FLAT FEET
Hey friends,
Good morning.....
The topic for today is flat feet.
As a parent there are millions and zillions of things on your mind that needs to be taken care of. Meals, cleanliness, sleep routine, health, etc. However feet as they are placed get the least of all importance.
Flat feet also called as (pronated feet/ pes planus). Although it sounds quite trivial, it holds a lot of importance when motor functions or gross motor skills of the child are concerned.
WHAT ARE FLAT FEET ?
Inward rotation of the calcaneous bone (heel bone) causing the foot to collapse on the inside when the arch (upward curve) should be present. So instead of having proportionate distribution of weight across the surface of the feet your child will walk on the inside border of the feet.
HOW TO IDENTIFY?
In the initial days when the child is learning to walk, flat feet is common. However if the child has been walking for more than 6 months, flat feet should ideally be resolved. You can test it yourself at home.
TEST:-
Make the child stand in front of you facing back, with bare feet. Take a snap from behind. If you can see the pinky toe and the great toe, the feet are fine. But if you can see the pinky toe and the ring toe, the child has pronated foot. It can be bilateral (both feet) or unilateral (one foot).
CAUSES:-
1. LOW MUSCLE TONE:- Laxed ligaments leading to inadequate support this causing joints to move beyond the normal range.
2. HIGH MUSCLE TONE :- Tight Achilles tendon pulls the foot inwards.
WARNING SIGNS:-
Flat feet is not always a warning sign. Then you need to look at the signs.
-Fall during running.
- Pains
- Fatigue
- Clumsiness
- Toe walking
- Gait pattern
- Associated joint pain
- Postural deformities
INSERTS BETTER OR WORSE ?
Inserts also called as prosthetic arch. These are not a better solution. As they undoubtedly push the arch upwards but, won't cure the underlying cause. Holding the arch up is not the main motto. What needs to be done to help the child with flat feet is :-
- correct the pronation of the heel bone
- correct the curvature of the fore foot
- foot placement
- stretch the tightened and shortened Achilles
- correct hamstring tightness if occurred secondarily
- Proper gait training (walk style)
Some of the exercises to strengthen the feet...
Moreover inserts create dependency. Children who use inserts become adults who use inserts.
Dr. Maria Jennifer Pinto (P.T.)
Good morning.....
The topic for today is flat feet.
As a parent there are millions and zillions of things on your mind that needs to be taken care of. Meals, cleanliness, sleep routine, health, etc. However feet as they are placed get the least of all importance.
Flat feet also called as (pronated feet/ pes planus). Although it sounds quite trivial, it holds a lot of importance when motor functions or gross motor skills of the child are concerned.
WHAT ARE FLAT FEET ?
Inward rotation of the calcaneous bone (heel bone) causing the foot to collapse on the inside when the arch (upward curve) should be present. So instead of having proportionate distribution of weight across the surface of the feet your child will walk on the inside border of the feet.
HOW TO IDENTIFY?
In the initial days when the child is learning to walk, flat feet is common. However if the child has been walking for more than 6 months, flat feet should ideally be resolved. You can test it yourself at home.
TEST:-
Make the child stand in front of you facing back, with bare feet. Take a snap from behind. If you can see the pinky toe and the great toe, the feet are fine. But if you can see the pinky toe and the ring toe, the child has pronated foot. It can be bilateral (both feet) or unilateral (one foot).
CAUSES:-
1. LOW MUSCLE TONE:- Laxed ligaments leading to inadequate support this causing joints to move beyond the normal range.
2. HIGH MUSCLE TONE :- Tight Achilles tendon pulls the foot inwards.
WARNING SIGNS:-
Flat feet is not always a warning sign. Then you need to look at the signs.
-Fall during running.
- Pains
- Fatigue
- Clumsiness
- Toe walking
- Gait pattern
- Associated joint pain
- Postural deformities
INSERTS BETTER OR WORSE ?
Inserts also called as prosthetic arch. These are not a better solution. As they undoubtedly push the arch upwards but, won't cure the underlying cause. Holding the arch up is not the main motto. What needs to be done to help the child with flat feet is :-
- correct the pronation of the heel bone
- correct the curvature of the fore foot
- foot placement
- stretch the tightened and shortened Achilles
- correct hamstring tightness if occurred secondarily
- Proper gait training (walk style)
Some of the exercises to strengthen the feet...
Moreover inserts create dependency. Children who use inserts become adults who use inserts.
Dr. Maria Jennifer Pinto (P.T.)
Comments
Post a Comment