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 ground, a good way to confirm it after bathing, still wet feet, climbing into a towel and observing the drawing of the foot. In the case of the flat foot, the design of the foot is wider, while in the normal foot, in the middle, the design is narrower.
Treatment to correct the flat foot should be recommended by an orthopedic doctor and consists mainly of the use of insoles, orthopedic shoes, physiotherapy sessions, with exercises that help in the formation of the foot cavity, as well as in the practice of physical activity.
- When a child is younger than 8.
- He or she doesn’t always need specific treatment to correct the flat foot.
- In fact.
- Until the age of 8.
- It is normal for the child to have a flat foot.
- Because the site of curvature can still contain the fat that is present from birth.
In consultation with your pediatrician, you will be able to observe the development of your child’s feet and gait between the ages of 2 and 6. Starting at age 6, if your foot is flat, your pediatrician may recommend a consultation with an orthopedic surgeon to decide whether more wait is needed to see if the arch forms on its own or if treatment is needed. .
In the adult, when the flat foot causes other problems such as back pain, heel pain, or problems with the knee joint, it is necessary to consult an orthopedic surgeon to find the cause of these symptoms and indicate the most appropriate treatment.
Some tips can be followed to help create a natural arc, such as
This advice should be followed as soon as parents discover that the child has a flat foot, without any curvature, before age 6, but should be followed even if the child needs treatment after age 8.
It is normal for every child up to age 3 to have a flat foot, without curvature on the sole of the foot, but from this stage the curvature should begin to become clearer and more obvious. If this does not happen, parents should inform the pediatrician and buy suitable shoes, observing whether the inner sole forms the curvature of the foot.
For children and adults, it is important to avoid all shoes that have a completely straight insole, which, although they are the most economical and easy to find in the store, do not maintain the correct position of the foot.
Treatments for flat foot in childhood usually begin after age 6 or 7, with:
In the case of a flat-footed child, the pediatric orthopedic surgeon may indicate the use of an orthopedic shoe because the foot is still developing, the shape of the shoe and the appropriate inner sole help form the arch. The child will need the orthopedic shoe every day, but nowadays there are several options such as sandals, slippers, boots and small shoes, full of color and beauty.
Ideally, buy the orthopedic shoe indicated by the doctor in an orthopedic shop because each child has their needs and one shoe is not exactly the same as the other, which requires taking action, and sometimes it may be necessary to make a custom shoe. .
You can use a custom template inside a shoe, for example. The inner sole should be higher on the heel and have a support for the middle of the foot. While this is an excellent help, this does not exclude the need to use the orthopedic shoe, as this type of shoe is completely made to fit the foot properly.
Physical therapy sessions can be done once or twice a week, with exercises and manipulations in the child’s foot. Any physiotherapy clinic is able to provide this type of care, but the physical therapist specializing in osteopathy and general postural rehabilitation can perform a thorough assessment of the whole body of the child, indicating a different type of treatment that can work not only the feet, but the whole. body posture. Find out what global postural rehabilitation is all about.
Some physical exercises may be indicated to help with arch formation, such as:
In addition, it is important to enroll the child in activities such as ballet, artistic gymnastics or swimming, as this helps strengthen the muscles and form the arch more quickly. Each child has their own rhythm, but ideally they should do this type of activity at least twice a week. To prevent the child from getting sick from the same activity, it can vary, doing each activity he or she wants once a week.
Surgery is recommended to correct the flat foot when 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 using the latter remedy.
Surgery is usually performed on 1 foot at a time and several surgical procedures are usually performed and the person is at rest for 1 week, then physical therapy is necessary to help with recovery and when this is done, surgery can be performed on the other foot.
O arco do pé serve para ajudar a amortecer as pressões ao andar, correr e saltar e por isso quando a pessoa não tem o arco do pé bem formado e apresenta o pé chato, seu pé fica desprotegido e podem surgir complicações com o passar do tempo, como fascite, que é uma inflamação na sola do pé que causa intensa dor, esporão, que é a formação de um calo óssea na planta do pé, além de dor e desconforto nos tornozelos, joelhos e quadris, por exemplo.