Flat feet - a pathological flattening of the foot, which leads to disruption of its depreciation functions to the painful changes in the spine and skeleton as a whole.
For flat or sufficiently expressed almost completely changed the structure of the normal foot arch as the longitudinal (along the inner edge of the foot) and transverse - on the base line of the fingers.
As a complication - there are pains in the spine, arthritis, arthrosis knee and hip joints.
Types and degrees
Depending on what is involved in the arch of the foot deformation is isolated:
- longitudinal flat feet - the flattening of the longitudinal arch of the foot, which is formed on the inner part of it. When longitudinal flat shoes tread down inside.
- flat cross - forming plane in the zone of the first phalanges of footwear which becomes narrower in a sock.
- combined, or mixed, wherein the stop increases in width and length, deforms footwear in two directions.
Flat feet can also be congenital in nature, as a variant malformation, it is usually difficult and seldom, and acquired throughout life.
Causes
Flatfoot is common in people with sedentary work and with insufficient load on the legs and feet, as well as people who are engaged in heavy physical labor, and forced to spend a long time on their feet. This is due to a deficit and an excess load on the foot. In this case, the muscles and ligaments or insufficiently trained or trite tired and stretched.
Also formed flat because rickets, Of childhood and osteoporosis in adulthood, due to foot and ankle injuries, ligaments and joints due to nervous system lesions in nerve conductive to the formation of hyper- and hypotonia in individual muscle groups.
For flat feet predispose hereditary factors and connective tissue defects, obesity, lack of fitness and physical inactivity, wearing the wrong shoes, heels, pregnancy, occupational hazard.
manifestation of flatfoot
The symptoms of flat feet for a long time is left without attention, writing off their fatigue or symptoms of other diseases.
It can be:
- fatigue legs when standing or walking,
- pain in the foot, especially after strenuous exercise and heavy lifting,
- fatigue and pain in the legs by the end of the day,
- heaviness in the legs, "lead foot"
- cramping and swelling in the ankles and legs,
- the impossibility of wearing heels,
- change of foot sizes,
- problems with the choice of comfortable shoes,
- Heel staptyvanie inside,
- inconvenience in walking.
In severe cases, pain when walking area of the sacrum and lower back can cause headaches, walking long distances and excruciatingly painful.
When longitudinal flat displays are as follows:
- severe fatigue feet,
- pain with pressure on the middle of the foot or the sole,
- swelling of the rear foot,
- the problem with the selection of shoes, a constant stumbling on his heels,
- pain in the feet and lower back,
- shoe deformation inward, spreading heel.
When transverse flat identify:
- Disturbances of the transverse arch, toe shoe stretching,
- deformation of the toes, especially the big,
- calluses on the soles in pads,
- Hammer toes.
methods of diagnosis
In marked flatfoot doctor just look at the foot and the shoes of the patient.
Additionally plantography performed with measurement angle of flatfoot and severity of disorders and podomeriyu. If necessary, a X-ray of the foot and ankle in several projections.
Methods of treatment of flatfoot
In the treatment of the longitudinal and transverse flatfoot there are differences - in transverse conservative therapy can be effective only in the initial stage.
transverse form
needed
- weight correction,
- selection of proper footwear,
- decrease stress on the feet,
- wearing special orthopedic cushions and pillows.
With the progression of transverse flatfoot and moving it in the 2-3 degree with a strong deformation of the fingers, it is necessary use of surgical correction: perform resection of bone protruding portions on the first finger, plastic joints and transplant tendons. But these operations are only eliminate the consequences, but do not treat the causes of flat feet - the problems of muscles and ligaments.
After operation must life wearing special shoes with special arch supports or insoles.
longitudinal flat
When treating the longitudinal mold used flatfoot
- correction of gait,
- maximum amount of time walking barefoot on gravel or sand, massage mats,
- is applicable Regular Offloading foot muscles, intermittent rolling on the outer edge of the foot.
When longitudinal flat effective massage, physiotherapy exercises, physical therapy. The stage marked disorders requires a change of working conditions with a reduction in the static load on the legs and feet, weight loss.
When expressed Flatfoot apply special orthotics and custom tailored shoes. Surgical treatment is indicated only in very severe and advanced cases.
Prediction and prevention
With timely diagnosis can correct flat feet for a few months, but wearing special shoes can become life-long. With the progression to severe forms prognosis is poor - can form a disability.
