Everyone, without exception, has heard that flat feet can be an obstacle to military service. Whether this is really true, and whether people with flat feet are accepted into the army at the present time, this article will help you figure it out.
At an early age, all children are tested for flat feet, because... it may cause serious consequences in the future. It is important to diagnose this pathology at an early stage in order to begin treatment on time. Most children are diagnosed with flat feet, but the severity varies. In addition, in childhood one can hope that by adulthood the foot will become different.
For a long time, there has been a myth that people with flat feet are not allowed into the army. This is too general a belief and does not include some details. Many high school students are confident that they will be able to avoid the army. Arriving at the military registration and enlistment office, confidence disappears, because... in many cases, flat feet do not become a reason for refusal to serve.
Flat feet have 4 degrees. Depending on the stage of the conscript, the verdict set by the military registration and enlistment office differs.
Only those young men who have flat feet without arthrosis have the right to be recruited into the army. In the center of the foot, arthrosis destroys cartilage tissue and provokes inflammation. As a result, contractures and exostoses occur. Arthrosis is accompanied by severe pain. All this happens against the background of third-degree flatfoot of any kind. They must not accept such a young man into the army.
Specialists at the military registration and enlistment office can use the old method to determine flat feet - a thick cream is applied to the foot and the drafted young man stands on a piece of paper. This method allows you to quickly, “by eye,” determine the degree of deformation.
Modern methods for determining the degree of flat feet include radiography and computed tomography. If the flatfoot is grade 3, then an x-ray is necessary before the army - the image is sewn into the file. In the event that the flatfoot is of the first degree and x-rays confirm this, suitability is beyond doubt.
There is plantography - a procedure with which you can make a foot print using a special device. The device will show the shape of the foot and allow the doctor to see how the pressure is distributed under the feet.
Now the form has been so improved that even with flat feet a young man may not experience discomfort. Instead of tarpaulin boots there are now ankle boots. To prevent flat feet from bothering you in the army, you can use special orthopedic insoles. They provide good support to the longitudinal and transverse arch of the foot, relieving some of the load from it. Thanks to this, you can avoid complications, ease the load on the joints and reduce pain.
Insoles should be selected in accordance with age, body type and type of upcoming load. It is advisable to wear them daily, even after finishing military service, in order to prevent complications. The boots must be in good condition, then you can wear them with insoles. It is not allowed for the sole to be worn down, otherwise the insoles will only cause harm.
Another treatment method is self-massage before bed. This helps improve blood circulation and restore normal functionality. In addition, calming movements will be a good way to improve sleep.
Some exercises will help cure grade 1 flat feet:
In the event that level 2 flat feet and the army become incompatible due to an exacerbation, you must contact the medical unit. You may need to spend some time in hospital to monitor the condition of your feet. If the pain increases and fatigue increases, the conscript should be discharged from the army and referred to an orthopedist for treatment. It is impossible to completely get rid of flat feet; you can only maintain the condition. Sometimes surgery is required.
It is important for a conscript who wants to be released from the army to remember some points:
Mothers of little boys should not count on a deferment from the army just because an orthopedist saw flat feet. Time will pass, by the age of 16-18 the foot will be completely formed, and then the issue regarding the army can be resolved.
On the eve of graduation from school, young conscripts are concerned about the question of whether they will be accepted into the army with flat feet. The legislation of the Russian Federation establishes criteria for the suitability of young people for military service. Exemption from the army is permitted if there are compelling reasons supported by a qualified medical report.
The arch of the foot performs shock-absorbing functions when walking, running, helps maintain balance, and withstand physical activity. Congenital or acquired flatfoot is accompanied by significant changes in the entire human musculoskeletal system. The disease inevitably progresses, has serious consequences and complications that prevent military service:
Flat feet in advanced form are accompanied by degenerative changes in osteochondral tissue and become a source of joint and muscle pain. Staying in the army and the increased physical activity associated with it contribute to the progression of the disease. To avoid irreversible changes, correct diagnosis of the disease and an objective assessment of a young man’s suitability for military service are important.
If signs of arch deformation are detected in early childhood, they should be included in the medical questionnaire. Symptoms of flatfoot progression, the methods used to treat the disease, and their effectiveness are also reflected in the document. The saved data makes it easier to undergo a medical examination at the military registration and enlistment office. Based on the available information and its own observations, the medical commission gives an opinion on the categories of suitability for the army:
According to recent changes in legislation, deferments from the army are not provided for young men diagnosed with flat feet. Depending on the complexity of the disease, the conscript falls into category A, B or C.
The Regulations on Military Medical Examination No. 123 (dated February 25, 2003) and the new edition of the 2018 Schedule of Diseases (Article 68 of the Appendix to the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 565 dated July 4, 2013) define a range of diseases that interfere with the performance of military duty. Documents establish the degree of flat feet that are not accepted into the army:
If these diseases are indicated in the medical report, the conscript is considered partially fit for military service. He is classified as category B, and is issued a military ID for health reasons with the note - to the reserve (reserve). This suggests that the young man will have the opportunity to serve in the army only in case of wartime.
The discovery of stage 2 arthrosis in a conscript is not a prerequisite for release from the army. But such a diagnosis, combined with 3rd degree flat feet, allows you to count on receiving a military ID in category B.
The types of foot deformities that are not an obstacle to military service or training at a military school are defined by law:
With 1st degree flatfoot, there are no serious anatomical changes in the feet. A person is able to fully move and perform certain physical exercises. For this reason, the disease at this stage of development does not exempt from conscription into the army (category A).
Until 2016-2017 a conscript with bilateral flat feet of the 2nd degree could be exempted from military duty. Now a young man with such a diagnosis will carry out military service, but with some restrictions in the conditions of service. He will not be drafted into the airborne forces or other elite units, but his stay in regular military units is not prohibited.
To determine their suitability for military service, conscripts undergo a medical examination at the military registration and enlistment office. Before visiting it, it is recommended to have with you all the documents confirming the fact of flat feet and pathological changes caused by the disease. The diagnosis is made by an orthopedist or podiatrist - specialists in osteochondral changes. The degree of the disease is determined by the following methods:
One or more methods are used to make a diagnosis. The results of the examination with the conclusion of an orthopedic doctor are attached to the conscript’s documents for the military registration and enlistment office. This allows the military commission to objectively assess the young man’s health and, based on the degree of illness, assess his suitability for service.
During a medical examination at the military registration and enlistment office, the results of the examination conducted in a government institution are recognized as valid. The conclusions of specialists from a private clinic may be questioned by members of the military commissariat.
In the practice of military medical examination, radiography is used to determine the degree of flat feet and foot deformity. X-rays of both feet are taken in longitudinal and cross sections (frontal and lateral projections). To obtain objective photographs, it is recommended:
After reviewing all the documents, the draft commission makes a decision on the conscript’s fitness category for military service. If the commissariat doubts the correctness of the diagnosis or controversial issues arise, the young man is sent for additional medical examination. Factors often arise that prevent legal release from the army. A conscript always has the opportunity to appeal an unfair decision of the commissariat.
Many young men of military age and their parents are interested in the question: are they recruited into the army with flat feet? After all, the information that conscripts exchange is very contradictory. Some argue that people with such a violation will not be accepted into the army, others prove the opposite. Each of them is right, but only partly. In this case, everything depends on the degree of this disease.
To understand all the nuances, you need to have a general idea of what flat feet are and why they are dangerous? And why can people with this disease not be accepted into the army?
An adult's foot should normally rest on three main points - the heel bone and two metatarsal bones on the first and fifth toes. Connecting with each other, these points form arches that help maintain balance and act as a shock absorber when walking.
But sometimes deformation occurs in which the arches become flatter and lower. If the changes affect the transverse arch, then the bones of the fingers fan out, the largest of them deviates outward, and the length of the foot decreases. As a result, transverse flatfoot appears.
Longitudinal deformation is characterized by flattening of the corresponding arch. In this case, the length of the foot increases, and the sole is completely in contact with the floor.
Quite often, these two types of deformation can occur simultaneously.
In any case, the foot loses its shock-absorbing function, and the entire load is transferred to the joints of the legs. And since they are not designed for such work, as a result a person begins to feel pain in the legs and back. He also develops incorrect posture and arthrosis and scoliosis may occur.
Depending on the angle of the arch of the foot, I distinguish several types of flat feet. There are 3 degrees in total:
These degrees apply to both longitudinal and transverse flat feet. The picture is aggravated if mixed pathology is present.
The first degree of transverse flatfoot is additionally characterized by the fact that the big toe deviates by about 20 degrees, and the skin under it becomes red. Corns appear on the soles. At grade 2, the symptoms intensify somewhat. The thumb deviates by 25–35 degrees, the calluses increase. The pain becomes more prolonged.
The 3rd degree of longitudinal flatfoot is characterized by a sharply deformed thumb to the side and an inflamed joint. All other fingers resemble a hammer.
Military service, as well as conscription, is a serious procedure. There are a number of laws that regulate it. Among them are those that relate to the health status of the conscript. If we talk about flat feet, then it is regulated by a separate article of the Schedule of Diseases.
Why has the issue of conscription into the army with this violation become so relevant right now? The fact is that in 2014, some changes were made to the article, namely, the requirements for this disease were increased. Now, slightly different standards will apply for conscripts in 2015 and beyond. According to regulatory documents, the disease is divided into four groups:
You can understand what is meant by serious and what by minor violations by referring to the schedule of illnesses. Since the manifestation of the disease can be different, a reasonable question arises: with what flat feet are they not accepted into the army?
Since 2015, group “A” includes all types of flat feet with severe deformation of the foot, group “B” includes longitudinal and transverse flat feet of the 3rd degree with obvious pain and limited mobility of the fingers. Another sign is the presence of arthrosis of the foot.
Group “c” included grade 3 lowering of the longitudinal arch without deforming arthrosis in the joints. Group “G” includes 2nd degree flatfoot, both longitudinal and transverse.
Since only conscripts with diseases of groups “B” and “C” are exempt from conscription, it becomes obvious that young men diagnosed with stage 3 disease will not be called up for service.
This applies to a disease affecting both the longitudinal and transverse arch. 1–2 degree of deformation is not grounds for exemption from military service. The conscript receives the “B-3” fitness category and will be called up for service on a general basis, but with some restrictions.
Why might people with flat feet not be accepted into the army? Shoes in the army are quite rough and have absolutely flat soles. When worn constantly, it has a negative effect on the foot. If a soldier has flat feet, then rough shoes will aggravate it even more. As a result, the knee and hip joints will suffer, changes will occur in the movement of the pelvic bones, and problems with the lumbar region will begin.
That is, flat feet, when worsened, can lead to spinal deformation.
No less important is the question: will they be accepted into a military school with flat feet? For many guys, military service is a childhood dream, but sometimes health conditions do not allow serving in the army. If flat feet are not severe, then studying at a military school is possible.
If an applicant has grade 2 flat feet, this is not an obstacle to entering a military school. By law, such a diagnosis does not prevent enrollment.
If the disease is aggravated by grade 2 deforming osteoarthritis, then the applicant will definitely not be accepted into the military school.
The same applies to lowering the arch of the foot of the 3rd degree. Flat feet and physical activity are incompatible. In the army, sports cannot be avoided. This is the main reason why someone with such a violation may not be accepted into a military school.
But orthopedist Sergei Bubnovsky claims that a truly effective remedy for joint pain exists! Read more >>
If walking for a short time leads to pain in the legs, massage does not provide relief but causes discomfort, then it is likely that flat feet have developed. This is a fairly common disease. However, only a specialist can make a diagnosis. And it is extremely unpleasant if grade 3 flat feet have developed. In this case, the pain is constant.
This pathology is characterized by foot deformation. Most often this is an acquired disease. Pathology can develop in people who are forced to spend long periods of time on their feet. Often, flat feet occur in people who are overweight, since the muscles and bones of the foot bear a large load.
A normal foot has 3 points of support: the heel and the heads of the 1st and 5th metatarsals. As a result of the development of flat feet, these centers change. Displacement of support points makes walking difficult, affects gait and provokes the development of many pathologies. These changes are especially pronounced if the patient is diagnosed with grade 3 flat feet.
In medicine, there are 3 degrees of the disease:
In addition to the stages of development of the disease, flat feet are divided into the following types:
Before considering how to treat grade 3 flat feet, it is necessary to dwell on the factors that lead to the formation of the disease. In most cases, the disease is acquired and is detected in childhood. Therefore, by eliminating the factors that provoke the development of flat feet, you can protect the child from the formation of such an unpleasant pathology.
The main causes of the disease are:
Stage 3 flatfoot is characterized by constant severe pain. They can be localized in different areas. Discomfort occurs in the calf muscles, the soles of the feet ache, the lower back and hip joint hurt. Such symptoms lead to a significant decrease in working capacity. Any active movements provoke increased pain.
Longitudinal pathology of the 3rd degree makes itself felt with the following symptoms:
With transverse flatfoot, the following clinical picture is observed:
This question arises not only among conscripts, but also among their parents. And the point is not in deviation from service, but in the painful sensations that the patient faces. After all, even normal walking causes him severe discomfort.
So, do people with 3rd degree flat feet get drafted into the army or not?
Persons who have been diagnosed with a longitudinal type of pathology of the 3rd degree or a transverse pathology in which serious deviations are observed are subject to exemption from military service. We are talking about arthrosis, severe pain, contracture of the fingers. In this case, the young man is exempt from conscription. He is given a military ID and enlisted in the reserves. Such a conscript is considered “limitedly fit.” In other words, he can be drafted into the army only in time of war.
With 1 and 2 degrees of flat feet, in which the above-described deviations are not observed, the young man is drafted into the army. However, for stage 2 of the disease, non-combatant service is recommended: builder, janitor, cook.
What to do if grade 3 flatfoot is diagnosed? How to treat this pathology? It is necessary to combat the disease using comprehensive methods. In this case, treatment should be started as early as possible.
Doctors recommend the following activities:
In addition to the above methods of combating the disease, the patient is prescribed to wear special shoes or insoles. This is a very important event that can significantly improve the patient’s quality of life.
They are prescribed to patients at any stage of progression of the disease. If grade 3 flatfoot is detected, treatment without insoles or wearing orthopedic shoes is simply impossible. After all, patients with the last stage of the disease are most often unable to wear ordinary shoes and boots.
Properly selected insoles perform the following functions:
Orthopedic shoes may be recommended in the following cases:
If massage, rest and many other activities do not eliminate the pain syndrome, the doctor will recommend resorting to medications.
To relieve discomfort, systemic analgesics may be prescribed:
Topical products are also recommended:
So, is it possible to cure grade 3 flat feet? Unfortunately, this is a rather complex and unpleasant disease. It won't go away in a couple of months. It is necessary to prepare for long and difficult work to correct those changes that have also taken a long time to form.
In addition, it is almost impossible to cure grade 3 flatfoot completely, especially if pronounced impairments are observed. The patient’s condition can be corrected, his movement can be facilitated, his quality of life can be improved, but one should not count on a full recovery.
Treatment for this disease should become a way of life. After all, as long as the patient meticulously follows all the doctor’s recommendations, he will feel an improvement in his condition. As soon as the patient decides to give up classes, the disease will immediately make itself felt.
There comes a time in the life of a young man of conscription age when the question “Do people with flat feet join the army” becomes relevant. If you have the disease, prolonged physical activity on the lower limbs is prohibited. However, the army will not care about following the recommendations. In order not to cause greater harm to health, the conscript needs to know what standards exist in this regard and what degree of flat feet exempts him from the army.
The pathology of the curves of the feet, whether congenital or acquired, is called flat feet. Flattening can be longitudinal, transverse or in two directions. Since the main function of the foot is shock absorption during walking and other impacts, improper distribution of loads leads to severe pain, first in the lower extremities, and then in other parts of the musculoskeletal system.
Important! If you do not start correcting the disease on time, then irreversible consequences are possible, which can only be eliminated surgically.
Why, among all diseases, is flat feet most often mentioned in connection with exclusion from the army? If the rules of treatment and correction of the disease are not followed, the foot becomes flattened to such an extent that it leads to terrible pain and even limitation of movement.
In post-Soviet countries, the issue of admission to military service is regulated by certain regulatory documents. Let's look at some of them.
These regulations contain virtually identical information, with minor differences. Therefore, you can consider general issues, followed by reference to the documents of your country for details.
To be admitted to the army, you must undergo examinations, including to identify flat feet. To make an accurate diagnosis, young men are sent for x-rays, where, in a standing position (for maximum load), photographs of the feet are taken from two angles - longitudinal and transverse. The images determine whether the conscript is sick. And when a pathology is detected, it is decided what type and degree it belongs to.
Important! The diagnosis is made by an orthopedist at the clinic, and the military commissioner only determines the category of admission according to the submitted documents.
Based on the nature of the flattening of the feet, longitudinal and transverse pathologies are distinguished. In the first case, the longitudinal bend of the foot is deformed, creating the appearance that it is “falling” inward. In the second, the foot loses its transverse arch, and its anterior section in the area of the toes expands like a fan. Each of the varieties is divided into types according to the degree of deformation, which ones are not taken into the army?
The foot, untouched by the disease, has the following bending characteristics: from 126 to 131° of inclination and 39 mm of height.
Longitudinal flatfoot 1st degree. Do they take into the army with such a disease? Yes, since this type of disease belongs to fitness category “A” (full clearance). Characteristics of this variety: bending angle is 132-141, its height is 35-26 mm.
In the case of a bending of the longitudinal angle by 141-155°, coupled with its height of 24-17 mm, we are talking about longitudinal flatfoot of the second degree. In this case, category “B” is assigned (admission with restrictions on types of troops).
And only in the third degree, or accompanied by arthrosis of the joints, causing severe pain, or without them, a deferment from the army is possible. The degree characteristics are as follows: the angle of bend of the foot is over 155°, height is less than 16 mm. The young man is given fitness category “B”, which means he is not allowed into the army in peacetime.
In case of transverse deformation of the first degree, fitness category “A” is assigned. In case of flat feet of the 2nd degree, the question of whether they will be taken into the army is not raised, since this diagnosis implies a relation to category “B”, that is, admission with restrictions. Flat feet of the 3rd and 4th degrees, aggravated by arthrosis and pain, make it possible to delay visiting the army, because they fall into fitness category “B”.
Important! In what cases are flat feet recruited into the army? For any, except the third degree of longitudinal, as well as 3 and 4 degrees of transverse. The remaining degrees imply full fitness or admission with restrictions.
The commission assigns each conscript to one of four groups, differing in the degree and nature of flattening of the arches of the feet.
Conscripts with flat feet who do not want the disease to develop into more serious problems should prepare for a visit to the military registration and enlistment office with all responsibility.
Flat feet is a serious disease in which the shape of the arch of the foot changes pathologically and becomes flat. The muscles are not strong enough to easily support a person’s weight. Since this disease is almost impossible to completely cure at an older age, excessive stress and the lack of suitable therapy can lead to the development of complications, many young people are interested in whether they are accepted into the army with flat feet.
First of all, you should find out what the legislation says about deferments from the army due to flat feet and complications of this disease. In general, the view on this situation is almost completely identical in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. To ensure this, conscripts, depending on their country of residence, should familiarize themselves with the following documents:
The point of view on flat feet and the admissibility of military service with this diagnosis almost completely coincide in all three countries. It is necessary to understand the subtleties in which cases flat feet are not taken into the army.
Important! It is advisable to undergo the necessary examination by an orthopedist before the draft board so that the diagnosis is already established and confirmed.
Despite the fact that excessive loads and wearing incorrect shoes that do not meet all orthopedic standards can significantly harm a person with foot deformity, some types of the disease will still have to serve in the army.
In total, there are several degrees of this disease, depending on the degree and pathologies that have developed as a result of deformation of the arch of the foot, the fitness category is set:
Longitudinal flatfoot or transverse flatfoot was detected in a conscript, but usually does not play a role. The main thing that draft commissions pay attention to is the presence of complications associated with foot deformities. Therefore, when passing the commission, it is necessary to indicate the developed pathologies and disorders in the normal functioning of the musculoskeletal system.
Important! To receive a deferment from the army, the diagnosis must be official.
In fact, even with the 1st degree of the disease, you should limit physical activity on your sore legs as much as possible, wear shoes exclusively with orthopedic insoles, do special therapeutic exercises and massage, otherwise the disease will progress. If, at this level, one is still accepted into the army, although this can be harmful, in later stages the service can become hazardous to health.
With grades 2 and 3, developed complications, constant medical supervision and procedures are often required, without which the patient’s condition will worsen. External manifestations of flat feet also prevent the patient from fully functioning; the patient’s gait changes greatly; with minimal physical activity, pain occurs in the legs; it is no longer possible to wear rough, uncomfortable shoes.
To receive a deferment or complete exemption from the army, a conscript should be examined by an orthopedic doctor. A visual inspection and the presence of complaints are not enough; several mandatory studies are required, including:
It is possible to prescribe a number of other studies if the deformation provokes the development of other pathologies. After all the basic examinations, a correct diagnosis is made, which helps to obtain a deferment from the army, then a treatment plan is prescribed.
In general, people with flat feet are not accepted into the army if it is complicated by other diseases or is so severe that it interferes with normal functioning. Therefore, during the commission it is important to identify not only the deformation, but also associated pathologies. To make sure for yourself whether someone with flat feet is being drafted into the army, you should open the relevant documents.
Is it possible to join the army if you have 3rd degree flat feet?
Surely most young men are interested in these questions when they barely reach military age. Such a diagnosis is not a guarantee that the young man will be able to evade service. Everything is decided on an individual basis based on a full examination. If the conscript does not have concomitant diseases, he will most likely not be able to avoid conscription. However, the presence of any additional problems can radically change the situation.
Those with flat feet in the third degree can sleep relatively peacefully: they definitely won’t want to take them into the army with such a disease. At the same time, it often happens that military registration and enlistment office workers, trying to fulfill the plan, try to convince conscripts that there is nothing terrible about such a disease, and many yesterday’s soldiers with such a problem have already successfully served.
Under no circumstances should the conscript sign any papers insisting on a thorough medical examination, which will certainly reveal the problem.
As a rule, the third degree of flatfoot is characterized by a clear deformation of the foot, which will be noticeable even to the naked eye. In everyday life, a young person most likely has to use special orthopedic insoles, which somewhat relieve pain, or even purchase custom-made shoes!
Factory-made tarpaulin boots are hardly designed for such a phenomenon. Walking in them for a person with grade 3 flat feet will not only be uncomfortable, but even dangerous to health!
In addition, young people who have suffered from flat feet for several years gradually develop a deforming form of arthrosis of the lower extremities, which cannot be completely cured.
The only thing the patient should do is to gradually strive to get rid of flat feet. It will be quite difficult to do this, but it is quite possible. This will require the help of a doctor.
In some cases, it is possible to minimize the consequences of flat feet with the help of complex therapy, which includes visiting a physiological office, massages and wearing a special orthopedic bandage. It will take several months to see even minor changes. It may take a whole year to complete therapy.
It happens that only surgical intervention can alleviate the patient’s condition, which specialists resort to quite often. In the future, the patient will have a long course of recovery, but he will have to completely forget about serving in the army!
As described above, the task of the medical board at the military registration and enlistment office is to fulfill the conscription plan, regardless of how healthy the young people are.
In order not to become a hostage to the situation, a young man who has health problems in the form of flat feet must definitely talk about it with a surgeon!
When going to the military registration and enlistment office, you should remember a few simple rules:
The military registration and enlistment office is a kind of army in which each soldier must fight for himself.
The health of each individual conscript is of value only directly to him and his loved ones.
That is why, knowing about the characteristics of the body, you should insist to the last that you are right.
The likelihood that a conscript with level 3 flat feet, who has the appropriate conclusions and constantly talks about his problem, will be accepted into the army is zero.