The plantar arch – or, more simply, the curvature of the foot – is formed in early childhood. At birth, all children have flat feet. Two out of 10 children remain flat-footed in adulthood. Doctors believe that in children younger than 2 years old, flatfoot is physiological. A child with flat feet steps on the inner side of the ankle, has altered gait mechanics. Excessive load on the feet can cause pain in the heel, ankle, and calf area. What shall I do.

Flat feet is normal for babies and young children. However, by the age of 6-10, the curvature of the legs should be formed naturally due to the use of muscles and strengthening of soft tissues. In 60% of cases it happens spontaneously, but in others it does not, because flat feet is noticeable in children when they walk or stand.

Myth: shoes are to blame for everything

For a long time, one of the causes of flat feet was considered to be the shoes worn in childhood. However, recent studies have debunked this theory after it was observed that people who normally walk barefoot have a higher proportion of flat arches than those who wear shoes. However, the child’s walking “inside” and the deformation of the shoes according to this trend can be an indication for parents that there may be flat feet in the middle.

The human foot has 33 joints that hold together 26 different bones. It also has over 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments. Arches provide elasticity and help distribute body weight across the feet. The structure of the arches determines how a person walks. Arches must be strong and flexible to withstand loads and different surfaces. When people have flat feet, their feet may roll toward the inside of the ankle when they stand or walk. This is known as overpronation and can also cause the feet to curve outward.

Flat feet is a consequence of loosening of the joints of the foot, associated with insufficiently developed musculature, which cannot maintain the normal conformation of the foot.

According to the Cleveland Clinic in the US, flat feet can be a genetically inherited problem. Some people have high plantar arches, while others have very low or none at all, causing what is known as flat feet. In others, platfus develops later, in adulthood.

Obesity, diabetes, cerebral palsy, bone fractures, Down syndrome, high blood pressure, pregnancy increase the risk of flat feet.

Generally speaking, there are two types of flat feet, writes Medical News Today. This is flexible flat feet, a condition more common in children that means the plantar arch disappears when the child stands but is present when the child sits or walks on tiptoes. The second type is rigid flat feet, in which a person does not have a plantar arch at all, regardless of position, and the disease can occur in both children and adults.

Boots keep the foot in a normal position

For the most part, a child with flat feet has no symptoms other than the appearance of the feet. In this case, the condition is considered asymptomatic. However, there are also children who have symptoms such as pain and discomfort when walking, difficulty wearing shoes or limitations in performing activities. All these signs should encourage parents to contact a specialist.

Doctors who diagnose flat feet in children are pediatric orthopedists, and correcting flat feet in children is not controversial.

Most orthopedists claim that asymptomatic platypus does not require treatment. But they also invite periodic reassessment because, they say,

individual plantar supports – heels – can also be considered in the case of asymptomatic flat feet. These heels play the role of supporting the foot in a normal position and protecting it from excessive pressure.

It is very important, doctors also say, that a child with flatfoot, starting from an early age, that is, from 3 to 6 years old, should walk barefoot as much as possible, especially on sand, grass or an uneven surface, in order to tone the leg muscles. Shoes, in turn, should be comfortable and well support the arch of the foot.

Recommended studies

Flat feet needs treatment if it causes discomfort or pain in another part of the body, such as the knees, hips or spine. Treatment for symptomatic platypus usually consists of physical therapy, treatment with local anti-inflammatory drugs and vitamins, and only in 2% of cases it is possible to reach surgical intervention.

If the child has severe pain in the legs, experts at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, USA, recommend conducting such studies as X-rays to obtain images of the bones and joints of the legs; 3D Imager, which creates three-dimensional models from flat images. Unlike CT scans, 3D images can be taken while the child is standing, allowing for better diagnosis, CT scans provide more detailed images than standard X-rays, and MRI scans allow you to see details of tissues, organs and connections, as well as other body structures. Chapter.

Correction of platfus is all the more important because later in life there may be inconveniences due to this reason.

A study published in the American journal “Journal of Arthritis Research” shows that adults with flatfoot are more than 30% more likely to experience daily knee pain compared to those without the problem. According to the same source, the risk of osteoarthritis also increases by 43%. Experts explain this by the fact that flat feet change the gait and posture, which eventually leads to wear and tear of the articular cartilage, especially at the level of the knees. And if in childhood these manifestations are less pronounced or absent at all, then in adulthood they can become risky.

Although platypus is considered a common disease, it can lead to a reduced quality of life and a significant number of complications later in life, so it deserves early diagnosis and effective treatment.

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