Flat feet is a serious disease that must be detected as early as possible and treated without fail. With flat feet, symptoms can be seen not only by professional orthopedists, but also by ordinary people. To do this, you need to know how the first signs appear, especially in children. Indeed, with early detection, flat feet in a child can be completely eliminated. While advanced forms of the disease can cause irreversible consequences and are treated mainly through surgery.
Normally, the foot has two arches - longitudinal (along the foot) and transverse, located at the base of the toes. Under load, these arches seem to “blur”, and at rest they “gather” again to their original position.
Body vibrations that occur during movement are absorbed by these natural springs and are not transmitted to the body. The springy state of the foot is achieved due to the ligaments of the foot and the muscular frame of the lower leg. Based on this, the following functions of the foot can be distinguished:
Imprint of the arches of the feet.
If the arches of the feet flatten, then none of the above functions can be performed. Flat feet can be longitudinal or transverse, but the most problematic is combined flat feet, in which there are signs of these two types of deformities.
According to statistics, more than 50% of the world's population suffers from flat feet in one form or another, and this sad fact is depressing. After all, the consequences of flat feet can seriously harm a person’s condition, and the disease in some cases can only be treated surgically. These include intervertebral hernias, hallux valgus, scoliosis and many other pathological conditions.
Flat feet can be congenital or acquired. Congenital foot deformity is very rare in newborns, and treatment for such children is prescribed from the first day of life. But the modern lifestyle and pace of life leave an imprint on the formation of posture and feet, especially in children.
The causes of flat feet in children and adults are as follows:
Among the acquired forms of flatfoot, there are several varieties that differ in etiology. The types of flat feet are as follows:
But these symptoms can also occur with other diseases, for example, with varicose veins. In addition, longitudinal and transverse flatfoot have a number of symptoms that are specific and appear only with a certain type of this disease. Based on these signs, you can determine the form of the disease.
Degrees of longitudinal flatfoot.
Degrees of transverse flatfoot
Treatment for flat feet always depends on the degree and severity of the disease. There are three degrees of flat feet.
As already mentioned, treatment of the disease is optimal at the age of 6-7 years. Already at the age of 12-13 years, treatment of adolescents presents certain difficulties, because the skeletal system is almost formed. Treatment of adults becomes even more complicated, and conservative methods are used only for grades 1 and 2 of the disease. The presence of grade 3 flat feet, severe pain and progressive foot deformation are direct indications for surgical intervention.
Exercises should be performed every day, and the types of exercises are selected by an orthopedic doctor strictly individually. When selecting, the doctor takes into account the degree of deformation and type of disease, the age of the patient and the presence of concomitant diseases.
In conclusion, it should be noted that the selection of shoes and insoles for patients is of great importance (especially for children). All orthopedic devices should not only correct the shape and function of the foot, but also reduce pain.
I myself have congenital flat feet, I got it from my mother. Well, it would seem that my legs get tired after a long walk, well, the muscles on the foot hurt. After all, this happens to people. But what, flat feet increases the load on the knees, after which the knees they hurt and crunch, this is news to me. My knowledge in this area has been expanded by this article.
Recently I encountered such a strange problem. After even a short walk, the bone under the big toe on my left foot hurts badly. At first I tried not to pay attention to it, but over time the pain began to intensify and began to bother me more and more. Then I went to an orthopedist and found out that I had the initial stage of transverse flatfoot, and the reason turns out to be my passion for high heels and wearing uncomfortable shoes. I was advised to do foot baths and special gymnastics, as well as a foot massage and put special insoles in my shoes. Now I’m trying to follow all the recommendations and I hope that in the near future I will get rid of my problem. I also read all kinds of resources that describe my problem and, so to speak, recognize the enemy in person) And in my opinion, this is one of the best sites where this problem is described in such detail.
Recently I encountered such a strange problem. After even a short walk, the bone under the big toe on my left foot hurts badly. At first I tried not to pay attention to it, but over time the pain began to intensify and began to bother me more and more. Then I went to an orthopedist and found out that I had the initial stage of transverse flatfoot, and the reason turns out to be my passion for high heels and wearing uncomfortable shoes. I was advised to do foot baths and special gymnastics, as well as a foot massage and put special insoles in my shoes. Now I’m trying to follow all the recommendations and hope that in the near future I will get rid of my problem. I also read all sorts of resources that describe my problem and, so to speak, recognize the enemy by sight) And in my opinion this is one of the best sites where this problem is described in such detail
I have congenital flat feet: on one foot stage II and on the other stage III. My legs hurt and get tired. And you know, I treated it: I did a massage, I constantly bend my fingers - I strain the muscle, I rolled a rolling pin, I even wear orthopedic insoles, my feet still hurt, they pull. So I don’t know, I’ll probably have to live with this problem all my life. My daughter also has flat feet, we are also treating her, she is 1.5 years old and still has time before she turns 7!
Flat feet is a disease of the foot in which it becomes flat and loses its shock-absorbing properties. When walking, the entire weight of a person rests on the foot. Thanks to its ligaments and tendons, the foot softens the load, thereby reducing the impact on the legs and spine.
Normally, the foot has two arches - longitudinal and transverse . The longitudinal one runs along the inner edge of the foot, normally forming a noticeable depression, and the transverse one - in the area of the toes. Based on this, flatfoot can be longitudinal (smoothing of the longitudinal arch), transverse (smoothing of the transverse arch) and mixed (when both arches are smoothed).
When flat feet occur, the foot is unable to absorb the load from walking and running, and this work is redistributed to the joints of the legs (ankle, knee, hip) and the spine. Additional stress on these areas leads to greater wear and tear, and as a result, diseases.
Depending on the time of its occurrence, flat feet can be congenital or acquired.
Congenital flatfoot is associated with various disorders of intrauterine development, weakness of connective tissue (tendons, ligaments) or lower leg muscles.
Acquired flatfoot can develop at any age and can be associated with the following reasons:
There are also many reasons that can contribute to the occurrence of flat feet. Among them:
Considering the norms and rhythm of modern life, almost every person is exposed to one or more risk factors for developing flat feet, and everyone has experienced the first symptoms of this disease.
What signs may indicate the onset of the disease?
Of course, these symptoms can also occur with other foot conditions, but you can very easily check for yourself whether you have arch problems. To do this, you just need to put your feet wet or greased with any fat on a clean sheet of paper. Normally there should be a mark from the heel, toe, toes and a thin line along the outer edge, and there should be a clean area where the inside of the foot should be. If there is an imprint of the entire foot or most of it, you should consult a doctor for a consultation.
It is very important to suspect and recognize flat feet in the early stages of development, as this significantly affects the scope and effectiveness of subsequent treatment.
The very first manifestations of flat feet - increased fatigue and pain in the legs in the evening, occur even before changes in the structure of the foot. At this stage, the disease is most treatable and completely reversible.
In the following stages, swelling occurs, the plasticity of the gait decreases, and the arches of the feet gradually smooth out. Next, the knee joints are involved in the process, and then the entire leg and spine. Symptoms of varicose veins of the lower extremities are added: swelling, pain, burning sensation, heaviness, itching, visually protruding, blue veins, as well as back pain, especially in the lumbar region. The foot is noticeably deformed, the big toe deviates significantly outward.
At these stages, the disease is no longer curable, only a reduction in symptoms is possible.
In addition, if flat feet have already begun, it will progress quite quickly, and the effectiveness of treatment and the patient’s quality of life depend on the timeliness of diagnosis.
If you suspect flat feet, you should consult an orthopedic doctor. During the consultation, the doctor examines the anatomical structure of the foot, its functional state, tone and elasticity of the muscular-ligamentous apparatus. X-rays of the feet will allow you to judge the condition of the bone part of the foot. Based on the data obtained, a diagnosis of flat feet, the stage of the disease and subsequent treatment tactics can be established.
A complete cure for flat feet is possible only in childhood, since at this age all tissues of the body are quite elastic and recover well. Starting from 13–14 years of age, the frequency of relapses (resumption of the disease after recovery) increases significantly, therefore, even after the end of treatment, exacerbation prevention should be constantly carried out.
Treatment of flat feet should be comprehensive, aimed at eliminating the cause of the disease, eliminating symptoms and improving the patient’s quality of life.
The basis of treatment for flat feet is therapeutic correction, gymnastics, the purpose of which is to strengthen the muscles and ligaments of the arch of the foot to correct its shape, position, and form the correct gait. It is important that a doctor monitors the correctness of the exercises for some time and corrects errors in a timely manner.
A necessary component of treatment is the elimination of disorders throughout the spine. In severe cases of the disease, with serious deformities of the fingers, severe pain, surgical treatment of flat feet is indicated for patients.
Flat feet is a disease that is unpleasant in its manifestations and dangerous in its consequences, disorders of the entire musculoskeletal system, do not forget to take care of the health of your feet.
Flat feet is a deformation of the foot in which its longitudinal or transverse arch drops and becomes flattened. There are two forms of flat feet: transverse and longitudinal. In some cases, both forms are mixed.
In most cases, transverse flatfoot occurs, combined with other foot deformities (55.23% of cases). Longitudinal flatfoot and other types of deformities appear in 29.3% of cases.
What actually happens with flat feet? If the foot deformity is transverse, a flattening of the transverse arch of the foot appears. The foot has 5 metatarsal bones, on the heads of which its entire frontal section rests. Thus, the metatarsal bones fan out, the 1st (big) toe deviates outward, a hammertoe deformity occurs with the middle toe (abnormal contraction and flexion), and the length of the foot is miniaturized. Transverse flatfoot is found to a greater extent at 35–50 years of age.
Longitudinal flatfoot is characterized by flattening of the longitudinal arch of the foot. At the same time, its length increases and virtually the entire area of the sole comes into contact with the floor. It is noticeable that longitudinal flat feet are typical mainly for women. It is influenced by body weight: excess weight increases the load on the feet and longitudinal flat feet become more pronounced. The age at which longitudinal flatfoot occurs in most cases is 16–25 years.
The prerequisites for flat feet depend on its etiology. Foot deformity can be congenital or acquired (traumatic, paralytic, rachitic and static).
Congenital flat feet. Due to the fact that children under 5–6 years old have all the signs of a flat foot, it can be very difficult to find congenital flat feet before this age. This pathology is congenital in approximately 3% of cases. It may appear due to hereditary frailty and connective tissue deficiency.
Traumatic flatfoot. Injuries and fractures of the ankles, ankle joint, heel and tarsal bones, damage to the soft tissues that strengthen the arches of the feet become causes of traumatic flat feet.
Paralytic flatfoot. Previous polio may be a prerequisite for the development of paralytic flatfoot (paralytic pes planus). As a result, paralysis of the tibial muscles and the muscles of the foot occurs.
Rachitic flatfoot. Rickets is a disease that disrupts the normal formation of human bones, including the bones of the foot. Fragile, weak bones of the foot and weakened muscles and ligaments cannot withstand the loads of the body, resulting in deformation of the foot and the formation of flat feet.
Static flat feet. This type of flatfoot is very common, accounting for 82.1% of all cases of pathology. The causes of static flat feet are weakness of the muscles of the foot and lower leg, weakening of the bones and ligaments. Thus, certain reasons (excess weight, standing work, lack of necessary physical activity) can lead to foot deformation. Wearing awkward or poorly made shoes, as well as shoes with high heels or narrow toes, also has an adverse effect on the shape of the foot.
Flat feet have several degrees of severity. The early stage is characterized by the development of ligamentous incompetence. With all this, the foot is not deformed, but the ligaments are stretched, as a result of which the person feels pain. Nasty feelings appear mainly after long walks or in the evening, after a day of work. usually enough to relieve pain .
Mild flatfoot (stage 1) is characterized by a feeling of lethargy in the legs that appears after physical activity. A decrease in gait flexibility and swelling of the legs may also be observed. If you press on the foot, the person will feel pain.
Combined flatfoot (stage 2) manifests itself in flattening of the foot: the arches disappear, the foot becomes obviously flat. Pain in the feet intensifies and becomes more frequent. Often they can spread right to the knee joints. Walking is significantly difficult.
Severe flat feet (stage 3) often becomes a prerequisite for a sick person to call a doctor. There is severe pain in the feet and legs, swelling of the legs, pain in the head and pain in the lower back. At this stage of the disease, a person cannot play sports, his ability to work is noticeably reduced, and even measured leisurely walks are difficult. To move, a person needs to change from ordinary shoes to orthopedic ones.
Flat feet progresses quite rapidly, leading to deformation of the fingers, their curvature, the formation of calluses, etc.
What should you pay attention to in order to prevent severe deformation of your feet? An alarming sign is that the shoes are worn out on the inside. Check a few old pairs of shoes: if the soles are worn away at the inner edge, you may need to consult a podiatrist. Symptoms of flat feet include rapid fatigue when walking, lethargy and pain in the legs, swelling and cramps. With flat feet, not only the feet, but also the ankles swell. It becomes very difficult for ladies to walk in heels. Due to the elongation of the foot, ancient shoes become small, and you have to take larger shoes. Pain in the lower back, knees, hips, and migraines may appear. Gait and posture become incorrect and unnatural. From time to time, flat feet contribute to the occurrence of ingrown toenails.
But you should keep in mind that such symptoms are not unique to flat feet. Varicose veins have similar symptoms. Therefore, if you find any of the above symptoms, be sure to get tested.
Diagnosis of flat feet is carried out using x-rays of the feet and a physical examination by a podiatrist.
Flat feet seems to many to be a common disease, but in fact it is a rather severe and rapidly progressing pathology that is difficult to heal. It can be cured one hundred percent only in childhood, and in adults, healing is aimed at slowing down the development of the disease into more advanced stages. The earlier flatfoot is found, the more appropriate its treatment and correction will be. Healing flat feet has a complete effect: the patient’s muscles and ligaments of the foot are strengthened, pain is relieved, and progressive deformation is stopped.
Pain is relieved with pharmaceuticals and physical therapy. The main therapy is healing exercises. A special set of exercises should be done once a day. When selecting exercises, the orthopedist takes into account the shape and type of flat feet, stage, and age of the patient.
With flat feet, blood circulation is impaired, therefore, to normalize it and stimulate the muscles, healing massage and foot baths are used.
It is very important to use orthopedic insoles in the treatment of flat feet that correct deformed feet.
From time to time, with very severe deformation and curvature of the huge toe, surgery is performed.
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Flat feet is an irreversible pathology, the course of which is accompanied by constant progression and, accordingly, deterioration of the patient’s condition.
There are four main stages of the disease, each of which is characterized by a certain degree of foot deformation and features of the clinical picture. The following signs are characteristic of flat feet of the 3rd degree: severe deformation of the foot, the appearance of severe pain, poor posture, the development of scoliosis and other pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. Treatment at this stage is based primarily on surgical intervention; conservative techniques are used to prevent the progression of pathology, reduce discomfort and improve the patient’s quality of life.
According to the norms of physiology, the foot, which does not have anatomical deviations, has natural curves that act as a kind of springs that contribute to the uniform distribution of loads and shock absorption. As the name of the pathology suggests, “flat feet” is a disease associated with the loss or flattening of the physiological curves of the foot. With grade 3 deformation, the arch of the foot decreases, and therefore the sole becomes flat in the literal sense of the word.
Depending on the characteristics of the foot deformation, longitudinal or transverse flatfoot is distinguished; a combination of the two pathologies is also possible. With significant flattening of the arch of the foot, the natural function of shock absorbers is lost, and therefore the load on the joints and spine increases. Flat feet of the 3rd degree are characterized by the addition of diseases such as scoliosis or arthrosis.
In the field of practical medicine, there are three main degrees of flatfoot; some sources supplement the classification with a fourth stage, which is defined as the most advanced, associated with irreversible deformities of the foot. The expanded classification characterizes each of the degrees as follows:
The fourth stage is characterized as an advanced and irreversible process of foot deformation. To partially restore the shock-absorbing properties of the sole and natural curves, surgical intervention is necessary.
There are two categories of factors that can lead to the development of third-degree flatfoot: congenital and acquired. Cases of children being born with an existing pathology are extremely rare. Mostly a kind of catalyst for launching the disease mechanism are:
First of all, it should be noted that the manifestation of symptoms of grade 3 flat feet can affect both legs or one. The second option is possible for people who experience constant stress on one foot, for example, drivers. As for the general symptoms characteristic of grade 3 flatfoot, the main signs are:
Diagnostic measures used to determine flat feet and the degree of pathology consist of an external examination of the patient by an orthopedic doctor, as well as X-ray procedures. The above methods make it possible to determine the degree of deformation of the foot, pathological changes in the height and angle of the arch, as well as to identify cumulative diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Patients faced with such an unpleasant disease as grade 3 flatfoot are primarily interested in the question of how to treat the pathology. In the vast majority of clinical cases, only surgical intervention provides positive results and the possibility of complete recovery,
Conservative methods are usually ineffective; they are only a way to prevent the progression of pathology. In addition, an important point is the patient’s compliance with all the recommendations of the attending physician regarding lifestyle, physical activity, and nutrition.
Conservative orthopedic treatment of grade 3 flatfoot in adults is based, first of all, on identifying factors that could influence the development of the disease. Based on the results obtained, the specialist builds the optimal treatment tactics in a particular case. The prevailing methods of conservative therapy for flat feet are the following:
The most effective conservative treatment for grade 3 flat feet is wearing orthopedic insoles and shoes. Each pair of insoles is made individually, taking into account the individual physiological characteristics of the patient and the degree of illness.
In the absence of positive dynamics against the background of conservative methods used or in the presence of indications for eliminating flat feet, various types of surgical interventions are used, which can vary depending on the type and degree of the disease.
After surgery, the patient should wear special orthopedic sandals for one and a half months to help maintain the foot in the anatomically correct position. After the specified period of time, orthopedic insoles are sufficient for prevention and treatment.
The third degree of flatfoot is characterized by various possible complications, including those from the musculoskeletal system. To prevent further progression of the disease, as well as in the period after invasive or conservative treatment, the patient must follow a number of preventive rules.
First of all, it is necessary to strengthen muscle tissue, for which you should regularly do exercises recommended by an orthopedist. In addition, it is important to avoid gaining excess body weight. To do this, you should normalize your diet, exclude sweets, spicy, salty foods, preserves, and preferably give preference to natural products.
To increase the elasticity of muscle tissue, you should drink more fluid.
To relieve fatigue and relax your feet, it is recommended to take daily foot baths with decoctions of herbs that have anti-inflammatory properties, such as chamomile, yarrow, calendula, or an alkaline solution of regular baking soda. And, of course, to prevent complications and distribute loads evenly, the patient should wear only well-chosen orthopedic shoes or insoles.
It is important to remember that following these rules in the early stages of development of flat feet will help prevent the progression of the pathology.
Flat feet are that invisible enemy that creeps up slowly and attacks suddenly. It is very difficult to win the fight against him, but we have the power to prevent this unpleasant meeting.
“She has flat feet and she absolutely can’t dance,” he once said
about his ex-wife, a British officer named Rudolf Maclead. No matter what rejected husbands say, we are talking about one of the most famous carriers of this disease. About the famous dancer and spy Mata Hari. According to some reports, this outstanding woman actually suffered from flat feet.
The fact that she danced barefoot is interpreted by biographers (and doctors) in favor of this diagnosis. Try doing a couple of steps on ballet pointe shoes or shoes when you have sore feet. It is believed that Mata Hari had problems with her feet since childhood. However, doctors remind: flat feet can develop at any age and lead not only to poor health, but even to disability.
In people with flat feet, shoes are usually deformed on the inner edge
Avicenna said: “If your legs are sick, then you are completely sick.” Everything is interconnected: the muscles of the lower leg take part in the work of the foot, which are connected to the muscles of the thigh, and those, in turn, to the spinal column. Various problems with it (for example, pinched nerves, which can develop when the foot thickens) inevitably lead to disruption of the internal organs.
It is important to understand: if the foot does not cope with its functions, the spine and joints begin to work for it. Osteochondrosis, scoliosis, herniated intervertebral discs, arthrosis of the joints develop from increased loads - and this is not a complete list of the consequences of flat feet. But there are also extremely unpleasant external manifestations of flat feet - swelling, heavy gait, bumps on the legs and heel spurs.
The human foot is unique. No other representative of our planet has such a springy “structure”. It helps maintain balance in an upright position and acts as a natural shock absorber. Thanks to the longitudinal and transverse arches, the normal foot has an arched shape with three points of support: the head of the first metatarsal bone, the calcaneal tubercle and the fifth metatarsal bone. The appearance of arches and their work are possible only with a properly developed muscular-ligamentous apparatus. If for some reason it is weakened, the foot becomes flat.
There are several reasons for this. The rarest (about 3%) is a congenital anomaly. Acquired flat feet are more common. It is to blame for sprains, dislocations, fractures and diseases of the musculoskeletal system, for example, polio and rickets. But the real leader (more than 82%) is flat feet, formed as a result of exposure to external factors. Increased physical stress on the legs (relevant for representatives of “standing” professions - hairdressers, salesmen), excess weight (or its sharp increase, for example, during pregnancy), tight shoes and high heels.
?Orthopedists call ideal shoes shoes without pointed toes, with a heel of 2-3 cm.
Since when the foot is deformed, blood circulation in the legs is also disrupted, the symptoms of flat feet are often confused with the symptoms of varicose veins. That is why it is important to immediately consult an orthopedic doctor if you experience even minor pain in the foot. Comprehensive diagnostics will help establish the correct diagnosis and develop an effective treatment regimen.
There are two options: surgical or conservative methods.
Surgical treatment is used in the most advanced cases, when the patient is practically unable to move. In all other cases, doctors try to solve the problem using conservative methods, the main goal of which is to strengthen the ligaments and muscles of the feet and legs as a whole. And naturally, the earlier treatment begins, the greater the chance that the progression of the disease can be stopped and its manifestations minimized. But, unfortunately, it will not be possible to cure flat feet completely.
If we are talking about acquired flat feet, then first of all it is necessary to eliminate the provoking causes. During treatment you will have to give up heavy physical activity, fitness classes and any sports. Complete rejection of high-heeled shoes, tight boots, shoes with pointed toes, etc. The doctor may recommend orthopedic shoes or special insoles.
If the cause of increased stress on the feet is excess weight, it will be necessary to solve this problem.
« «The bunion that people with flat feet complain about is called hallux valgus. There are 3 stages of this type of foot deformity: in the first, the toe is deviated by 15 degrees, in the second by 20, and in the third by 30. If you immediately consult a doctor, you can undergo therapeutic treatment, but in advanced cases, surgery cannot be avoided. Today, minimally invasive endoscopic techniques are used, after which you can begin to put weight on the foot already on the second day. But if you don’t follow the doctor’s recommendations, the disease will return.”
Everything happens gradually. First, pain appears in the legs and feet, which intensifies after walking or standing for a long time. By evening, your legs swell and become heavy, and your gait loses its ease. These are symptoms of stage I flatfoot.
If treatment is not promptly started, stage II will begin, during which the pain in the feet will become constant. And its localization will become wider and affect the entire leg area from the foot to the knee joint.
The appearance of the foot also changes. With transverse flat feet
(diagnosed on average at 30–50 years of age) - the arch becomes flat, the foot shortens as a result, and the big toe deviates outward. With longitudinal flatfoot (typical for people 15–30 years old), the longitudinal arch is flattened and the size of the leg increases.
III degree: severe pain in the feet, legs, large joints, lower back, neck and even migraines - all this is a consequence of flat feet. Walking becomes impossible, the feet are noticeably deformed, and the fingers are shaped vaguely like hammers.
If you have been diagnosed with grade 1 or 2 flat feet, buy orthopedic insoles as soon as possible and engage in physical therapy.
Simple exercise therapy is incredibly effective in the first two stages of the disease.
Flexion and extension of the feet, gripping various objects with the toes, rolling special orthopedic balls and rollers, exercising on an orthopedic mat - all this really works. The main thing is to “train” regularly. It takes very little time to complete the complex - 10-15 minutes 3-4 times a day is enough.
Walking barefoot is also beneficial. On grass, sea pebbles, any natural surface. The only caveat: the ground or stones should not be cold.
Top 5 exercises to prevent flat feet
Since when the foot is deformed, blood circulation in the legs is disrupted, the symptoms of incipient flat feet are often mistaken for varicose veins. Therefore, even if minor pain occurs, you should immediately contact an orthopedist. He will conduct research, quickly establish the correct diagnosis and develop a treatment regimen using surgical or conservative methods.
The first ones are used in the most advanced cases, when the patient is practically unable to move.
In all other situations, doctors try to solve the problem without surgery. Therapy is prescribed, the purpose of which is to strengthen the ligaments and muscles of the feet and legs in general.
If we are talking about acquired flat feet, first of all, it is necessary to eliminate the provoking causes.
During treatment, you will have to avoid heavy physical activity, high-heeled shoes, pointed toes, etc. The doctor may recommend orthopedic shoes or insoles. And if the cause of increased stress on the feet is excess weight, you will have to solve this problem too.
Naturally, the earlier treatment is started, the greater the chances of reducing the manifestations of flat feet to a minimum and preventing the development of the disease.
But, unfortunately, it will not be possible to cure it completely. Modern medicine does not yet have such capabilities.
Flat feet is a fairly common disease: it is characterized by a change in the shape of the foot due to lowering of its arches. A healthy human foot has 2 arches: longitudinal and transverse, so there are 2 types of the disease - transverse and longitudinal flatfoot. Quite often, these two types of disease develop simultaneously or can be complicated by other diseases and deformities of the foot.
Depending on which arch has dropped, transverse, combined and longitudinal flat feet are distinguished.
Longitudinal flatfoot occurs in every 3rd case of the disease. Adolescents and young adults aged 16-30 are more susceptible to it. But the varieties of the disease do not end there.
Depending on the causes of the disease, there are 5 more types of flat feet:
There are also unilateral and bilateral flat feet. In the first case, only one foot is affected, which is very rare. With bilateral flat feet, deformation of the feet of both legs occurs.
The reasons for the development of longitudinal flatfoot can be:
Risk factors for developing longitudinal flatfoot:
The human foot consists of many bones that are connected to each other in a special way, forming 2 arches. The transverse arch is located between the bases of the toes, and the longitudinal arch is located along the inner edge of the foot.
The presence of these arches provides shock-absorbing properties to the foot, which reduces shaking while walking. The arches of the feet are held in the correct position by a system of ligaments and muscles. If for some reason this supporting system loses its tone, then the arches are smoothed out, the foot becomes flat and loses its springy abilities.
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Depending on the size of the angle of the arch of the foot, there are 3 degrees of flat feet. With longitudinal flatfoot, the longitudinal arch is flattened, and almost the entire surface of the foot touches the surface. At the same time, an increase in the length of the foot is observed. This type of flatfoot is most typical for people with excess body weight, as well as for those whose work involves constant stress on their legs (salespeople, hairdressers, lecturers, etc.).
The following degrees are distinguished:
Conventionally, the symptoms of the disease can be divided into several categories.
With the development of longitudinal flatfoot, the following are observed:
External manifestations of flat feet:
In this type, both arches of the foot are simultaneously lowered. Because of this, symptoms of both longitudinal and transverse flat feet appear. Moreover, treatment of this form of the disease requires a special selection of physical exercises, wearing special orthopedic shoes and other measures. It is impossible to completely get rid of the disease in adulthood.
Previously, grade 2 flat feet were the reason for exemption from the army. But at this time, the indications for exemption from military service have changed significantly. Only young men suffering from grade 3 flat feet accompanied by grade 2 arthrosis of the talonavicular joint or signs of arthrosis of other joints can count on not being called up.
Find out about a remedy that is not available in pharmacies , but thanks to which many Russians have already been cured of pain in the joints and spine!
Children are not diagnosed with flat feet until approximately the age of 3-4 years. The exception is congenital flatfoot, which was diagnosed in time. The fact is that while growing up, the foot goes through many changes in order to fully correspond to the functions it performs. The arches of babies are filled with subcutaneous fatty tissue, so their footprints are always flat. Starting from the first steps, the arches of the feet begin to form, which increase with the age of the child. By about 4 years of age, a child's feet take on the shape and functionality of an adult foot.
Flat feet in children are determined by the plantography method, however, due to the age characteristics of the feet, an error in this diagnosis is possible. Therefore, a thorough examination by an orthopedic surgeon is necessary to establish an accurate diagnosis.
Children's flat feet respond well to treatment with the correct selection of therapy and strict adherence to all doctor's recommendations.
Naturally, it is much easier to prevent a disease than to treat it later. Therefore, the child must be provided with a sufficient amount of physical activity. Walking barefoot on sand and pebbles is helpful. It is necessary to choose the right shoes for children. It should have an instep support and a solid back.
In addition, the child should be provided with a balanced diet, with proper phosphorus-calcium metabolism.
Everyone knows that flat feet are bad, but few people are familiar with all the possible consequences of this disease. After all, flat feet are scary not at all because of the pain in the legs. When the arches of the foot flatten, their shock-absorbing properties disappear, and the entire load from the feet moves upward to the spine and joints.
Naturally, only a doctor can make a diagnosis. He must prescribe the necessary treatment. You can perform a simple test at home that will tell you whether you suspect you have flat feet. To do this, you need a sheet of paper and rich cream or oil. The foot is lubricated with any of the fatty substances and placed on paper. Then you need to study the resulting print. If the footprint is wider than half the foot, then you need to go to the doctor. If less than half of the foot is imprinted on the sheet, then there is no need to worry, most likely there is no flat foot.
In advanced stages of the disease, it is usually enough for the doctor to examine the patient. Although additional research will also be needed to clarify all the features.
To diagnose flat feet, radiography and plantography are usually used.
Plantography involves lubricating the feet with a special solution and further studying the resulting prints.
X-rays are performed in two projections with the obligatory load on the foot.
Longitudinal flatfoot requires an integrated approach to treatment, using massage, medications, special physical training, etc.
To treat congenital flat feet, massages, foot bandaging, and even fixation of the foot with plaster casts in the correct position are necessary.
In any case, they try to treat flat feet conservatively with all possible measures.
Medicines for flat feet are most often prescribed to relieve pain. For this purpose, NSAIDs are used. Depending on the severity of the pain syndrome, they are prescribed for internal, injection or local use. The most commonly used are Diclofenac, Ortofen, Ibuprofen, Nise, Piroxicam, Diclak, Nurofen, Nalgesin, Nimid, etc.
If there are concomitant diseases, drugs of other pharmacological groups may be prescribed, for example, chondroprotectors, vitamin complexes, muscle relaxants.
Physiotherapeutic procedures normalize blood circulation, help eliminate muscle pain, and increase the tone of the muscles of the lower leg and foot. Phonophoresis, electrophoresis, magnetic therapy, and paraffin can be used.
Warm baths and hydromassage occupy a special place in physiotherapeutic procedures.
Physical therapy is the basis of treatment for flat feet. Its complex is selected for each patient separately, taking into account all the features of the course of the disease and the presence of associated problems. The exercises are selected by a qualified orthopedic surgeon.
Good results are achieved by walking on your heels, toes, and the outside of your feet. In addition, walking barefoot on sand and pebbles is shown; peas can be used for these purposes at home.
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A set of exercises is performed 2-3 times a day. In any case, the most accurate recommendations will be given and written down by an orthopedic doctor.
Massage is also necessary to normalize the tone of the muscles of the legs and feet. It is recommended to take courses from a competent massage therapist who has a confirming certificate.
For preschool children, wearing special shoes or orthopedic insoles is recommended if there is no effect from treatment with gymnastics, massages and foot baths. For schoolchildren and adults, orthopedic shoes or insoles are prescribed immediately after diagnosis. Such orthopedic devices are made individually for each patient in special workshops. In this case, all the features of each foot are taken into account, because the severity of flat feet on two legs may differ.
Orthopedic insoles and shoes distribute the load evenly on the feet, providing normal shock absorption. Due to this, muscle tension is reduced and the severity of pain is reduced.
If conservative treatment does not bring positive changes, and flat feet occur with serious complications, then surgical treatment is prescribed. There are more than 500 types of surgical treatment for foot deformities. The type of operation is chosen individually in each case.
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