Three stages of flat feet
Due to a birth injury, the occipital bone unfolds, followed by the first cervical vertebra and further down the chain the entire spine, sacrum, pelvis, femurs, knees and, finally, the feet. Thus, the feet are the final link and take over part of the “impact” – they take a position in which it will be easier for the curved body to maintain a comfortable shape and move. This position cannot be called wrong, but in this situation it is as correct as possible – for a particular body. Another important cause of flat feet is the weakness of the ligaments that hold the foot in position. This weakness is caused by endocrine disorders, deficiency of vitamin D, trace elements.
There are three stages in flatfoot. At the first, the symptoms are not so obvious, but a person may feel tired in the legs after physical exertion, pain when walking, and swelling appears.
The second stage is not only pain (which becomes more pronounced), but also external changes: the foot is completely flat with flattened arches. Some patients develop clubfoot, that is, violations affect the gait.
The third stage affects the entire musculoskeletal system. It becomes painful and uncomfortable for a person to walk. All this takes place against the background of arthrosis, intervertebral hernias, etc.
Are uncomfortable shoes to blame?
Shoes do not cause flat feet. But, of course, this is an aggravating factor. And I always recommend that patients choose extremely comfortable leather shoes that will not squeeze the foot. The foot is already “responsible” for the entire body. The entire load is transferred to it, so pain appears, and if you also place your feet in uncomfortable shoes, pain and inconvenience will intensify.
How to independently determine flat feet?
According to the symptoms that appear in each of the three stages. Fatigue, swelling, pain during walking, clubfoot, pain in the feet, in the knees. Of course, at the first stage, it is not so easy to determine flat feet, people may not pay attention to some discomfort. Therefore, now that you know the symptoms of flat feet, you should pay attention to the sensations during and after walking, strong physical exertion and listen to your body.
Also pay attention to how your shoes wear out. With flat feet, shoes will not wear out evenly, on the inside – stronger.
In other words, the following symptoms can be distinguished:
- Tired legs when walking, heaviness at the end of the day
- Foot pain during exercise
- Sensation of “lead feet”
- Cramps and swelling in the ankles
- Discomfort in shoes with heels, problems with choosing a suitable model, trampling the heel inward
- Change in leg size
Can it be cured?
It is important to understand that orthopedic insoles do not cure flat feet! On the contrary: they begin to correct the position of the foot, and the load from the feet is transferred higher, which may cause pain in the knees and lower back to intensify. Only osteopathic treatment can help and, depending on the specific situation, age, alleviate the patient’s condition or completely correct the curvature. You will also need to visit an endocrinologist, as the weakness of the connective tissue is an aggravating factor. It is necessary to compensate for the lack of vitamins and microelements, to eliminate hormonal disorders, if any.
And physical activity and exercises help relieve stress from the feet, alleviate the condition.
If we are talking about an adult, then it is no longer possible to cure flat feet, so the duration of the recovery process is a lifetime. You just need to maintain the correct body position to optimize the load on the feet. And it’s a permanent job. It would be wiser to say that flat feet is a problem that speaks of already existing disorders in the body: scoliosis, coccygeal injury, weakness of the connective tissue.
This is a problem in itself, as the person experiences pain, discomfort while walking, pain in the knees, inability to wear certain types of shoes.
And yes, in the treatment of foot problems, age plays a major role. Before puberty, we can correct the situation and largely eliminate the consequences of birth trauma, but after – it is impossible to cure flat feet. We, osteopaths, can only build the body of an adult in such a way that it will be quite comfortable for him to walk. And osteopathic treatment can slow down the wear and tear of the joints and the formation of the bone on the thumb.
Photo: Pexels.com, Pixabay.com
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