Flatfoot is a common ailment of the bone-ligamentous apparatus. Deformation of the foot occurs when its arch becomes thicker, and the flat sole contacts the floor with the entire surface. This disease requires treatment. The article tells about the consequences of flat feet.
Danger
What are the consequences of flat feet? At the initial stage, people usually notice pain and swelling. Pain occurs due to damage to ligaments, muscles, and skeletal system. Against this background, edema is formed, which squeezes the remaining anatomical structures of the foot. Due to the increase in such changes in humans, mobility is limited.
When flat feet occur, the depreciation of the foot changes. To eliminate a strong load on the soles, it is redistributed to the spine, as well as joints - hip and knee. Therefore, people move forward while moving.
Pathology development options
These symptoms are the minimum consequences of flat feet. Pathology, progressing over time, can negatively affect other organs.
What are the consequences of flat feet in children? For them, a flat foot is also considered dangerous. For a dozen years, the formation of the skeletal system. To avoid bone deformation, timely detection of changes is required. Up to six years with a high degree of probability it will turn out to correct the pathology. However, if it is discovered at a later age, it will only be possible to strengthen the ligaments and muscles to support the arch in a normal position.
Complications
The consequences of flat feet in adults are manifested in a feeling of tired legs. Then a check for the presence of a flat vault is required. A radiographic examination is required. On its basis, the arch angle is calculated, which appears between the heel and the wedge-scaphoid articulation of the front of the foot. When it is enlarged, the doctor indicates a diagnosis of flat feet of a specific degree. Children under 12 years old are undesirable to take an X-ray because of its poor effect on the body.
The consequences of flat feet 3 degrees affect the joints and spinal column. With increasing pressure on the soles of the feet due to heavy loads, body weight is distributed to the knee and thigh to compensate for stability. If this condition lasts a long time, the reserve capacity of the joints is not enough.
This position can lead to arthrosis (narrowing of the joint space), in which there is pain that lasts throughout life or until an artificial prosthesis is installed.
In children, the disease can be detected before the onset of noticeable symptoms if both parents have the disease. In this case, the disease can be inherited.
Flat foot and spinal diseases
The consequences of flat feet in children are the same as in adults. This leads to problems with the spine due to the need to support the latter depreciation function. First, strong pressure is placed on the intervertebral discs.
The danger of this condition is the risk of a breakthrough of the cartilaginous structure and the formation of hernial protrusion. With it there is a squeezing in the gluteal region, legs, back. In case of damage to the cartilage disc, flatfoot may result in osteochondrosis, scoliosis or spondylosis. This group of diseases appears with circulatory disorders, inflammation in the musculo-ligamentous apparatus, bone growths.
Diseases
Most often with this ailment, the following diseases appear:
- Osteochondrosis. The disease is a decrease in the height of the discs between the vertebrae. This creates strong pressure on the lower departments. The danger is progressive changes in the spine. With an attempt to straighten or lift the weight appears sciatica or "backache". With an inadvertent rotation of the body, the vertebrae wedges, so acute pain is formed that interferes with movement. Often this consequence occurs in adults, in children it rarely manifests itself.
- Scoliosis. With this ailment, the spine moves in the lateral plane. Often it occurs in schoolchildren. Scoliosis develops not only from flat feet. In children, it appears due to improper sitting or due to wearing a heavy briefcase. This can lead to changes in the musculoskeletal system of the body. Against this background, loss of consciousness and frequent dizziness may appear.
- Vertebral Artery Syndrome. It appears due to spondylosis of the cervical spine. A constriction of the cervical muscles and compression of the vertebral artery, passing in the transverse processes of the vertebrae of the neck, are formed. As a result, the brain tissue feels a lack of oxygen, which leads to dizziness.
Negative effect on the emergence of the negative consequences of flat feet low-quality diet. In childhood, active mobility in combination with a protein deficiency weakens muscle strength. A child’s feet may sometimes swell by the end of the day.
In adults
The causes of flatfoot are associated with a lack of timely treatment. Due to the flat foot, women cannot walk in high heels. Due to pathology, the heel support is shifted to a horizontal surface. The calcaneus relaxes on the side of the sole, so it is difficult to achieve stability when moving. Even with a small injury, severe pain and swelling appear.
Unsuitable shoes lead to other complications. Violation of the depreciation function can cause curvature of the spine, impaired posture, pain in the legs and back. Therefore, with flat feet in adults, a hernia, arthritis, arthrosis are often detected.
In adults, varicose veins appear due to foot deformity. Stagnation of blood in the veins leads to stress on the kidneys, which can lead to renal failure.
In children
In childhood, a flattened foot affects the quality of functioning of the ligamentous apparatus, but most of the cushioning load lies on the subcutaneous fat. She, of course, protects the anatomical structures of the foot from damage until the child begins to walk. If the device is not sufficiently developed in children after two years, then there are difficulties with the choice of shoes. In such cases, orthopedic insoles are prescribed.
A consequence of pathology in children is considered a violation of the roll. While walking, the child rests on the heel, which leads to a deterioration. Shuffling gait is considered one of the signs of the disease.
Treatment
If an ailment is detected, treatment is required. Effective methods include the implementation of:
- Physiotherapy exercises - exercises that strengthen the muscles of the foot. There is a change in its shape.
- Foot massage. The procedure improves vascular function and metabolism in tissues.
- Electrical stimulation, which improves blood circulation, leaches salts from tendons, resumes functioning of the ligaments.
- Kinesiotherapy. Superimposed special, fixed with an adhesive base, tapes on the foot. This redistributes the load on the necessary muscles of the foot, so it is easier for the legs to perform their functions.
Prevention
To identify flat feet in a child will be no earlier than 5-6 years. And prevention can be dealt with from birth:
- For timely detection of a problem, you need to regularly go to an orthopedist. It should be visited at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, so as not to miss the occurrence of rickets, which contributes to flat feet. After the child reaches 12 months of age, it is recommended that the orthopedist is shown annually.
- From birth, the child needs to do foot massage every day.
- It is useful to walk on uneven surfaces barefoot - grass, sand, pebbles, massage rugs.
- Need the right shoes. It is important that it be in size, made of genuine leather, with a hard back, a flexible sole, and a small heel.
- Do not wear worn or very worn shoes.
- To harden and normalize blood circulation, the legs are doused with cool water.
- You need the right dosage of exercise, walking, outdoor games. Inadequate and too serious loads are harmful.
To diagnose an ailment in a child, an appeal to a pediatric orthopedist is required. In the early stages of the disease, surgical treatment is not required, therefore physiotherapists, masseurs, and manual therapists can help in the treatment. The occurrence of neurological disorders requires the participation of a neurologist.
Thus, flat feet negatively affects the formation of the feet in children and adults. In the first case, gross changes in the internal organs develop, and in the second, the basis for the appearance of other diseases is formed. If at a young age it turns out to prevent an ailment, then it is impossible to completely cure the disease in adults.