremities is impaired, ankles swell and hurt. Changes appear in the area of the knee and hip joints. My legs get tired quickly. The gait deteriorates. Fatigue occurs quickly.
At home, you can smear your foot with oil or cream and put its imprint on a sheet of white paper that lies on a flat surface. Ideally, the resulting “image” should show less than half the width of the original part of the foot. In other words, if there is no depression in your foot, then you have flat feet.
Diagnosis and treatment of flat feet is carried out by an orthopedic specialist. The diagnosis can be made visually when examining the patient, and instrumental methods help to clarify the degree: podometry, computer diagnostics of the feet and radiography.
Treatment of flat feet includes several main areas.
Medicines and physical therapy are used to relieve pain.
To restore the natural shape of the foot, corrective insoles (instep supports) are used. Properly selected instep supports not only help you get rid of pain, but also regulate muscle tone with their shape. There are different types of arch supports:
inserts under the forefoot are used to flatten the longitudinal arch;
heels - allow you to reduce the load on the heels and pain in them;
interdigital inserts allow you to move the big and second toe apart, thereby preventing the progressive deviation of the big toe outward;
The best option is an insole with an instep support under the heel and a pronator under the anterior section. Such an insole, as it were, “twists” the foot - in this case, the muscles are subjected to less tensile forces and, thus, are in better conditions for work.
The highest quality arch supports are made to order after examining, taking the measurements of the foot and establishing the level of flattening of the arch. The materials from which instep supports are made have undergone their evolution: from cork, the most ancient, to synthetic ones (from Europlastic, supralene, silicone), as well as from soft foam material.
In cases of advanced flatfoot, special orthopedic shoes are made in the form of boots with lacing, a solid sole and lateral support for the foot. These shoes are made to order, using a plaster cast.
Surgical treatment of flat feet includes operations in which parts of the bones of the foot are removed to restore the normal arch of the foot (so-called remodeling operations).
For the treatment of flat feet and its prevention, there are also massage and physical therapy. Prevention can also be carried out at home. It is easier to “earn” flat feet if you walk in tight, uncomfortable shoes, wear high heels, run a lot, and stand for a long time. You need to give your feet rest more often - regularly do foot exercises, massages, and baths.
Flat feet are the most common foot deformity. The foot itself performs the function of human support, movement and shock absorption due to its complex structure.
With a normal physiological structure, the foot has two arches - transverse (between the bases of the toes) and longitudinal (along the inner edge of the foot). The arches function as shock absorbers and soften shaking when walking. The musculoskeletal system of the foot works well when the load on the foot is completely balanced. When the muscles and ligaments that connect the 26 bones of the foot weaken, the arches sag and flatten, which leads to loss of spring function. With flat feet, this function passes to the spine, knee, ankle and hip joints. These joints are not designed to perform this function and cope with it poorly, as a result of which they quickly fail.
There are quite a few conditions that lead to flat feet, here are some of them.
Congenital flat foot is a rather rare pathology, occurring in 11.5% of the total number of foot diseases. The cause may be various pathologies of intrauterine development of the fetus, due to ionizing radiation, bad habits of the mother.
Children with rickets develop rickets; as a result of decreased production of vitamin D, bone strength decreases under mechanical load, and the muscular-ligamentous apparatus is weakened.
Paralytic flatfoot develops after polio, and the degree of flatfoot is directly dependent on the severity of paralysis.
Traumatic flatfoot develops when the bones of the foot are fractured or when fractures heal incorrectly.
Static flatfoot is one of the most common types of flatfoot. The main reasons for it are decreased muscle tone and excessive fatigue due to prolonged standing.
Typically, a person who spends a lot of time on his feet does not notice the development of flat feet, and associates the appearance of pain and discomfort in the legs and feet with fatigue. There are several main signs by which you may suspect the development of this terrible disease in yourself.
By the end of the working day, the legs begin to swell, marks from socks appear, a feeling of heaviness and cramps may appear, which may not last long and go away after a massage.
You begin to notice that the length of the working day has remained the same, and your legs get tired much faster.
Shoes begin to wear out much faster than before, mainly on the inside.
From time to time you get the feeling that your foot has increased in length, and because of this you have to buy shoes a size larger.
There are several stages of foot deformation, the passage of which leads to complete clinical flatfoot. There are the prodromal stage, the stage of intermittent flatfoot, the stage of development of flat foot, the stage of planovalgus foot and contracture flatfoot.
The first stage of flat feet is manifested by pain in the foot and calf muscle after prolonged loading of the foot, statistical in nature, and a pronounced feeling of fatigue appears.
In the stage of intermittent flatfoot, it is characterized by increased pain towards the end of the day; pain occurs due to overstrain of the ligamentous apparatus of the foot, which maintains the optimal position of the foot. Increased fatigue often appears in the middle of the day, and people with incipient flat feet have to change the type of activity or rest more often.
The longitudinal arch of the foot visually flattens by the end of the working day, but after rest, especially in the morning, the height of the arch is restored.
The stage of development of a flat foot occurs when, due to further fatigue of the muscles of the lower leg and foot, the longitudinal arch of the foot is not restored to a state after rest. The patient quickly develops fatigue due to muscle fatigue. The pain becomes constant and aching as a result of overstretching of the ligamentous apparatus. The height of the longitudinal arch decreases due to lengthening of the foot and expansion of its longitudinal part. The gait changes, the range of movements in the joint of the feet is limited. At this stage of the disease there are three degrees.
Which doctor do sore legs bring you to?
Flat feet are a traditional reason for jokes about the lucky opportunity to avoid military conscription. But this is not a joke problem at all. Flat feet may well complicate life and become an obstacle to much more tempting prospects than military service. By the way, age-related deformation of the feet, manifested by the appearance of ugly “bumps” at the base of the big toe, is also a very common consequence of this disease. This leads to many questions: where does flat feet come from? How to treat it? And in general, are people with flat feet always aware of their illness?
So, imagine a person's foot. Normally, it is not at all as flat as it seems. Rather, it looks like a dome, where the edges are in contact with the support, and the middle is raised. This vaulted structure allows you to absorb all loads, shocks and impacts when walking, running and jumping. The base of the foot is bone, but the muscular-ligamentous apparatus allows it to maintain its shape. If for some reason it weakens, the sole “sags” under the weight of the person, and flat feet develop.
According to Svetlana Zagurskaya, an orthopedic doctor at the Krasnoyarsk Institute of Polyclinic Medicine, in children this most often occurs against the background of congenital weakness of the muscles and ligaments of the foot, when the arches do not develop or decrease as the child grows . In adults, the causes of flat feet are excess weight (when the arches of the feet flatten under the weight of the body), prolonged static loads (for example, “standing” work), injuries and bone fractures .
Another possible cause of flat feet is the wrong choice of shoes . So, constantly wearing sneakers, stiletto heels or stiff platform shoes changes the biomechanics of a normal step so much that it almost inevitably leads to the development of flat feet.
Now about the complaints. Both in children and in adults they are often absent! Parents first of all pay attention to gait disturbances and “incorrect” wear of shoes - on the inside of the foot. Older children and adults may experience a feeling of heaviness in their feet, fatigue, visible deformation of the feet, problems with choosing new shoes (the foot seems to “grow”, and it is necessary to buy shoes a size larger).
Later, pain appears when walking, which becomes more noticeable over time, “corns” and various deformities of the feet appear - in particular, bone-scar growths at the base of the big toe. Svetlana Zagurskaya notes:
— As a rule, it comes to a visit to the doctor when, against the background of existing flat feet, various complications and consequences develop from the overlying joints and the spine.
Let's assume that flat feet have already been identified. Is it possible to somehow restore the correct shape of the foot?
If we are talking about cases where flat feet are not too advanced, then we can limit ourselves to conservative treatment - correction of the arches of the feet using insoles and arch supports and active training of the muscles of the foot and lower leg using therapeutic exercises and massage.
For flat feet, the correct choice of shoes is very important: low (4-5 cm), free-standing heels; wide toe; the sole should be flexible and the heel should be rigid for good heel fixation . For recommendations on choosing an instep support and proper gymnastics, you should consult an orthopedic doctor.
However, there are situations when muscle training and wearing special shoes are no longer enough to return the foot to its correct shape. Typically, such flat feet are detected in adults who have ignored their illness for many years.
So, with severe deformation of the big toe, constant pain and the inability to choose shoes, one has to resort to surgical treatment.
Olga Vlasova, a surgeon at the Institute of Polyclinic Medicine, says:
— Hallux valgus, popularly called “bunions” or “bumps on the feet,” is one of the most common complications of flat feet, which looks like a deviation of the big toe inward of the foot. It manifests itself as pain, and in addition, it prevents the wearing of normal shoes due to the formation of a “bone” at the base of the big toe; Corns and calluses form on the plantar surface, making walking difficult. In such cases, surgical treatment is used to correct the existing deformity and obtain a good aesthetic result.
Gone are the days when the “bump” at the base of the thumb was removed (literally sawing off part of the bone) without correcting the root cause of the deformity. The operation was extremely traumatic and further impaired the functioning of the foot. Fortunately, at present, a low-traumatic method of correcting the deformity without the use of metal structures and plaster is used to treat feet with hallux valgus .
According to Olga Vlasova, the technique used is aimed at correcting the transverse arch of the foot, changing the angle between the bones of the foot, which leads to a more natural redistribution of the pulling moment of the ligaments (which has changed over the years of illness). In addition, a good cosmetic effect is achieved. Previously, such operations were performed only abroad (this method of treatment has been used throughout the civilized world for a long time). Now you can do it here in Russia. The operation lasts about an hour and is usually performed under local anesthesia.
After the operation, the patient remains in the hospital for 2-3 hours, followed by a recovery period (without plaster casts) at home. Full leg function is restored 2-3 weeks after surgery.
Thus, today, treatment of flat feet is, first of all, a matter of discipline of the patient himself, as well as the attention of parents to the health of their children (and subsequently, and vice versa, the care of children for aging parents). By contacting a competent orthopedist, you can successfully overcome the disease without leading to painful complications.
If your baby often complains of pain in his legs, do not rush to attribute everything to excessive mobility. It is likely that the child’s painful sensations show signs of flat feet - and this is not such a harmless disease as some people believe. If the disease is detected immediately after birth, the baby is immediately placed on orthopedic registration. But what if the foot deformity is acquired?
Flat feet is a disease of the musculoskeletal system. It is better to pay attention to this insidious disease from childhood. When flat feet develop in children, the first thing, of course, is the foot that becomes deformed; in other words, its arch flattens. The foot is designed in such a way that the entire weight of the body is evenly distributed on it. The load is noted mainly at three points of the foot, the first - in the area of the heel tubercle, the second - in the area of the big toe, the third - in the area of the little toe.
In this material you will learn why a child develops flat feet and how to deal with this disease.
One of the reasons for the development of flat feet in children is overload of the muscles responsible for static, disruption of their blood circulation and nutrition. Numerous bones of the foot are connected to each other by strong ligaments and form an arch. The foot has several arches, which is very important for the clarity of movements and walking - these are two longitudinal and one transverse arch. Accordingly, if the transverse arch is broken, then flatfoot is called transverse, if longitudinal - longitudinal. There is also the so-called physiological longitudinal flatfoot, which remains normal in children under 2 years of age. It is due to the fact that the baby’s arch is not fully formed; there is a large accumulation of fatty tissue on the heel, which cushions steps very well. The process of forming the arch of the foot lasts until preschool age (5-6 years).
If you have the slightest suspicion of any changes in your child’s feet, you should contact your pediatrician, who will refer you for a consultation with an orthopedist. It’s even better if an orthopedist examines your baby’s legs immediately after birth and rules out any congenital pathology of the musculoskeletal system.
At the very early stages of a child’s life, flat feet can be congenital; the maternity hospital must tell you about this upon discharge; the baby must be immediately registered with an orthopedist. A few months later, when the first signs of rickets may appear, a consultation with an orthopedist will also not be superfluous. First, you will be prescribed vitamin therapy to eliminate the lack of vitamin D in the child’s body, and only then correction aimed at preventing foot deformation.
The next stage in a child’s life is when he has taken his first steps, now stands confidently on his feet, walks, falls, stands up on his own, and crawls. During this time, his spine had already formed, all its physiological curves, and his muscles and ligaments had become stronger. This period is especially important, since the child buys his first shoes, which should not only be beautiful, but also, above all, comfortable and hygienic.
Shoes should fit the baby's feet tightly, not loose, but also not pinch them. To do this, it is recommended to purchase the first shoes with Velcro or lace-up, with a stable and hard sole so that the child is comfortable.
The next visit to an orthopedist is required at 3 years of age and every year thereafter. If a child has been diagnosed with “flat feet,” then one should not neglect the appointments of the attending doctor, who, in addition to drug treatment, will recommend physical therapy, massage, and special orthopedic shoes.
With congenital flat feet, both feet can be affected at once, which is rare, or just one foot, which is the most common. This type of flatfoot in children is associated with any malformations of the fetal bone tissue. First, they resort to treating flat feet in children with the help of fixing plaster bandages; if this is ineffective, then the child is sent to a surgical hospital.
Flat feet cause changes in the spine, which leads to poor posture, scoliosis, osteochondrosis, and arthrosis. All these diseases gradually develop and accumulate with age, so it is necessary to treat flat feet even before they appear, in childhood.
Acquired flat feet come in several types. Traumatic flatfoot can develop as a result of any injury received (dislocation, or even worse, a fracture of the foot). This usually leads to long-term plaster immobilization (immobilization) of the limb, which ultimately leads to flattening of the arch of the foot and, as a consequence, the development of flat feet. But after removing the plaster cast and developing the foot (massaging), flat feet become less pronounced.
Paralytic flatfoot is a rather serious diagnosis. The reason for the development of such flat feet in children is previous diseases of the central nervous system. Such foot damage requires long-term and thorough treatment, constant monitoring not only by an orthopedist, but also by a neurologist, and complex treatment.
Static flatfoot is no less rare than traumatic one, which is associated with excessive load on the support points of the foot. As a result, the static movement is disrupted, it is difficult not to pay attention to this.
Rachitic flatfoot develops due to a lack of vitamin D in the baby’s body: the bones soften, the muscles and ligaments are not able to cope with the load, and the foot gradually becomes deformed.
See what different types of flat feet in children look like in the photo:
The first complaint of a child with flat feet, which you should definitely pay attention to, is pain in the legs. Ask your child what it’s like and where it starts. Typically, with flat feet, it occurs after physical activity or active play with other children. Find out exactly where it hurts, let your baby show you, if he can, where it hurts the most. The whole limb can hurt, then the child will not be able to show exactly the location of the pain, as well as the area of the ankle joint, the area of the heel bone or the toes. The pain can be concentrated in one place or spread out. It is very important to clarify this with the child, as it makes it possible to judge the degree of change in the foot. When the foot is deformed, the ligaments begin to stretch and weaken. Gradually they become thinner and stop working. And then an irreversible process can begin - the process of deformation of the bones themselves, when neither the ligaments nor the muscles can cope with the load. Another symptom of flat feet in children is a change in gait.
The baby becomes whiny, gets tired quickly, and has constant pain in his legs. Be as attentive as possible. Also pay attention to his shoes, whether there is any trampling, for example, on the inner edge of the sole or the heel, also on the inner edge of the shoe.
As can be seen in the photo, flat feet in children can be of three degrees, depending on the degree of flattening of the arch of the foot:
The following describes how to treat flat feet in children and how to prevent foot deformities.
The doctor will tell you how and in what sequence to treat symptoms of flat feet in children. You can relieve your child’s pain at home using affordable means. To do this, give your baby warm foot baths at night. Pour water at a temperature of no higher than 40 ° C into a basin, add regular sea salt and a few drops of string extract (if there is no extract, then an herbal infusion can completely replace it). Let the child put his feet there and sit for 15-20 minutes. In addition to the series, baths are made with a decoction of oak bark, infusions of linden, and peppermint without adding salt. To prepare the infusion, pour 2 tablespoons of dry herbs into 500 ml of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes, add to warm water. After the bath, carefully dry your baby's feet with a terry towel and massage them. Your movements should be smooth and not cause pain to the child. This will improve blood circulation and lymphatic drainage in your legs. In addition to the fact that the pain in the legs will be less, the baby will sleep soundly, since such baths have a good relaxing property.
One of the effective methods of treating flat feet in children is physiotherapy. These can be either ozokerite applications or electrophoresis, which also has a beneficial effect on the baby’s legs, reducing pain. These procedures are not at all painful, and over time the child gets used to them, and he even begins to like them.
To prevent flat feet in children, it is necessary to do therapeutic exercises with the child (3-4 times a week will be enough), and teach the child the correct gait. The best and most useful exercise for the feet is walking barefoot on grass, sand, and pebbles in the warm season. This will not only increase blood circulation in the extremities, i.e. it will act like a regular massage, only natural, but will also correct your gait. During physical therapy, the mobility of the spine increases, all parts of the body are correctly positioned together, thus correcting the postural defect. Using this method of preventing flat feet, the muscles and ligaments of the feet are strengthened in children, and the joints of the lower extremities begin to function in the desired position.
Acquired flat feet (congenital is extremely rare) most often develops as a result of various overloads of the feet, especially during the period of growth of the body.
In adulthood, flat feet often develop when standing for a long time - for example, among salespeople and hairdressers.
Long-term wearing of heavy objects and excess body weight also lead to flat feet. Traumatic flatfoot develops after a fracture of the ankles or foot bones. With fractures of the bones of the lower limb, flat feet also often develop, and on the side opposite to the fracture.
In the initial stages of the disease, discomfort is noted only during prolonged walking, especially when lifting and carrying heavy objects. Then the foot deformity becomes stable and is accompanied by pain not only when walking, but sometimes at rest.
And some experts believe that flat feet are a hereditary disease. For its treatment, appropriate gymnastics and special shoes with special insoles and heels are prescribed.
However, it is known that orthopedic techniques are ineffective.
Foot massage, vibration exercises according to the Nishi Health System, water and air contrast procedures, good nutrition, walking barefoot - this is what can stop the development of flat feet.
For a while, I advise you to insert a cotton wool tourniquet between the big and other toes to move the big toe to the side. This will help correct the misaligned heel bone over time.
Treatment of flat feet consists of using a special set of exercises for the muscles of the feet and legs, massage and wearing therapeutic insoles - arch supports.
Prevention of flat feet consists of systematic physical exercise and rational selection of shoes. The correct selection of shoes is a means of preventing and combating pain not only in the foot, but also in the lower leg, thigh, and spine.
Self-massage of feet for flat feet.
1. Rub the sole and back of the foot in the direction from the toes to the ankle joint; duration about 30 seconds.
2. Using the fingers of both hands, knead and rub the bases of the toes on the plantar side (30 - 60 seconds), then the heel (30 - 60 seconds).
3. Massage the foot with a stroking motion (from the toe to the ankle joint), covering it with both hands on all sides (30 seconds).
4. Grasp the leg in the ankle area with both hands and perform deep massaging stroking from the ankle to the knee joint (10 - 15 times), then knead in the same direction (10 - 15 times) and stroke again (10 - 15 times).
5. Finally, massage using the stroking technique, covering the leg with both hands on all sides, from the ankle joint to the knee joint (10 times).
Perform the same self-massage complex on the other leg.
* For the prevention and treatment of flat feet, walking barefoot, running in sand and shallow water, all kinds of jumping and sports games are useful
* There is also a special set of exercises to help get rid of flat feet.
1. Walking on your toes.
2. Walking on the outer arch of the feet.
3. Walking on your heels.
4. Walk with your toes tucked.
5. Walk with your toes pointed.
Each of these exercises is performed for a minute 3 to 4 times a day.
Flat feet is a disease of the musculoskeletal system in which the physiological structure of the foot is disrupted and shock-absorbing functions are lost. There are two types of flat feet - longitudinal and transverse - depending on the arch of the foot. Currently, flat feet occur in more than 45% of people. Women are more predisposed to developing the disease. According to the clinical picture, flat feet are manifested by pain, which intensifies while walking.
Depending on the anatomy, there are three types of flat feet:
Based on the time of occurrence, congenital and acquired flat feet are distinguished. Congenital flatfoot is a fairly rare pathology. The main reason for the development of congenital pathology is intrauterine development disorders. This type of pathology is detected only by the age of 6 years.
Acquired flatfoot, in turn, is divided into:
Statistical flatfoot is the most common type of pathology. There are many reasons for the development of this form - wearing incorrect and uncomfortable shoes, abuse of heels, obesity, insufficient physical activity, standing work.
There are three main degrees of flat feet. So, with the first degree, the angle between 1 toe and 1 metatarsal bone is less than 20, with the second degree (moderate flatfoot) the angle does not exceed 35 degrees, and with severe flatfoot it significantly exceeds 35 degrees.
Transverse flatfoot is the most common pathology among all types of flatfoot. Characteristic symptoms are a fan-shaped foot, the length of the foot is significantly reduced. In most cases, deformity of the first finger develops.
Painful sensations occur when walking. The pain is usually aching or burning in nature. With severe flat feet, hammertoes develop.
Longitudinal flatfoot - with this form of flatfoot, the length of the foot increases, the foot becomes flat, and takes on the appearance of a flipper. With severe pathology, the entire foot comes into contact with the floor. With moderate and severe flat feet, the patient experiences pain not at the end of the day, but even during prolonged walking or standing.
When flat feet begin (in the prodromal period), sometimes it is enough to develop the correct gait, walking barefoot - on sand, grass, or on any uneven surface. The patient is also prescribed physical therapy and massage.
Physiotherapy has a positive effect - magnetic therapy, hydromassage, SMT. With more pronounced intermittent flat feet, special orthopedic shoes and insoles are required. In severe cases of flat feet, immediate surgical intervention is indicated, during which they resort to various techniques - tendon transplantation, resection of individual bones of the foot.