A disease of civilization—this is what experts often call flat feet. According to statistics, 40-80% of people suffer from it. At the same time, people often believe that this deviation from the norm is not serious. And sometimes it seems completely incomprehensible why people are not accepted into the army because of flat feet.
Experts assure that the consequences of underestimated flat feet are extremely serious. Back pain, heart problems and even a bad bite are all consequences of foot problems. Olga Chizhevskaya, executive director of the Medical Association, spoke to AiF.ru about what such a deviation entails and how risks can be minimized .
Why is childhood flatfoot dangerous?
The most dangerous thing is the consequences of this disease, which are initially invisible to the parent’s eye. If the child's feet are positioned incorrectly, the child's posture changes, the shock absorption of the foot is disrupted, a load on the spine occurs, and the baby may develop scoliosis. Poor posture leads to diseases of the joints and spine (arthritis, arthrosis, osteochondrosis, bursitis, scoliosis, etc.). In addition to the fact that at school age such loads can cause pain in the joints, later all this will also affect the general health of the child, causing problems in the functioning of internal organs.
At the age of up to 5 years, this issue is dealt with by a neurologist, since this pathology in a child is associated with impaired muscle tone in the legs - this happens with muscle hypotension or hypertonicity. The problem of flat-valgus and flat-varus feet arises. This pathology is formed due to a violation of muscle tone. A pediatric neurologist treats these diseases.
After 5 years, this problem is solved jointly by a neurologist and an orthopedist, so in this case there are problems with the formation of the foot and the ligamentous apparatus.
Help your child stand strong on his feet!
Importance of the foot
“The foot is for the body like a tire for a car, it ensures safe movement on various surfaces. If the tire is damaged, moving is fraught with trouble. This rule also works for our feet,” says Olga Chizhevskaya.
The doctor notes that humanity’s problems with feet began when people evolved to walk upright. For example, mammals that move on 4 limbs are not susceptible to it, since they do not experience similar loads on the limbs and spine. At the same time, as Olga Chizhevskaya notes, when walking and running, the feet fully realize their spring function and literally absorb the force of impacts and loads that can damage the body during movement.
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Symptoms of flat feet
Children usually hardly complain of any discomfort in the foot area, and if this happens, parents usually do not attach serious importance to it.
Pay attention to the following possible symptoms of flat feet:
- unevenly worn shoes, the inside of the sole and the heel are more worn, one shoe is worn more than the other;
- child complaints of pain or fatigue in the legs after active play or an active walk;
- When simply examining the child’s feet, you notice flattening of the arches.
If the child’s gait has changed, he begins to move less, rests more after walking, running, or complains of fatigue and pain in the legs, the child should be consulted by an experienced neurologist.
Deformation problems
Naturally, any deformation of the feet leads to a malfunction in their normal functioning. “In the case of a pathology such as flat feet, the entire body takes on the impact force, the shock absorption load. And throughout the body, throughout all the joints and bones - right up to the skull - microtraumas “spread”, like cracks along the facade of a dilapidated building,” says the podiatrist.
Here are the main “targets” and the diseases that affect them:
- knees (arthrosis);
- hip joints (coxarthrosis);
- lower back (sciatica);
- thoracic and cervical spine (scoliosis, osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia).
The foot itself, as Olga Chizhevskaya says, suffers no less with advanced flat feet. Most common problems:
- hallux valgus - ugly bones that “grow” at the base of the big toe;
- heel spur (plantar fasciitis), the distinctive symptom is acute pain in the heel area, which occurs primarily when walking after sleeping or sitting for a long time;
- Morton's neuroma is damage to the plantar nerve.
Treatment of flat feet
To treat our little patients, we use an integrated approach and the gentlest possible treatment methods:
- the baby's foot muscles and ligaments are strengthened;
- relieve pain;
- stop progressive deformation;
- restore blood circulation;
- improve muscle tone.
Our treatment methods that can be prescribed for flat feet:
- Manual therapy;
- Osteopathy - treatment by the hands of a doctor, a gentle effect on the musculoskeletal system, nervous and vascular systems, internal organs;
- Medical massage;
- Acupuncture - exposure to biologically active points with microneedles;
- Laser reflexology is a painless effect on reflexogenic zones and points;
- Tsubotherapy is a gentle effect on the body’s reflex points;
- Pharmacopuncture - the introduction of medicinal drugs of natural origin to the source of the problem;
- Plasma therapy is the introduction of the patient’s own purified blood into the site of the disease;
- Isometric kinesiotherapy - individual gymnastic techniques/exercises, according to indications, with elements of joint massage;
- Kinesiotherapy using the Exart installation;
- Kinesio taping;
- Ozone therapy - treatment with active oxygen;
- Physiotherapy;
- Physiotherapy with enzyme preparations;
- Shock wave therapy;
- Therapeutic droppers;
- Hirudotherapy - treatment with leeches;
- Botulinum therapy - treatment with botulinum toxin;
- Intra-articular injection of synovial fluid endoprostheses;
- Intra-articular blockades.
You wouldn't even think about feet
If a person has flat feet, he runs the risk of encountering a variety of diseases. Often he cannot even imagine that the reason was precisely in the legs. “When the feet are deformed, the biomechanics of movement throughout the entire musculoskeletal system is disrupted. A suboptimal motor pattern involves “extra” muscle groups. As a result, according to the law of a chain reaction, the entire musculoskeletal system is overloaded. Muscle tension occurs, causing problems such as headaches due to poor blood supply to the brain and even noticeable malocclusion. Yes Yes! The “foundation” suffers - the whole structure “floats,” says the podiatrist.
At the same time, the specialist notes that the situation is even worse when those very violations, distortions and clamps can provoke varicose vascular insufficiency and, finally, heart failure. And now the jokes are really bad.
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Causes of flat feet
One of the reasons for the occurrence of planovarus and planovalgus feet in childhood is considered to be general weakness of the tendon-muscular system of the lower extremities, as well as dysplastic changes in the foot skeleton.
The main reasons for the development of flat feet in children:
- fragile bone, muscle and ligamentous apparatus;
- hereditary predisposition;
- Shoes! Cramped, uncomfortable. Frequent wearing of shoes. A child under 5 years of age should walk barefoot as often as possible, wearing shoes only in exceptional cases. Parents, do not deprive your children of healthy legs!
- static. A predisposition to ligamentous weakness may be a consequence of excess weight, uncomfortable shoes, etc.
Feminine beauty and masculine strength
“By the way, the muscular-fascial chain of the body ends right at the eyebrow line. So your smooth forehead and open look depend on the balanced work of your feet,” says Olga Chizhevskaya.
The specialist notes that men should take note of the following information: foot health affects potency. When tension along the muscle chains reaches the pelvic floor, a muscle that is extremely important for sexual activity is under attack: the bulbocavernosus. The bulbocavernosus muscle covers the base of the male genital organ and, in fact, provides an erection.
“Doctors began studying the biomechanics of human movements only in the late 70s of the last century, when running became fashionable. It was the newly minted marathon runners, with their overstrain in the forefoot and associated injuries, that forced even the most conservative specialists to admit that many degenerative diseases of the spine and joints are caused precisely by changes in the feet,” says the doctor.
How to get rid of flat feet?
It is possible to completely cure flat feet only in childhood, when the bones and ligaments are not yet fully formed and can still be corrected. In adulthood, it is only possible to stop the progression of the disease, prevent the development of diseases of the joints and spine and get rid of bothersome pain. A successful result can only be achieved with an integrated approach to treatment and selection of rehabilitation measures and continuity of the treatment process. Typically, therapy begins with the elimination of pain. For this purpose, pain-relieving ointments, physiotherapeutic procedures and massage are used. It is important not to overload your feet, not to spend too much time on your feet and to give them rest. In the evening you can take warm foot baths. After getting rid of pain, the main focus of treatment is to strengthen the muscles and ligaments of the foot. The foot needs special gymnastic exercises that correct the arches and train the muscles and ligaments. Such exercises can be performed at home on your own, but to develop an individual complex, it is best to consult a physical therapy doctor or an orthopedic podiatrist. In order to prevent and treat flat feet, it is mandatory to wear special individually selected orthopedic insoles. They help to correctly distribute the weight to all areas of the foot, relieve unnecessary stress from the legs and spine, ensure the correct position of the foot and correct any curvatures that have arisen. Physical activity is necessary both to strengthen the muscles and ligaments of the feet and to maintain normal weight, but they must be strictly dosed and can only be performed with the permission of a doctor.
Features of treatment of children's flat feet
It is possible to recognize flat feet in a child only by the age of 5-6 years, when the foot begins to take on the appearance of an adult’s foot. Until the age of 3, a child’s feet appear flat because the arches are filled with a layer of fat, which provides the necessary shock absorption. This may alarm some parents, but up to 3 years of age this is absolutely normal. Possible disorders in the development of the foot are indicated by uneven wear of the heels and soles of shoes in a child who is already 5-6 years old. However, only a qualified doctor can confirm or deny the presence of flat feet. If necessary, he can suggest the most effective methods of prevention and treatment, taking into account the severity of the disease, the causes of flat feet and the stage of development of the child. Regular visits to an orthopedist or podiatrist will help not only prevent the development of flat feet, but also promptly detect other abnormalities in the development of the musculoskeletal system. Despite the fact that the diagnosis of the disease cannot be made until the child reaches 5 years of age, prevention of flat feet in children should be carried out from the moment of birth. It is advisable to walk barefoot as often as possible, including on uneven surfaces, sand, pebbles, do exercises to maintain balance, walk on your toes, heels, the outside of your feet, and try to grab objects with your toes. These exercises strengthen the muscles of the feet and promote the formation of arches. It is important that the child has comfortable, unworn shoes made from natural materials with a tight heel and flexible sole. It is also necessary to work on posture and the way the child places his feet when walking. Comprehensive treatment of diagnosed childhood flatfoot involves dosing physical activity, exercise therapy, therapeutic foot massage and manual therapy, the use of physiotherapeutic treatment, as well as the prescription of orthopedic insoles that can maximally relieve the main supporting areas of the foot and reduce discomfort when walking. The use of special orthopedic insoles is only possible from 5 years of age. Children's insoles must follow the contour of the foot as accurately as possible, and therefore must be made individually. The insole material should be somewhat springy, but still provide the necessary stability. Orthopedic insoles for children are no different from adult insoles, but require constant and timely correction and replacement as the child grows. Timely initiation of treatment for flat feet in children significantly improves the condition of the foot, prevents further development of the disease and helps to avoid curvature and degenerative changes in the spine, which can lead to serious complications in later life.
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Why flat feet are dangerous and how to protect yourself from them
The human foot is a complex organ designed for support and shock absorption when walking. It is customary to distinguish two arches of the foot - longitudinal and transverse. The longitudinal arch is much more pronounced than the transverse arch and acts as a spring, softening shocks when walking and running.
The most common type of foot deformity is flat feet. It is expressed in the flattening of one or all arches of the foot. Depending on which arch of the foot is changed, flat feet can be longitudinal, transverse or longitudinal-transverse.
The main danger of flat feet is a violation of the shock absorption function. Intense vibrations of the body during running or walking are not dampened by the foot, but are transmitted to the hip joints and spine. Changes in the skeletal system over time affect the condition of the body as a whole. They cause scoliosis, arthrosis, aching pain in the legs and fatigue.
In total, up to a third of the world's population suffers from flat feet.
“About 30% of people have flat feet,” says the orthopedist
Victor Prisc. “One in ten people show symptoms.”
A 2021 study from Spain confirms
These data: among 835 examined volunteers, flat feet were observed in 27%. These were predominantly older people with excess body weight.
All young children have flat feet to one degree or another. It is not due to deviations, but to the fact that the child’s leg is still growing and developing. Therefore, this diagnosis is not made until five or six years of age.
Congenital flat feet are rare and account for only about 3% of cases. Almost always, the disease is acquired throughout life.
Sometimes flat feet occur as a result of injuries and diseases, but in more than 80% of cases it is caused by other reasons - an increase in body weight associated with the profession, overload of the feet (long-term standing during work contributes to the development of the disease), wearing inappropriate shoes (narrow, uncomfortable , high heels), weakening of muscles caused by aging of the body.
Other associated risk factors for developing flat feet are hypertension and diabetes.
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Also, flat feet often occur during pregnancy due to increased extensibility of a woman’s ligaments and muscles.
The diagnosis is made primarily based on the results of radiography. A podoscope, a device for visually assessing the condition of the feet, can also be used for preliminary diagnosis. The most effective digital podoscopes are those that evaluate multiple geometric parameters.
Depending on the condition of the foot, there are three degrees of flat feet. With first-degree flatfoot, the height of the arch of the foot is up to 35 mm, and no deformation of the foot is observed. With the second degree of flatfoot, signs of deforming arthrosis may appear. In the third, they are almost always present, and the height of the arch of the foot does not exceed 17 mm.
When the foot is unable to spring and normally distribute the load when walking and running, it falls on other joints: knees, hips. They hurt, the person’s gait changes. The spine also suffers. Flat feet can lead to serious problems, including herniated discs.
Flat feet, even at an early stage, are fraught with pain and heaviness in the legs, and rapid fatigue.
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.
Changes are completely reversible only at the very beginning of the disease or in childhood, when the foot is not yet fully formed. Usually, special exercises for the feet are used for this - in particular, rolling objects or drawing with the feet. In more advanced cases, however, it is still possible to improve the patient’s well-being and prevent the disease from developing further. In addition to exercises, medications that relieve pain and tension, massage courses, special shoes and insoles are used.
In severe cases of the disease, with serious deformities of the fingers, severe pain, surgical treatment of flat feet is indicated for patients.
Prevention of flat feet is simple - just do not overload your feet (do not gain too much weight, play sports in special shoes, refuse to regularly wear high-heeled shoes), regularly walk barefoot on sand, grass, pebbles (in city conditions you can use special mats for this) ) and, if possible, massage the feet and perform exercises aimed at strengthening the muscles of the foot.
Stages of flat feet
- First (initial) stage
By evening, the legs get tired even after normal exercise. When you press on the middle of the sole, pain occurs. By morning, as a rule, the swelling goes away. - Second stage
Flat feet reminds itself all day long with unbearable pain in the feet and legs. Long walks are excluded. The gait becomes heavy, posture is disturbed. - Third
Walking is extremely difficult, the feet are severely deformed and resemble the usual outlines only by their location. Arthrosis, arthropathy, changes in the spine and other complications appear. The patients are unable to work.