Content
Flat foot, also known as flat foot, is a very common situation in childhood and can be identified when the entire sole of the foot touches the floor, a good way to confirm this is after the shower, with your feet still wet, step on a towel and observe the design of the foot. In the case of the flat foot, the foot design is wider, while in the normal foot, in the middle part, the design is narrower.
The treatment to correct flat feet should be recommended by an orthopedic doctor and consists mainly of the use of insoles, orthopedic shoes, physical therapy sessions, with exercises that help in the formation of the foot cavity, and also in the practice of physical activity.
When treatment is needed
When a child is under 8 years of age, he or she does not always need specific treatment to correct flat feet. This is because, until the age of 8, it is normal for the child to have a flat foot, because the place of curvature may still contain some fat that has been present there since birth.
In consultations with the pediatrician he will be able to observe the development of the feet and the way the child walks between 2 and 6 years. From 6 years old onwards, if the flat foot remains, the pediatrician can recommend a consultation with an orthopedist so that he decides if it is necessary to wait longer to see if the arch of the foot is formed alone, or if some treatment is needed. .
In adults, when the flat foot causes other problems such as pain in the spine, in the heel or joint problems in the knee, it is necessary to consult an orthopedist to investigate the cause of these symptoms and indicate the most appropriate treatment.
Tips to form the arch of the foot naturally
Some tips can be followed to assist in naturally arcing, such as:
- Walk barefoot on the beach for 20 to 30 minutes daily;
- Ride a bike;
- Wear semi-orthopedic shoes as soon as the child starts walking;
- Place a wide adhesive tape covering the sole of the foot.
These tips should be followed as soon as the parents notice that the child has a flat foot, without any curvature, before the age of 6, but should be followed even if the child has to undergo treatment after the age of 8.
It is normal for every child up to 3 years old to have a flat foot, without any curvature in the sole of the foot, but from that stage the curvature should start to become clearer and more evident. If this does not happen, parents should inform the pediatrician and purchase suitable shoes, observing whether the inner sole shapes the curvature of the foot.
For both children and adults, it is important to avoid all shoes that have a completely straight inner sole, which despite being the most economical and easiest to find in stores, does not maintain the correct foot position.
Treatment options
Treatments for flat feet in childhood are usually started after 6 or 7 years of age, with:
1. Use of orthopedic shoes
In the case of the child with flat feet, the pediatric orthopedist may indicate the use of an orthopedic shoe because as the foot is still developing, the shape of the shoe and the appropriate insole help to form the arch of the foot. The child will need the orthopedic shoe every day, but nowadays there are several options such as sandals, sneakers, boots and shoes, full of colors and beauty.
The ideal is to buy the orthopedic shoe indicated by the doctor at an orthopedic store because each child has his / her needs and one shoe is not exactly the same, so you need to take measurements, and sometimes you may need to make a custom shoe .
2. Use of insole inside non-orthopedic shoe
A custom insole can be used inside a shoe, for example. The insole should be higher on the heel and have support for the middle of the foot. Although this is an excellent help, it does not exclude the need to use the orthopedic shoe, because this type of shoe is completely made to accommodate the foot correctly.
3. Physiotherapy sessions
Physiotherapy sessions can be performed once or twice a week, with exercises and manipulations on the child's foot. Any physiotherapy clinic is capable of providing this type of assistance, but the physiotherapist specialized in osteopathy and global postural reeducation can make a thorough assessment of the child's entire body, indicating a different type of treatment that can work not only the feet, but body posture. Check out what is global postural reeducation.
4. Specific physical exercises
Some physical exercises can be indicated to help in the formation of the arch of the foot, such as:
- Walking on tiptoes and only on heels;
- Support your body weight on just 1 foot and do a squat in that position;
- Hold a marble with your toes and place it in a bowl,
- Tiptoeing up stairs;
- Lie on your back and keep the sole of both feet together
In addition, it is important to enroll the child in activities such as ballet, artistic gymnastics or swimming, because it helps to strengthen the muscles and form the arch of the foot faster. Each child has his own pace, but ideally, he should do this type of activity at least twice a week. So that the child does not get sick of the same activity, you can vary, doing each activity you want 1 time a week.
5. Surgery
It is indicated to have surgery to correct the flat foot when the treatment is not effective and the child or adult remains with the flat foot, but it is important to always perform surgery to evaluate the results before resorting to this last resort.
The surgery is usually done on 1 foot at a time and, usually, several surgical procedures are performed and the person is at rest for 1 week, then it is necessary to undergo physiotherapy to help recovery and when this is achieved, the surgery can be performed performed on the other foot.
What can happen if you don't treat
The arch of the foot serves to help to cushion the pressures when walking, running and jumping and therefore when the person does not have the arch of the foot well formed and presents the flat foot, his foot is unprotected and complications can appear with the passage of time , as fascitis, which is an inflammation in the sole of the foot that causes intense pain, spur, which is the formation of a bone callus on the sole of the foot, in addition to pain and discomfort in the ankles, knees and hips, for example.