Most diseases and health problems begin in our recent childhood. However, not all parents notice them in a timely manner and seek help. The main reason for this, as a rule, is not the exclusion and complete indifference of adults, but the elementary ignorance and lack of relevant information about certain diseases. One of these problems that are difficult to recognize for an unprepared person is considered a varus foot. What it is? How to determine and how to treat an ailment, we will describe in this article.
General information about the varus foot
How parvilo. the disease appears in childhood, when the baby is just starting to take his first steps. During this period, his foot is most vulnerable, since the process of its formation is not yet fully completed. What does a deformation of this type look like? According to experts, it vaguely resembles clubfoot, but, in contrast to it, is much less likely to be caused by actively progressive congenital pathology.
Varus deformity of the foot involves a visually visible deviation of the middle part of the lower leg to the outside. In this case, there is an uneven development of the knee joints, due to which there is a so-called O-shaped curvature. With its presence, the knee joints cannot close together (this is especially evident when both feet of the child are standing together), and a certain space is observed between them.
What types of varus foot are there?
Depending on the initial causes of the disease, the varus deformity is of the following types:
- static (occurs due to an existing violation in the patient’s posture);
- structural (occurs against the background of the vertical location of the talus) ;
- compensatory (occurs in the presence of a shortened Achilles tendon, an incorrect position of the ankle joint and deformation of the tibia) ;
- paralytic (after the patient has transferred polio or encephalitis);
- spastic (is a concomitant illness with muscle cramps in the tibia) ;
- hypercorrection (formed in case of improper treatment of the existing clubfoot in the baby);
- rickets (occurs if the child has rickets) ;
- traumatic (develops as a consequence after rupture of ligaments, fractures of the bones of the legs, hips, knee joints, lower leg).
What are the severity of the disease?
Depending on the severity of the varus foot, there are the following types:
with a mild severity, the angle of inclination of the baby’s heel is small (15º), the height of the longitudinal arch is about 15-20 mm (and its height reaches 140º). At the same time, the apparent angle of curvature at the foot corresponds to 10º. With moderate severity, the varus foot in adults and children is deformed by another 5º, and the height of the arch and tilt of the heel, on the contrary, is reduced by 5 degrees and millimeters (10 mm and 10º). Moreover, the angle of the arch increases to 150-160º.
In severe cases, the height of the arch and the angle of inclination of the heel decreases by half, and the angle of the arch increases to 160-180º. Therefore, the valgus deviation increases to 20º. With this severity, the patient complains of severe pain in Shopar's joint (the tarsal transverse joint). In addition, according to doctors, the last stage of the disease does not involve conservative treatment, the violation is eliminated exclusively by surgery.
What consequences can it lead to?
If the varus foot is not detected in time, this can lead to the most unpredictable consequences. In particular, in advanced cases, deformation of the leg entails a displacement of the thigh outward. In this case, there is even more curvature of the foot inward, which leads to the development of clubfoot.
In addition, a running varus foot in a child may be accompanied by other problems with the knees. This is due to the fact that with this ailment, they can not fully straighten, which increases the pressure on the meniscus. As a result, the joint gap increases both from the inside and from the outside.
If the above-mentioned deformity is not treated on time, children with varus foot not only change their gait and legs regularly swell, but also develop more serious problems with the spine.
What are the causes of the development of the disease?
In a child, varus deformity of the feet occurs, as a rule, not suddenly. According to experts, this is a consequence of a whole range of other causes or the result of another disease. For example, a violation of the natural position of the lower leg occurs due to a progressive disease of the skeletal system. At a later age, the disease develops due to a deficiency of vitamin D or calcium.
In addition, the following factors may become prerequisites for the development of the disease:
- weakened immunity;
- problems with metabolic processes in the body;
- not detected rickets and flat feet in time;
- thyroid problems and malfunctions in the endocrine system;
- early foot injuries;
- overweight;
- genetic predisposition;
- problems with the skeletal system and joints;
- regular use of uncomfortable children's shoes.
As you can see, there are many reasons that can lead to deformation. But how is a varus foot diagnosed (a photo of children with such a pathology you see in our article) in a child? And how difficult is it to recognize this deviation?
How to determine the appearance of the disease?
It is extremely difficult to see deviations at the initial stage of the development of the disease. This is due to the fact that the disease does not appear immediately. Only after a while the feet of the baby begin to take on the shape of the letter “O” already known to us. If the shin of the child eventually shifts inward, then a slightly different deformation of the feet occurs. At this moment, the limbs of the baby bend in the opposite direction and begin to resemble the letter “X”.
However, you can still recognize the problem. According to doctors, parents should pay attention to the baby’s shoes. If a child has a varus foot, then his sandals and shoes, as a rule, are stomped from the outside. Moreover, this phenomenon can be observed either on one or on both sides at once (that is, on the left and right shoes).
How to recognize equinovarus deformation?
Another type of physical deviation of the foot is the equinovarus deformity, which is also called the “horse foot”. With its presence, children are not able to step on the whole foot, but only on its front part. While walking, such babies experience a strong bending of the ankle joint, which from the side looks like a child is trying to stand on toes. How to treat such an unpleasant ailment?
Varus feet in adults: features
As noted earlier, pathology occurs mainly in childhood. However, if it is not recognized and treated in time, then the disease will surely remind of itself later. Moreover, relapse in adolescents is accompanied by vivid pain.
In middle-aged people, the pain can be pulsating, and the disease itself can progress after excessive physical activity, during pregnancy (in the last stages), during menopause, due to a sharp set in weight, etc.
In persons of retirement age, pathology is accompanied by functional disorders and acute or muffled pain when walking.
Varus feet: treatment
According to experts, the treatment of varus feet is a complex and lengthy process. It provides an integrated approach that includes a combination of special physical exercises, therapy, massage and other measures aimed at improving the health of the child.
The treatment process for children suffering from such abnormalities occurs as follows: the baby's parents, with suspected varus defect, turn to orthopedists; after the diagnosis, the patient is prescribed sparing conservative treatment. For example, the package of measures to combat the disease includes the following actions:
- massage for the varus foot (performed on the feet, legs, affects the buttock-sacral and lumbar areas);
- physical exercises aimed at strengthening and correcting the muscles of the legs;
- physiotherapeutic procedures;
- the use of special correctors, orthopedic insoles and arch support;
- the use of special orthopedic shoes.
Most often, such an integrated approach bears fruit, and the child becomes completely healthy. But what if the expected result was not achieved?
If physiotherapy methods did not help
It is believed that talking about the benefits of therapy is possible only when the baby is 5-7 years old. During this period, the child’s ligaments and muscles will be so strengthened that they can easily keep his foot in the correct position.
When the previously prescribed conservative treatment did not bring positive results, doctors begin to act more actively, and their next step will be surgery. In this case, the operated varus foot in the future needs some rehabilitation, which can take only a few days. It provides a massage course aimed at finalizing the medical effect.
How to timely identify and prevent the disease?
In order to timely see the problem and prevent its further development, you should visit an orthopedist at least once a year. For preventive purposes, only shoes that have orthopedic insoles or an arch support should be used. You can find out the angle of the foot, as well as determine the degree of deviation using plantography (determines the type and presence of flat feet) and podometry (makes it possible to find out about the real load on the foot that occurs when walking). In addition, specialists can see problems with the feet in an x-ray.
It is also recommended from childhood to strengthen the child’s immunity, accustoming him to proper nutrition, moderate physical activity (in accordance with age) and observing the daily regimen. In addition, you need to pay attention to the correct position of the feet while walking.
In a word, despite the complexity of determining the ailment, it can still be recognized. And with timely treatment to the doctor, unpleasant consequences and complications of the disease can be avoided.