What are children's orthopedic insoles? When a child first begins to walk, his feet experience enormous stress. From this moment their formation begins. The correct development of an adult's foot depends on what kind of shoes he wears in childhood. Children's orthopedic insoles are orthopedic products created for preventive purposes for the normal development of the child's foot, gait and the entire musculoskeletal system.
If the foot is formed incorrectly, this can lead to problems and diseases that can appear in the knee and hip joints and spine, as they will experience increased stress when walking.
A child's foot is formed before the age of 5. Many people believe that orthopedic products are required when flat feet have already developed or there are other problems. But that's not true. The use of insoles for children is a means of preventing the development of flat feet, club feet and other foot defects.
Devices may be different, but they must be selected individually. Typically, such a product is not the length of the entire foot, but only 3/4, since foot defects develop mainly in its heel. In addition, it is not felt in the shoes and does not interfere.
High-quality custom orthotics are made to order.
They should be light and durable and not interfere with the child’s movement. To make custom orthopedic insoles, a material that can mold to the shape of your foot is used. A good product should fit any shoe.
How to choose the right orthopedic insoles for children? They must meet a number of requirements: they should not be very stiff, since excessive rigidity harms the proper functioning of the muscles. The material from which they are made must be flexible and durable, not interfere with changes in the growing leg, and fulfill its immediate task - supporting the arch of the foot.
The product differs from a simple one in greater rigidity and the presence of recesses and lifting points located under the arch of the foot. This should keep the foot in the correct position without allowing it to move inward.
You should choose children's insoles taking into account whether they will be used for the prevention or treatment of any disease.
They can be bought in large pharmacies, but it is still better to make them individually. Even if a child does not have problems with his feet, doctors recommend wearing orthopedic shoes until he is 7-8 years old.
Is arch support needed in children's shoes? The arch support is a small elevation on the inside of the shoe, located under the longitudinal arch of the foot.
Doctors say the following about this:
An unprofessional approach to this issue can cause a lot of problems:
If the orthopedic doctor did not recommend that the child wear shoes with arch supports, then this should not be done.
Flat feet have a negative impact on the body, especially on the musculoskeletal system. With flat feet, the foot's ability to absorb shock is impaired, which affects the joints of the legs and spine.
If your child does develop flat feet, orthotics may help. Typically, flat feet begin to develop in children over 6 years of age, which is when insoles should begin. Well-chosen products affect poorly formed areas of the foot. With constant wearing, flat feet are gradually corrected, or at least the condition is prevented from worsening. When using properly selected orthopedic products, you can cope with any type of flatfoot, even transverse.
Treatment of flat feet requires a lot of time and effort. Before using orthopedic insoles, it is advisable to consult a doctor to choose the best option that takes into account all the nuances of the disease. The leg is measured, the degree of specific violations is assessed, and the issue of the amount of lining material is decided. After this, the product is ordered individually.
An active course of treatment for flat feet requires the use of orthopedic insoles. They are also necessary during rehabilitation. When foot defects have already been corrected, the bones and joints are in the correct position, but have not yet had time to fully consolidate. The child must wear them for a long time to prevent a relapse of the disease.
Corrective insoles for transverse flat feet are difficult to manufacture. For such a product, a massive wedge is added in the area of the fingers. If there is no positive effect, the upper silicone cushion rises higher. This way you can choose the optimal type of insoles individually for each child.
Insoles gradually take on the shape of your shoes, so you should have your own pair for each type of shoe. Shoes should be purchased with a rigid back, a low heel and a flexible sole. There are orthopedic shoe models, but they are used only in severe cases of pathology.
Insoles for flat feet:
With correctly selected insoles, the load on the foot is distributed correctly.
Insoles are made of polymers or genuine leather. It is better to choose leather ones. They can be worn for a long time without replacement, and they take the desired shape better than others. Silicone products are flexible, but their disadvantages are low elasticity, rapid wear, and heavy weight, which causes your legs to get tired quickly.
It is better to choose these products after consultation and recommendations of a specialist.
Everyone wants their gait to be “flying”, and to not feel tired in their legs at the end of the working day. In their youth, most people think little about the health of their feet; thoughts about this come when flat feet, pain in the legs, heel spurs or some other ailment appear. But it’s so easy to purchase individual orthopedic insoles and greatly reduce the manifestations of your diseases and take care not only of your feet, but also of your spine, since incorrect gait always affects the health of your back. Orthopedic insoles for children are also of great benefit, especially for those who have risk factors for the development of various types of flat feet. In this article we will describe in detail why orthopedic insoles are needed and how to choose the right orthopedic insoles. We will also consider how orthopedic insoles for children differ, and at what age you should think about purchasing them. Let's talk about popular models of orthopedic insoles that are comfortable to wear even in open shoes.
For convenience, we will analyze what types of orthopedic inserts are suitable for different ages and for different diseases, as well as how to choose orthopedic insoles for preventive purposes for adults and children.
Depending on the purpose, there are the following types of orthopedic insoles for flat feet;
Orthopedic inserts can be made of different materials: leather, leather substitute, cork, suede, there are also gel and silicone. Such a wide selection helps to better select insoles for any shoe, including open summer shoes. It also opens up great opportunities to make custom inserts quickly, using modern computer technology and production.
There are therapeutic and preventive inserts, as well as inserts designed for certain diseases, for example, for people suffering from diabetes or hallux valgus.
There are hard inserts - designed for healthy people who spend a long time on their feet and therefore experience increased stress. Such products are designed with reinforced instep supports. And the second type - soft - for people with sore joints, for those who are overweight.
You can even make insoles for adults and children with your own hands, using available materials - felt boots, cardboard. But the benefits of such inserts are minimal, and they do not serve a preventive or therapeutic purpose.
It is worth considering orthopedic inserts for a child in the following situations:
However, unless your doctor recommends a customized plan, you should begin wearing orthotic inserts at approximately two to three years of age. Normally, the process of forming the arch - the place where the instep supports are located in the insole - occurs in a child up to 7-8 years old. Do not worry if a child is diagnosed with flat feet before this age - the ligaments in children are so extensible and pliable that the pathology, noticed in time, is likely to be corrected. It is better to select children's orthopedic insoles together with an experienced podiatrist, but you can still buy insoles yourself if your child is under seven years old and does not suffer from diseases of the musculoskeletal system. If you decide to choose earbuds for your child yourself, use a few tips.
Tips for choosing insoles:
Good customer reviews about children's inserts from the Ortman company, the cost of which starts from 1,500 rubles and above. They have proven themselves to be of high quality, wear-resistant and effective in treatment and prevention. Silicone inserts from the Talus company also have a high rating; they make many models for children, used for longitudinal, transverse and mixed flat feet. Talus orthopedic insoles are made from cork, and the covering is made from microfiber, which creates the most favorable microclimate for feet in shoes. The price for insoles ranges from 1000–1500 rubles.
For the treatment of flat feet in combination with hallux valgus in children, special frame orthopedic insoles have been developed; they have higher limiting sides and a pronounced recess for the heel compared to other models. Such models can be purchased from Talus, Ortman. German “Redag” liners have a German quality certificate and are distinguished by high quality material and special “breathable” covering layers, and their price ranges from 500–1500 rubles. Positive reviews from podiatrists and ordinary consumers about the Orto “Fun tech” inserts in the children’s modification. They are distinguished by a rigid frame, and in addition the sides have a plastic base, which allows you to securely hold the foot.
Inserts for foot pathology in adults:
Of course, it is good if a specially trained person is involved in the selection of inserts for longitudinal, transverse and mixed flat feet. But this is not always possible.
For flat feet, both foot pads and regular insoles are suitable. An option for those who have modified toes would be half-insoles, which will not create additional discomfort in this area. Half insoles are perfect for open summer shoes - they are thin and almost invisible. Orthopedic insoles for transverse flat feet have a heel corrector and a roller that separates the toes - these elements should be given special attention when choosing. With longitudinal flat feet, it is very important to pay attention to the instep supports, which support the arch muscles in the correct position.
A special group consists of insoles for flat feet and big toe deformities - in this case, the best option would be to make custom insoles, when a craftsman can make insoles just for you with his own hands. As a last resort, you can independently purchase inserts without a front section - half-insoles, which are suitable for any shoes and will reduce the load on the big toe.
It is also necessary to choose inserts for running, especially if a person suffers from flat feet, as this can reduce the load on the spine and leg joints.
Orthopedic insoles “Orto”, “Ortmann”, “Pedag” have also proven themselves well on the market, and customer reviews claim that even with the third and fourth degrees of flat feet, the inserts significantly relieve the load and make gait easy. Orto “Fun tech” inserts are designed specifically for people with hallux valgus or varus foot deformity combined with flat feet. The price for earbuds from this manufacturer ranges from 1000–1500 rubles. Also, Orto Concept Tech inserts are ideal for transverse flat feet; their feature is the use of modern material - carbosan, which has properties reminiscent of rubber, but lacks all its disadvantages. These liners have a special pad made of carbosan that holds the transverse arch correctly. They are suitable for winter and summer open shoes.
Using insoles while running or playing other sports, you will reduce the load on your joints and spine, thereby prolonging your youth and maintaining your health. As a rule, everyone chooses a comfortable type of footwear for sports – sneakers. There are several points to consider when choosing insoles in this situation:
A heel spur is an insidious disease that is difficult to treat and brings significant pain and discomfort to its owner. Inserts in shoes are very useful here - they will reduce the load on the heel, thereby reducing the symptoms of the disease and stopping the progression of the disease. You can use both thin pelota inserts and special insoles with additional layers on the heel - heel pads. In this area, there are positive reviews of the Trives, Ortmann, and Talus insoles.
Excess body weight and stress on the feet during pregnancy can often lead to temporary or permanent flat feet. To avoid this and minimize the load on the leg joints, it is important to use preventive insoles. In these models, it is the instep supports that should be worked out, since changes most often occur in the longitudinal arch. This is especially important for scoliosis in pregnant women and other pathologies of bones and joints. The opinions of pregnant women who used orthopedic insoles, especially in the third trimester, indicate their high effectiveness in reducing leg fatigue and preventing varicose veins of the lower extremities. Both modern German silicone insoles “Pedag” and other models are suitable.
Average price in Russian rubles for insoles from different manufacturers
A significant amount of stress is placed on the feet every day. Incorrect shoes and a lot of stress affect the appearance and further progression of flat feet. This disease can rarely be completely cured because it gradually gets worse due to improper positioning of the leg. Special orthopedic insoles for children, ensuring the correct position of the feet, will help both cure the disease and prevent flat feet in children.
Any orthopedic insole is a comfortable and rather thin lining under the feet when a person walks in shoes. In order for it to be healthy, it is necessary to make it in a shape that exactly matches the general outline of the leg.
It is important to have a special impact on areas that are located or formed incorrectly. Thanks to the correct contours, orthopedic insoles for children help to gradually straighten the legs or prevent further deterioration of the bone and cartilage tissue. With the help of properly made and selected orthopedic insoles, any flatfoot, even its transverse type, can be cured.
The scope of application of these insoles is very wide. They can be used for children who are predisposed to flat feet, but the disease is almost invisible. Specially designed instep supports help restore the shape of the leg and direct tissue growth in the right direction. Typically, the first signs of flat feet appear in children from six years of age, and this is when they begin to use orthopedic insoles without fail.
These elements are always made using exclusively natural materials. Most often taken for work:
Orthopedic insoles for children are not subject to wear for a long time; they will be suitable for children until the leg grows. The insoles hug your feet tightly and help place just the right load on them. Blood circulation gradually becomes more intense, which solves many leg problems.
Sometimes orthopedic shoes are made from polymer materials. Silicone is usually used. It has the most favorable contact with the human body and helps place the joints in the most comfortable position. The disadvantage of therapeutic insoles with silicone is the increased weight. It is not advisable for young children to constantly use them, but for older children this type of shoe is recommended, since they will not feel much weight, and a therapeutic and supportive effect will be exerted on children’s feet.
Orthopedic insoles for children with silicone are flexible and go well with sneakers if sports activities are required. It is with their help that the correct position of the child’s legs is ensured. It is often possible to prevent the possibility of dislocation or bruise, since the insole helps to take the most stable position.
If flat feet have already appeared, then treating it will require a lot of effort and time. Before using orthopedic insoles, it is advisable to first consult with a doctor to choose the best option that is ideal for correcting unevenness in your child’s feet. The master always orders inlays designed according to an exclusive sample. Specific foot abnormalities are taken into account after measurements or other procedures are performed. The degree of the disease is assessed, and a decision is made on the advisability of using a large amount of lining material.
Orthopedic insoles are especially useful during the active course of treatment for flat feet. They are also used for the rehabilitation period. When the problem has already been solved, the bones and joints look as correct as possible, but they have not yet had time to gain a foothold in the new position. To prevent the disease from manifesting itself again, it is imperative to continue wearing orthopedic insoles for the child for a long time.
The main thing you should always pay attention to is the shape of the tab. With the activation of the healing process, the bones change their shape, gradually acquiring a genetically programmed appearance. In order for this process to occur favorably, it is necessary to constantly check whether a specific form of insoles is needed in an already altered case of illness.
If the effect of the insoles is already practically unnoticeable, it is necessary to create a new sample or gradually improve the old one. When the effect has already been achieved, doctors develop a version of insoles that will have to be worn constantly for a long time, since without consolidating the effect, the achieved result will be lost.
It is especially difficult to develop orthotics for children that are designed specifically to correct or prevent the worsening of transverse flatfoot. They are always made according to the principle of adding a massive wedge located in the area of the fingers. If the insole does not have a positive effect, then the upper silicone cushion rises more. Such measures help to set optimal parameters for each person.
In stores and modern clinics there is a large selection of orthopedic insoles, presented in various price segments and being the most convenient option for the patient’s elegant movement quickly and in mild stages. They differ in build quality, material, and optimal thickness, which should be chosen together with the child. To find out how to choose orthopedic insoles for a child, you must fully comply with the criteria and the doctor’s recommendations.
Preventive. Done when there is a possibility of a disease, for example a genetic predisposition or after an injury. They are made from the softest materials possible, so they are comfortable to wear for almost all people.
Corrective. They help to completely get rid of the symptoms of flat feet of any type. They are used at various stages, but the best option is to purchase such an ideal product as orthopedic insoles for flat feet for children on the advice of a doctor. This is a must. Orthopedic insoles for children help in treatment. Reviews say that they make all activities faster and more effective. They act by facilitating and redirecting the ligamentous apparatus located on the feet.
For patients with diabetes. Taking into account the hormonal imbalances with which they live, these insoles are manufactured in the best possible way to make their gait as comfortable as possible. Such people need proper and comfortable walking. Especially for them, the lower surface of the insoles is equipped with a protective gel of a completely transparent shade. When the gel is applied to these insoles, its compliance with the parameters of softness and comfort is always noted.
Insoles exclusively for children. They are smaller in size, and also do not interfere with too many extraneous sounds. Thanks to the excellent quality, no discomfort is detected when walking. As soon as signs appear that suggest that the child has already outgrown these accessories, they should be replaced with new ones.
In order to quickly and permanently correct flat feet, it is necessary to use custom orthotics for children at the destination. They prevent the formation of injuries and bruises. Depending on the materials used, the final price of the product changes. The better the coating and inner cushion are made, the more valued the orthopedic insole is.
A person is on the move most of his life. At the same time, both the legs in general and the feet in particular experience enormous stress. Every representative of our planet has had pain in this part of the body at least once in their life (both adults and children). Incorrect shoes, high heels and enormous loads are the main reasons for the development of flat feet. With this disease, it is simply necessary to use insoles for flat feet. This is an excellent alternative treatment that requires minimal effort and cost on the part of the patient.
Orthopedic insoles are a must for people suffering from flat feet.
It is not known exactly how this invention appeared, but the history of the appearance of insoles goes back to the distant 19th century. Special shoe inserts were made of leather or metal. It was then that the name “instep supports” arose. Now arch supports are durable structures that imitate the inner arch of the foot.
An orthopedic insole is a special shoe insert. Each insole is unique: it must exactly follow the contour of the leg, targeting problem areas for the treatment to be effective. This method can even treat transverse flat feet.
Such products are used in various situations. First of all, they are recommended to be included in the shoes of children under 6-8 years old (as instep supports). These products help reduce pressure on the spine and joints by acting as a shock absorber. The treatment is progressive: insoles make the gait more confident and help avoid discomfort when walking.
Orthopedic insoles are also recommended for older people. With age, bones weaken and become fragile. These therapeutic accessories will help you avoid injuries and sprains. Fashionistas should also use similar inserts when wearing high-heeled shoes.
These products are made from natural materials such as:
The products do not wear out for a long time and fit tightly to the foot. Blood circulation improves, which has a beneficial effect on the treatment of both muscles and joints. They also create inserts in orthopedic shoes from polymer materials, such as silicone. They have increased flexibility, but also greater weight compared to previous models. Because of this, they are not very comfortable to wear.
Treatment of flat feet is a long and difficult process. Before purchasing such products, you should consult with an orthopedic doctor. He will write out a prescription, according to which you can order individual orthopedic inlays from the specialist. The specialist creates a plaster cast, a virtual model or a digital image of the leg. With its help, technologists sew suitable insoles.
Orthotics help correct flat feet and complete the treatment of this disease. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically adjust these products according to changes in the foot. The shape of the tab depends entirely on the stage of the disease and the type. For example, orthopedic insoles for transverse flat feet have an external wedge in the toe area and a pad that is gradually raised until a positive effect is achieved.
Shops and clinics offer a huge selection of orthopedic insoles. They all differ not only in size, but also in thickness, shape, and materials. Which model to choose and wear is decided by the client based on the recommendations of the attending physician.
All models can be divided into several types:
There are different types of orthopedic insoles, so you need to select them depending on the pathology of your feet.
To make your gait more correct and even, you need to use not only special orthopedic insoles, but also wear orthopedic shoes for flat feet. It not only helps make treatment more effective, but also acts as an excellent preventive measure. The shoes are made in such a way that:
A special roll of the sole allows you to position the foot anatomically correctly and avoid pain and injury. When using specialized shoes, the area of support expands and at the same time the load on the joints decreases. The price of such a product depends entirely on the model and materials used.
Shoes for a patient with flat feet should not only be as comfortable as possible, but also beautiful. Nowadays, customers can choose orthopedic sandals, shoes and slippers according to their taste to wear with different clothes. Orthopedic shoes for flat feet will help to permanently get rid of many problems associated with walking in both adults and children suffering from flat feet.
Is it necessary to buy orthopedic insoles for longitudinal transverse flat feet? Of course it is necessary. Flat feet can affect a person’s health; it can cause problems with the spine, and this is already serious. Flat feet can also lead to vein diseases, which are extremely difficult to cure.
This disease consists of a change in the shape of the foot, which consists in lowering its arches. The human foot is supported by two arches - transverse and longitudinal. The transverse arch runs under the toes, the longitudinal arch runs along the edge of the foot along the inside. This shape of the foot realizes the task of maintaining balance when walking and muffling the shaking that occurs while walking.
Throughout life, the muscles of the foot, as well as its ligaments, weaken, the leg takes on a flat shape, in which it cannot serve as a spring for a person. In this case, all the work of absorbing vibrations when walking has to be taken on by the spine and joints. But these are parts of the body that are intended for completely different functions. Therefore, the joints, like the spine, quickly lose their flexibility and cease to function properly.
Therefore, people with this disease often complain of pain in the joints and back, without knowing the cause of this pain. If you have run out of strength to do this. To maintain normal walking parameters, your joints suffer - hip, knee and ankle. This can lead to scoliosis and arthrosis. Flat feet can occur in people who move a lot and in people who do sedentary work day after day. This happens because in those who move a lot, the ligaments of the feet weaken due to heavy load, and in sedentary people due to the lack of load on the feet.
Flat feet can be of different types - transverse, if the transverse arch of the foot is low, and longitudinal, if the longitudinal arch of the foot is low. Flatfoot is also called combined longitudinal-transverse when both arches are lowered. Most often, cases of the transverse type are detected.
Flat feet according to their origin are divided into congenital and acquired. Both children and adults can develop acquired flat feet for various reasons. Acquired flatfoot is divided into traumatic flatfoot, rachitic, paralytic and static.
Traumatic flatfoot occurs due to a fracture of the leg at the ankle joint or fracture of the bones of the foot, and also due to various damage to muscle tissue. Ligament injuries also lead to it.
Rachitic flatfoot often occurs as a complication after suffering from rickets. Rickets makes the bones of the foot brittle. The leg does not support the load, which leads to its deformation.
Paralytic flatfoot is sometimes caused by previous polio, as well as paralysis of the muscles on the foot.
Like any disease, flat feet can be identified by specific symptoms.
If such symptoms appear, you should consult an orthopedist or surgeon. This is all the more necessary because similar symptoms occur with varicose veins in the legs.
Symptoms of flat feet have their own specifics for different types of flat feet. With longitudinal flatfoot, increased fatigue of the legs is observed; when pressing on the foot in the middle, a painful sensation occurs, and pain in the lower back may appear. Finding comfortable shoes becomes almost impossible.
With transverse flatfoot, pain is observed in the upper part of the foot, the toes change their shape and become crooked.
If we talk about the most common causes of flat feet, we can note weight gain, including during pregnancy, uncomfortable shoes, various injuries to the feet, poor heredity, diseases, including rickets, too much and too little load on the legs. Since many people nowadays lead a sedentary lifestyle, it is necessary to do exercises for the feet. Sets of exercises can be obtained from a doctor or on the Internet.
Flat feet in a child can be cured. Infants have completely flat feet, but they do not have flat feet. The foot just hasn't formed yet. By the age of four, the foot is formed. To avoid flat feet in children, it is worth allowing your child to walk barefoot more often. The child must move a lot, walk, run, to train his feet.
If a child does acquire flat feet, it can be cured in childhood. Treatment can be conservative or surgical. For conservative treatment, physical therapy and massage are suitable. If you still go to the clinic for a massage, take your child to the physical therapy room.
If you have the described disease, your doctor will definitely prescribe orthopedic insoles for you or your child for flat feet. How to choose them correctly? Nowadays there are a huge number of ready-made insoles on sale. They are much cheaper than custom-made insoles, and, oddly enough, better quality. Ready-made insoles are made at the factory, and not at the knee of a dubious craftsman. Insoles for flat feet for children are made using the same technologies as for adults.
The insoles are equipped with an arch support that will support the weakened arch of your foot. According to the type of flatfoot, instep supports are longitudinal, supporting the longitudinal arch, transverse, supporting the transverse arch, and longitudinal-transverse. Arch support insoles improve blood circulation not only in the foot, but also in all joints of the leg, and help avoid fatigue in the legs.
Very often, wearing insoles-instep supports, manufactured at the factory and sold in an orthopedic salon, is indicated for women who prefer high-heeled shoes.
If the heel is larger than five centimeters in size, then the fulcrum of the foot, located on the heel of the foot, does not perform its functions, and the part of the foot near the toes has to take over its work. Naturally, any insoles will not fit. They take up too much space in shoes. Dress shoes require special thin insoles. Half insoles were invented for such shoes. You can also buy heel pads. They take up much less space in shoes. In any case, you should consult your doctor.
The insoles differ in appearance. Transverse insoles have a pad in the middle of the foot, and longitudinal insoles have a thickening along the inner edge of the foot. That is, the structure of their instep supports is different. Often, insoles also have a shock absorber for the heel to relieve the load on it. The more complex your type of flatfoot, the more complex the design of the insoles that need to be put into your shoes will be. Insoles for longitudinal-transverse flat feet have the most complex structure.
When choosing insoles, it is difficult to determine how comfortable you will walk by simply trying on the insole and placing it in your shoe. Comfort can only be appreciated when walking for a long time. It is also difficult to choose the right model in terms of size, since everyone's toes are of different lengths, and the pad of the insole may not fit on the part of the foot that is needed. Experts advise using any ruler or square to measure the distance from the heel border of the insole to the front edge of the pad on the insole. Orthopedic salons should have a table of the size of this distance corresponding to the size of the foot.
The material from which the insole is made is of great importance. We do not recommend choosing artificial leather insoles. Your feet will sweat in them. If you choose a silicone insole, it should be covered with natural material on top.
The best thing is to buy an insole made of genuine leather. You can also consider purchasing a fabric insole that has a latex, cork, or carbon layer inside.
It will be quite easy to determine whether the insoles you choose are helping you. If you feel more comfortable and your legs no longer get tired, you can be congratulated on the right choice. If pain and discomfort appear, it means that you either chose the wrong insoles, or you need to wear other, looser shoes so that the shoes with the insoles do not sting you.
Many people ask how long should orthopedic insoles be worn? If you are diagnosed with flat feet, it will not go away. Insoles should be worn constantly throughout your life.
When purchasing low-quality shoes, we do not think about the fact that this harms the health of our feet, causing them to feel heaviness and pain. These symptoms do not have the best effect on our gait. Custom orthotics can prevent foot diseases and restore ease of gait.
It is necessary to monitor the condition of your feet from childhood. Pathological changes in the feet can be prevented until the age of seven. The most common problems are flat feet, hallux valgus and varus foot deformities. To establish the correct diagnosis and receive recommendations on how to choose orthotics, you need to consult an orthopedic surgeon.
In an adult, leg problems arise after 40 years of age and can lead to serious consequences, such as arthrosis of the joints and osteochondrosis. Women are at particular risk because they like to wear high heels, as well as men whose work involves excessive stress on their joints. All this causes the development of flat feet, which can be longitudinal, transverse and combined.
In addition, the cause of the disease can be excess weight, paralysis of the muscles of the arch of the foot, and fractures of the bones of the foot. In any case, this condition requires treatment. Orthopedic insoles can prevent the development of pathology in childhood. For adults, they will help relieve muscle tension, reduce stress on the feet, and relieve pain and heaviness in the legs.
All products have an instep support located in the area of the inner arch; a recess is modeled under the heel. During movement, the central part of the insole rises and falls. Additional fixation is provided by a metatarsal pad.
The front part of the insole (strap) is designed for the correct placement of the toes. There are models of only this part (half-insole), which does not interfere with the correct distribution of weight along the entire length of the product.
The most important part of the insole is the wedges, which make it possible to change the angle of the foot. If the weight is distributed incorrectly, the heel shifts. Wedges help keep the foot in the correct position, which prevents pain and swelling. The insole for the correction of foot pathologies consists of two wedges: under the heel and in the front part of the product. It is advisable to choose models made of soft materials with gel inside the pads, which, distributed evenly, takes on the optimal shape.
An orthopedic traumatologist will advise how to choose orthopedic insoles depending on the diagnosis and the purposes for which they are purchased.
There are two types of insoles for flat feet. Some are designed to prevent disease, others correct existing pathology, and are manufactured to order. The best brands on the European market of insoles for the prevention and correction of foot pathologies are considered to be GRISON, COCCINE, TARRAGO.
Preventive models are used to prevent the formation of flat feet. They are made using a gel substance, which makes the insoles very soft and flexible, able to adapt to the anatomical features of a person’s foot.
Representatives of the fair sex who do not want to give up high heels, but at the same time care about the health of their feet, purchase orthopedic insoles. Reviews about them are only positive. Specially designed foam or leather products that can be worn under dress shoes keep your feet in excellent condition. But it must be taken into account that if you have longitudinal flat feet, wearing heels higher than 4 cm, even with insoles, is recommended for no more than two hours.
For overweight people, rigid instep supports made of steel, special plastic or graphite are suitable. When wearing such products, the arches of the feet are in the correct position, this prevents pain and tension.
For women expecting a baby, there are special preventive arch supports that help reduce the pressure of a pregnant woman’s weight on the foot. This helps relieve pain and swelling in the legs.
Models for correcting existing pathology with individually selected arch support and metatarsal pads, as well as a recess on the heel, help reduce the load on the feet and maintain the normal alignment of the bones.
Products with a horseshoe-like heel pad are designed to treat heel spurs. Thanks to the special shape, constant friction of the soft tissues of the heel is prevented. According to customer reviews, wearing such insoles reduces the load on the heel area and eliminates pain. It happens that when walking, the foot turns in and the ankle sprains; in this case, wearing semi-rigid insoles made of flexible plastic will help. These products are very comfortable for the feet.
A special type of insoles is a foot corrector, designed for people with a disease such as diabetes. With this pathology, the nerve endings lose their sensitivity in some areas of the foot, resulting in the formation of corns and calluses. The gel inside the pads in these insoles allows the model to perfectly adapt to the characteristics of the foot.
Children's models, in addition to massage and preventive gymnastics, help the formation of correct feet in a child, have a positive effect on the development of the musculoskeletal system, ensuring correct gait. Reviews from many mothers indicate that the improvement becomes noticeable after just a few months of using the insoles.
How to choose orthopedic insoles for a child so that wearing them will bring benefits? There are several points to consider:
How to choose orthopedic insoles and can you do it yourself? Of course, you can purchase products to correct the condition of your feet at the pharmacy, but there is no guarantee that wearing them will be useful. The structure of each person’s foot is individual, and when using arch supports without selection, additional pathology may form or an existing disease may worsen. Therefore, only a qualified specialist can select insoles, and a prosthetist can manufacture them.
The production of orthopedic insoles occurs in several stages. At the first stage, a diagnosis is carried out, which helps to identify the degree of flat feet, then a plaster imprint is made. The next stage is sequential fitting. After handing over the product, the patient receives recommendations from the doctor on how to care for the insoles. At the final stage, the product is corrected during wearing. Since wearing insoles gradually straightens the foot, after a while you may have to choose a different model. Preventive insoles should be made of genuine leather, which allows them to retain their shape for a long time. The service life of such models does not exceed two years.
Orthopedic insoles for flat feet are the best way to correct foot deformities; without them it is impossible to correct this pathology. The products contribute to the correct redistribution of the load on the sole (depending on the physiological characteristics of each person). Properly chosen insoles will help eliminate such unpleasant phenomena as pain, fatigue and swelling of the feet. Regularly wearing such models will prevent the development of foot pathologies and will make you feel comfortable, even if you spend the whole day on your feet.
The issue of treating transverse flatfoot is one of the frequently discussed issues in orthopedics, since both children and adults suffer from this pathology, and an advanced process always leads to diseases of the joints and spine, which is why it is so important to develop a comprehensive treatment plan for this disease. For each patient, this plan will be individual, depending on risk factors (obesity, congenital connective tissue pathology, profession associated with prolonged standing) and the presence of concomitant pathology.
When examining the foot, attention is drawn to its expansion and flattening. The thumb is deviated outward. A “bone” forms on the big toe, and the second and third toes are hammer-shaped.
All these symptoms and complaints together are an indication for a more thorough examination.
Diagnosis of flat feet can be carried out both in a medical institution and at home independently. How to determine flat feet at home? There is a fairly simple way to do this. You need to smear your feet with rich cream and stand on a white sheet of paper directly with support on your entire foot. Now all that remains is to evaluate the print. Normally, the notch along the inner edge in the middle of the foot should take up a little more than half of the foot. If it occupies almost the entire foot or, on the contrary, too much space, then you can think about flat feet. This method is called platnography. Doctors use Lugol's solution as a dye.
At home, you can also calculate the podometric index (Frinland’s podometric method). To do this, measure the height and length of the foot. The height of the foot is the distance from the plantar surface to the upper edge of the navicular bone. Foot length is the distance from the top of the big toe to the edge of the heel. Multiply the height of the foot by one hundred and divide by the length. Normally, this indicator should not go beyond the range of 29 -31. With a podometric index of 27 - 29, they speak of flat feet.
The diagnosis is confirmed by x-ray examination of both feet in frontal and lateral projections and under load. Then, based on the analysis of the radiograph, the severity of the changes is determined.
It is possible to completely straighten the foot only in childhood, when the bones are not yet strong and the ligamentous apparatus is quite flexible. But before five or six years of age, it is too early to talk about flat feet, since a child’s foot may appear flat due to the fatty “cushion” that performs a protective function in relation to the bone base. Therefore, all children should be examined by an orthopedist once a year for preventive purposes.
Treatment of flat feet usually begins with conservative methods, which include massage, physical therapy and special relaxing foot baths. Orthopedic shoes or insoles are of particular importance.
Massage of the legs and feet for flat feet relieves fatigue, stimulates blood circulation and reduces swelling. Basic techniques:
How to treat polyarthritis of the joints? More details
When compiling a complex for patients with flat feet, the doctor usually uses basic exercises for abduction - adduction, flexion - extension, sliding, and performing various movements with the foot. All these exercises help strengthen the arches of the feet and maintain the tone of the muscles of the feet.
To relieve tension from the muscles of the feet, use baths with decoctions of linden, chamomile, plantain or sea salt, as well as aromatic oils (lavender, rose). The water temperature should not exceed 37 degrees.
To prevent flat feet and for minor foot deformities, special inlays and insoles are used. They are sold in specialized stores or made to order. In advanced cases, orthopedic shoes are prescribed, which are always made strictly individually, to order. These shoes are made from high-quality materials and help your feet get used to the correct position.
If conservative measures are ineffective, corrective foot surgery is usually performed in adulthood to eliminate flat feet.
Today in orthopedics there are more than 300 methods of surgical correction of transverse flatfoot, the main advantage of which is the absence of relapses. The essence of all interventions for flat feet is to restore the correct anatomical shape of the foot by correcting the transverse arch and changing the angle between the bones of the foot. The choice of technique depends mainly on the severity of the changes and the presence of concomitant deformation of the toes. The operation is performed under general or spinal anesthesia. After the operation, the use of special orthopedic shoes is prescribed, which allows you to get back on your feet the very next day after the operation.
Maximum shock absorption during the foot is the main characteristic of a properly selected orthotic insole. Moreover, such an insole must exactly match the size of the patient’s foot and the shoe in which it is inserted. It absorbs static and dynamic load on the feet and indirectly restores blood flow. In children, an orthopedic insole promotes the correct formation of the arches of the feet. Many parents buy their children shoes with orthopedic insoles for prevention.
For fashionable modern women, more often men suffering from various foot deformities, special half-insoles have been developed - arch supports for dress shoes with high heels and for shoes with low heels, as well as special frame insoles for closed shoes.
All insoles should be selected only with a specialist who can advise on the best option.
Are the bones on your feet growing? Treatment methods for gout on the legs
Exercise therapy for flat feet is the main method of correcting flat feet. Both adults and children can perform these simple exercises under parental supervision.
An approximate set of exercises:
They start training with five to six exercises, and after ten days they begin to add one exercise at a time. The entire session should take about 20 minutes. For best results, perform gymnastics twice a day.
In addition, it is useful for both adults and children to mix mud with their bare feet and walk through puddles barefoot on a warm summer day after rain.
Biomechanics refers to the ability of the foot to perform certain movements, as well as withstand loads, the amount of which is determined by the shape and position of the arches. For example, the transverse arch can normally be wide and narrow. A wide arch can withstand increased loads, and the shape of the foot resembles a square. Narrow feet are more suitable for dancing (ballet).
The longitudinal arch can be high or low. A tall one is indispensable for sports, and a flat one is for long walks. Normally, when walking, the load first falls on the heel, then moves to the toe, and then pushes off with the help of the big toe. If flattening of the arches occurs, then the consequence of this process is flat feet, which leads to a violation of the shock-absorbing properties of the foot.
Before choosing insoles for flat feet, you need to know what they are needed for. The topic of orthopedic corrective insoles in the light of advertising is surrounded by prejudices and misconceptions. So, orthopedic correctors help restore the natural biomechanics of the feet and restore their functions.
Therefore, only a doctor can recommend wearing insoles, following the following steps.
The selection of insoles is carried out according to several parameters, and the best material is leather. Instead of leather, modern polymer materials or hard grades of cork can be used. Hygienic (preventive) models and orthopedic models should not be confused. And of course, under no circumstances should you buy insoles for yourself, even super-expensive and high-quality ones.
All orthopedic insoles for flat feet consist of the following parts:
In some cases, such devices lack the front part (metatarsal pad), which is called a half-insole.
It is difficult to treat transverse flatfoot without the use of orthopedic insoles. They are a necessary stage of treatment, and their uniqueness is achieved by diagnosing the form of flat feet or the degree of deformation of the foot. There are indications for which these correctors are used.
Contrary to numerous misconceptions - orthopedic insoles are exclusively a therapeutic tool, there are no models for the prevention of flat feet. Any pads or specialized shoes should be used as prescribed by a doctor, and only after a complete examination of the patient. The thing is that there are a lot of types of insoles, and each is designed to solve specific disorders.
The main task of any orthopedic insole is to support the arches of the feet and correct existing deformities. Orthopedic insoles for flat feet normalize blood circulation in the feet, help distribute the load correctly, thereby reducing pain when walking and standing for long periods of time. Also, when using therapeutic pads, the load on the hip and ankle joints is correctly distributed. Regular use of orthopedic insoles minimizes the likelihood of disease progression and complications in the musculoskeletal system. As for the classification of insoles, they are divided according to their purpose: for the correction of longitudinal or transverse flat feet. In general, their structure is similar: This is an instep support for the inner arch of the foot, and a recess in the heel area. The insole may also have one or more wedges that regulate the inclination of the foot relative to the floor and a metatarsal pad in the area of the transverse arch.
For the most effective correction of existing disorders, an individual selection of any orthopedic devices is necessary. A doctor should draw up a prescription with accurate measurements of the patient’s deformities. A foot print or plaster cast is often used to make insoles. The most modern means of selecting means for correcting flat feet is the creation of a three-dimensional computer image of the foot. This method is the most accurate, however, not all clinics and pharmacies have the necessary equipment. Orthopedic insoles for transverse flat feet can be made from modern polymers or genuine leather. The stiffness of the insoles should be selected based on the patient’s weight. If your body weight exceeds 100 kg, preference should be given to rigid models made of steel, graphite or special plastic. Weighing less than 100 kg, you can choose from semi-rigid insoles (leather, rubber, plastic) and soft silicone options.
The therapeutic effect of wearing insoles will not be complete if they are incorrectly positioned in your existing shoes. You may even have to match your boots or shoes to your existing insoles. If the shoes already have regular insoles, they should be removed, after which orthopedic products should be placed inside. Check to see if the insoles will slide off when you have transverse flat feet while walking? If a similar effect is observed, glue them to the shoes with universal glue or double-sided tape. In order to determine how suitable the chosen means of correcting flat feet is for a particular patient, you should walk slowly, quickly, or run. Do you experience any discomfort when moving, are your feet comfortable? Normally, in severe stages of flat feet, unpleasant sensations are possible, but they should be much less noticeable than in ordinary shoes. Orthopedic insoles for transverse flat feet require special care. They should be washed when dirty and dried at room temperature. In order for this treatment to work, you should always wear shoes with insoles.