Flat feet – what is it, causes, symptoms. Flat feet test and treatment of ailments

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Flat feet are feet that are characterized by lowering longitudinal arches. Today flat feet can be called a social disease. It is very common in both children and adults. Children with such feet get tired quickly, while small children do not want to walk, they ask to be taken in their arms

What are flat feet?

Flat feet (flat feet) is a condition in which the longitudinal vaults are lowered. It very often runs in family and is underestimated by parents. This is a big mistake because the first years of a child’s life are decisive for the correct formation of the foot, therefore this problem should not be ignored. A properly built foot takes part in stretching physiological arches and bone arches, which thus support the foot and protect it against any shocks. It adheres closely to the ground with three points: the heel, head I and head of the XNUMXth metatarsal bone. In turn, the main arches of the foot run between these points:

1. longitudinal,
2. medial,
3. longitudinal side,
4. transverse front.

Lowering these points leads to the formation of flat feet. Children with flat feet get tired quickly, and the smallest ones often do not want to walk on their own and are asked to be picked up. Until the age of 3, the child’s feet are flat, as they are masked with overdeveloped and soft fat pads that disappear around the age of 3.

We can distinguish two basic types of flat feet:

– longitudinal flat feet: as a consequence of lowering the medial arch of the foot;

– transverse flat feet: resulting from the lowering of the transverse arch of the foot.

Flat feet – causes

Flat feet are the result of failure of the muscles responsible for maintaining the correct arch of the foot, including: the anterior and posterior tibia muscles, the long peroneal muscle and all plantar muscles of the foot.

Underlying the formation of flat feet may include:

1. wearing inadequate (too tight) footwear,
2. overweight / obesity,
3. rickets,
4. putting stress on the feet while weakening the muscles and ligaments,
5. hard ground,
6. wearing high-heeled shoes,
7. wearing shoes with a narrow toe,
8. standing work (bad position of the feet while standing),
9. improper use of orthopedic insoles,
10. sedentary lifestyle,
11. genetic predisposition to inherit the foot’s architecture (specific structure), which increases the risk of a flat foot,
12. dressing the baby in too tight shoes or socks,
13. forcing your child to walk when they are not ready for it yet,
14. the nature of the work, e.g. a hairdresser overloads the feet,
15. pregnant women (during this period, flat feet may get worse because women carry a lot of weight),
16. Congenital defects (rarely), e.g. laxity of ligaments and tendons.

Flat feet contribute to the development of chronic inflammation of the foot capsule and ligaments. In young children, flat feet should not be a concern, as the developing foot is filled with fat and has weakened ligaments. Parents should take care during adolescence to prevent flat feet from sticking out later in life. Therefore, you should not force your child to walk too fast or put your child in a walker, because the muscles that are still weak are stressed, which may result in deformation of the feet. The baby will start walking when it’s ready. Flat feet usually resolve spontaneously in the third year of a child’s life.

Flat feet – symptoms

1. Transverse flat feet are manifested by the widening of the front part of the foot. This kind of ailment usually occurs in women who wear high-heeled shoes on a daily basis.

2. Longitudinal flat feet are, in turn, a consequence of loading the feet and manifest themselves in the reduction or disappearance of the longitudinal arch of the foot. This is often indicated by the condition of the shoes worn (the sole is worn on the inside; the shoes are deformed). A deformity in the form of hallux valgus may appear.

Other symptoms of a flat foot:

1. the formation of calluses and corns on the sole,
2. pain in the area of ​​the instep (sometimes),
3. baking,
4. the formation of degenerative changes that may deform the feet, e.g. hallux,
5. excessive sweating of the feet,
6. recurring mycoses and corns,
7. circulatory disorders,
8. the formation of spider veins and hematomas,
9. dry and pale skin
10. edema,
11. heavy and swaying gait,
12. rapid fatigue of the feet.

Flat feet detection test

In a child before the age of four, the weight of the action causes the foot to lie flat on the ground. The foot begins to take a more shapely shape as the child becomes slimmer and when his weight ceases to be a burden on the feet. To find out if your child has flat feet, you should perform a simple test. When viewed from the side, the foot should have a visible internal depression. So when you want to get a close look at it, ask your child to stand on tiptoe and see if the foot cavity is clearly visible. If so – there is no need to worry, but if the foot tilts inwards under the influence of the weight and at the same time covers the formed arch – we are talking about static flat feet.

We can also recognize flat feet by whether the child’s shoes are curved inside and whether the heels on the inside are worn. Also, the child fatigue quickly while walking, complaining of pain in the feet and calves – these are symptoms that may indicate a flat foot.

Flat foot treatment

The choice of a flat foot treatment method depends on the severity of the ailment. It is mainly based on performing exercises to improve the efficiency of the foot. For this purpose, you can use rice bags or rag balls, which should be tossed with your feet and then put into the box. Foot massages through tural balls, e.g. for tennis, and walking on the outer edges of the feet and on the toes also give good results.

Taking into account the fact that the bare foot and its muscles work most efficiently when the ground is uneven – it is worth working with your child barefoot on sand or grass. Orthopedic insoles also work well (they should be well-chosen so as not to deform the feet!). In shoes with inserts, the muscles have a support, so they do not have to work. However, if the child does not exercise, the muscles may become lazy and flat feet may develop. Therefore, the insoles do not replace exercises, but only help to maintain the correct shape of the foot obtained with their help. The insoles should be worn only as recommended by the orthopedist, do not buy ready-made products without consulting your doctor first.

Other aspects supporting treatment:

1. kinesiotherapy treatments,
2. big toe correction apparatus,
3. in advanced cases – surgery,
4. swimming that relieves the joints and strengthens the muscles.

What should be the right footwear for the child?

1. the heel should be stable,
2. the toes of shoes should be wide,
3. the upper of the shoe should reach above the ankle,
4. shoes should be laced,
5. they should have a stiff heel that holds the foot in the correct axis (regardless of whether they are sandals or covered shoes),
6. footwear should be made of soft leather or natural material,
7. the sole of the shoe should be thick enough to absorb shocks while walking,
8. very important: shoes should be new and not worn after another child,

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