Causes of flat feet
Before talking about the causes of flat feet, it is worth understanding what kind of disease it is. Flat feet- these are orthopedic disorders, due to which the foot is deformed, while its longitudinal or transverse arch is lowered. As a result, posture and gait change, vertebral pain occurs, and pain in the joints of the legs.
Causes of flat feet in children
The development of flat feet of various forms can be due to objective or subjective reasons. In children, flat feet can be congenital or acquired as a result of certain diseases.
It is extremely difficult to diagnose congenital pathology in infancy. You have to wait up to 5-6 years to make an accurate diagnosis. This is due to the fact that at an earlier age, many children may have signs of flat feet and this is not a disease.
Congenital flat feet are detected only in 3% of children. The reason for this is improper intrauterine development of the skeleton and ligaments of the lower extremities.
Rachitic flat feet is a form of acquired disease, as a result of a pathology such as rickets. Due to the severe lack of calcium, the bones of the foot become weak. Even under light loads, the arches of the foot are flattened.
Reference. To identify flat feet, you will need radiography in two projections. In this case, the person must stand so that the load is carried out on the legs.
Causes of flat feet in adults
In adults, the causes are mostly acquired. Although, as a predisposing factor, there is also a hereditary cause. For example, congenital connective tissue failure.
Uncomfortable shoes also affect the development of flat feet. Therefore, women suffer from this disease more often. Since the disease appears after prolonged wearing of high-heeled shoes with a narrow nose. For this reason, orthopedic doctors recommend wearing shoes with a maximum heel height of 4 cm.
The foot and hard surfaces such as parquet, laminate and even hard shoe soles are also negatively affected. At the same time, the muscles stop working and atrophy.
Another reason for the appearance of flat feet in adulthood is excessive stress on the legs. For example, because of extra pounds. Representatives of such professions, where there is a need to constantly stand on their feet, fall into the risk zone. These are sellers, hairdressers, machine operators, surgeons.
Attention! Female flat feet, as has already been found out, are diagnosed more often than male ones. One of the reasons is the period of childbearing, when under physiological influence there is a gain in body weight and the shape of the foot changes.
The traumatic type of flat feet occurs in adults who have suffered any injury to the ankle region, calcaneus, tarsal bones, often as a result of fractures. The paralytic flat foot develops due to paralysis of the plantar muscles of the foot as a result of a disease such as polio.
Prevention of flat feet
To prevent flat feet from developing, initially eliminate the causes that may serve the development of the disease.
Avoid wearing uncomfortable and tight shoes. In addition, in childhood and adulthood, there may be their own preventive measures:
- Prevention of flat feet in adults. People who, due to their professional activities, are forced to constantly stand on their feet should periodically rest or, at least, shift the center of gravity to another part of the foot, for example, the outer one. By the end of the working day, it is recommended to massage the feet by rubbing. Foot massage can also be obtained by walking on sandy terrain, gravel or grass with bare feet. At home, you can use a massage mat, available from any hardware store.
- Prevention of flat feet in children... Already from the age of one, it is necessary to carry out the prevention of flat feet. It is necessary, first of all, to exclude such diseases as rickets and poliomyelitis. As soon as the baby starts to walk, take care of high-quality and comfortable shoes for him. Periodically let your child run barefoot on gravel, sand, or grass. It is desirable for the child to walk more often on uneven surfaces, but a flat floor, on the contrary, contributes to the development of flat feet.
An older child can do gymnastics for the legs, alternately standing on the heels, then on the toes. Jumping in place or climbing a wooden ladder is helpful. Gymnastics goes well with swimming. The baby will not only strengthen the muscle base, but also harden the body.
Important! To prevent flat feet in children, buy your child shoes with a small heel, about 0.5 cm. While the instep support should be soft, and the heel should be hard.
Do not allow children to wear someone else's shoes, worn-out shoes do not distribute the load correctly. Not only flat-soled shoes are considered wrong, but also too narrow or too wide.
Try to rest your legs more often. Spoil your feet occasionally with hot foot baths. It is helpful for proper blood circulation in this section.
Nutrition also plays an important role, especially in childhood. The foods consumed should have a sufficient amount of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D.
