Problems with the foot: possible causes and solutions

According to statistics from the latest report of the World Health Organization, foot and ankle diseases affect about 80% of the world's population.

Among them, the most common are flat feet, hallux valgus deformity of the big toe (hallux valgus, bones on the legs) and arthrosis of the ankle joint.

FLAT FEET

Causes of flat feet.

Flat feet, today, is the most common disease of the musculoskeletal system. It still begins in childhood, but sometimes parents simply do not attach importance to small changes in the foot, blaming everything on the child's foot that has not yet formed.
With flat feet in children, as a rule, there is a deformation of the longitudinal arch of the foot (flattening of the arch), the foot with the entire sole touches the floor.

Flat feet, in the main cases, an acquired disease. Congenital flat feet are extremely rare.

There are quite a lot of reasons for such deformity of children's legs:

• heredity (if there are cases of the disease in the family, then the child should be systematically examined by an orthopedic doctor for timely detection of the initial stage of flat feet);
• wearing low-quality shoes, in fact, not designed for the correct formation of children's feet (shoes should not be completely flat, a small heel is required; the arch support should be soft, and the back should be hard; you can not wear shoes that are too narrow or too wide (you can not buy shoes for growth or wear them for other children);
  
• load on the legs (in the absence of motor activity in the child, when lifting weights, with an increase in body weight, there is a risk of developing flat feet);
  
• diseases affecting the musculoskeletal system (joint hypermobility; rickets; paralysis of the muscles of the foot and lower leg as a consequence of polio or cerebral palsy; foot injuries);
  
• not the right gait (when the socks are too spread out to the sides or vice versa clubfoot inwards, walking with legs wide apart);
  
• the absence in the child's diet of a group of vitamins and trace elements necessary for the formation of bones (fluorine, phosphorus, calcium, vitamins A, B, D, C).
  

Symptoms of flat feet

First of all, we want to note that the correct diagnosis can only be made by an orthopedic traumatologist. The inspection is carried out with the help of Planescape (device for rapid diagnosis of pathology stop).
An immediate referral to a doctor should be made if the parents have identified such symptoms in the child:

• during walking, the child's legs are turned outwards, there are signs of clubfoot (this position of the foot is observed in hallux valgus, when the leg muscles are poorly developed, unable to distribute the load correctly and keep the parallel position of the foot, which is the norm);
• when walking, the baby bends the foot inwards, thereby stepping on the inside of the foot;
  
• complaints of frequent fatigue when walking;
  
• leg pain.

In the presence of flat feet, the child's foot does not perform the cushioning function assigned to it. During walking, running, jumping, all vibration vibrations in the body are not regulated by the foot, but are transmitted to the lower leg, joints, and spine.

Prolonged exposure to vibrations on the joints contributes to the development of arthrosis, and over time, the child develops scoliosis, a curvature of the spine can occur, which will lead to constant headaches, increased fatigue, pain in the legs, and a decrease in school performance due to inattention.

In an adult, over time, the entire musculoskeletal system is deformed, which leads to constant pain, a decrease in the quality of life, the inability to move normally, and, subsequently, to disability.

What should I do if my child is diagnosed with flat feet?

Initially, with children's flat feet, conservative treatment is prescribed: a complex of therapeutic gymnastics is developed, massages, physiotherapy, wearing orthopedic insoles and specialized shoes are attributed.

The treatment process is quite long, so you need to be patient.

If during the treatment, the doctor does not see any changes in the condition of the foot, then surgical treatment is prescribed. Treatment of flat feet in adults is often performed surgically, due to the duration and ineffectiveness of conservative treatment and the neglect of flat feet.

Operations in our center to eliminate flat feet are performed using an arthroscope.

The operation takes up to 15 minutes of time, has a short rehabilitation period, is safe and low-traumatic, allows the patient of any age to return to motor activity in a shorter time.

A special feature of this method is the punctures of the minimum size (about 0.5 mm), which are made in the area of the subtalar joint, allow you to insert a titanium implant and fix it in the foot almost without harming the patient. On the second day, it is already allowed to get up and move with a minimum load on the foot, after 2 weeks, the normal rhythm of life returns, with a restriction in physical activity. And after three months, sports and active movements are allowed.

BONE ON THE FOOT (HALLUX VALGUS, HALLUX VALGUS)

What affects the formation of so-called "bones" and the subsequent deformation of the foot? Why are almost all patients women?

In hallux valgus, the metatarsophalangeal joint of the first toe is bent, which leads to subsequent deformation of the remaining toes and possible deformation of the foot as a whole. Causes of the appearance and progression of this disease:

< li>heredity (genetically inherent weakness of the muscular apparatus of the forefoot); < li>initial development of flat feet and lack of treatment;
< li>constant wearing of shoes with heels (this reason is the main one and explains why, in the vast majority, hallux valgus is diagnosed in women). < /li>

Regular wearing of shoes with heels leads to deformity of the foot in any case? What are the symptoms characteristic of the disease?

Deformity of the foot is almost inevitable when wearing shoes with heels. Out of ten women, eight eventually develop a hallux valgus deformity of the foot.

At the very beginning of the disease, only an aesthetic problem appears. Over time, the bone increases, and it becomes more difficult to choose shoes to hide this defect; there is pain in the big toe when walking. < br>
Subsequently, inflammation of the joints and swelling of the connective tissue around the joint are added to the external manifestations, and improper load distribution and the initial stage of arthrosis lead to severe and continuous pain. < br>
What are the preventive measures?

There is no prevention as such. With the appearance of a bone, the only prevention is an operation, which in the initial stage is not yet complex and lengthy.

Often, we have to deal with patients who have been trying to solve the problem with non-traditional methods for a long time (went to doctors of alternative medicine, did massages, bought ointments of dubious manufacture).

In the advanced stage, the operation is more complex and lengthy. Accordingly, the recovery period for the patient is much more painful and longer, since during the operation, growths are removed from the deformed bones.

If it is difficult for a woman to give up shoes with heels, what can be done for prevention?

The alternative in this case can be the shoes on the platform. But, when the deformation process has already begun, any non-surgical effects will only stretch it. < br>
The surgical method is the only truly effective method of treatment. There is no alternative. All the others-give either a very short effect, or do not give a result at all. In the hope that a miracle will happen and the next device will get rid of the" bones", the patient loses precious time, and in the meantime the disease progresses, taking away strength, beauty, depriving normal life. The more severe the disease is, the more difficult the operation is required. Moreover, the risk of repeated development of foot deformities increases. < br>
What can I advise women who are used to wearing shoes with heels?

It is necessary to carefully monitor the slightest changes in the foot, the appearance of any deformity should worry and lead to an examination by an orthopedic traumatologist. Do not waste time looking for shoes that will hide the defect, it is more expedient to eliminate it at an early stage of the development of the disease, as long as it does not cause serious pain and discomfort.

The sacrifice in the name of beauty must be justified. Standing on heels, it is necessary to remember that the shoes must be of high quality, stable, you do not put pressure on the joints, do not squeeze the foot, which over time can cause the process of deformation of the foot.
Also, it is worth watching your posture, the load on the foot should be distributed evenly.

ARTHROSIS OF THE ANKLE JOINT

What is osteoarthritis of the ankle joint, what are the causes of its development?

The ankle joint is the connecting link between the shin bone and the talus bone of the foot, it performs a colossal job and is subject to huge loads, as it is affected by the entire body weight. In arthrosis, the joints that form the joint are gradually destroyed due to mechanical influences, injuries or diseases.
The main causes of osteoarthritis of the ankle joint:

• advanced flat feet, hallux valgus;< / li> < li>not the correct load distribution on the lower extremities associated with wearing high-heeled shoes (incorrect lifting);
  
< li>diseases and injuries affecting the musculoskeletal system (weak ligamentous apparatus; joint diseases and injuries, fractures; pinched nerve endings in the lower back; osteochondrosis; diabetes mellitus; herniated discs, etc.);
< li>constant heavy loads on the joints (physical work with lifting weights, athletes, overweight people); < br> < li>heredity;
< li>impaired metabolism

How to recognize osteoarthritis?

First of all, you should pay attention to the following symptoms:

< li>pain in the area of the ankle joint, especially worth paying attention to if the pain appears when resuming movement after a state of rest;
< li>pain under various loads on the legs (especially when lifting), crunching in the joints;

• increased fatigue;
  
< li>frequent dislocations, twisting of the legs, sprains.

All these reasons indicate that the muscle tissue, which should perform a stabilizing function and hold the joint while supporting the leg, is weakened, perhaps the blood circulation in the joint is disrupted. With the development of arthrosis, the risk of frequent injuries and fractures is inevitable. < br>
What are the consequences of osteoarthritis of the ankle and how to treat it?

With osteoarthritis, timely diagnosis of the disease is important: the earlier the osteoarthritis is detected, the more effective the treatment will be. If you miss precious time, the function of the joint may not fully recover even after surgery. The consequences can be different, from partial loss of motor functions to disability.

To date, the most effective treatment for arthrosis is surgery. Modern technologies have taken a step forward and operations are performed using minimally invasive technology, using sparing techniques, which reduces the patient's rehabilitation to a minimum.

But we want to pay special attention to the fact that the presence of seemingly small postoperative incisions does not mean that the joint inside is slightly injured. Postoperative recovery plays a huge role.

The patient should understand the complexity of this operation and listen to the doctor's recommendations regarding the further way of life and the loads on the joint.

In the medical center "Orthopedics of Ruslan Sergienko", operations for the treatment of these and other diseases of the foot are performed by the doctor Satyshev Nikolay Mikhailovich, MD, orthopedist-traumatologist.

Also, the minimally invasive method is used to treat the following diseases: < br>

< li>hallux valgus of the first finger< / li> < li>squamous foot deformity in adults< / li> < li>squamous foot deformity in children< / li> < li>hammer-shaped finger deformity< / li> < li>taylor strain < li>Morton's neuroma< / li> < li>deforming arthrosis< / li>
• hollow foot< / li> < li>plantar fasciitis
• Haglund's disease.

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