Flatfoot: what it is and how the treatment is done

Flatfoot, also known as flatfoot, is a very common situation in childhood and can be identified when the entire sole of the foot touches the floor, a good way to confirm this is after bathing, with your feet still wet, step on a towel and observe the design 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 part, the design is narrower.

The treatment to correct flat feet should be recommended by an orthopedic doctor and consists mainly of the use of insoles, orthopedic shoes, physical therapy sessions, with exercises that help in the formation of the foot cavity, and also in the practice of physical activity.

When treatment is needed

When a child is under 8 years of age, he or she does not always need specific treatment to correct flat feet. This is because, until the age of 8, it is normal for the child to have a flat foot, because the site of the curvature may still contain some fat that has been present there since birth.

In consultations with the pediatrician he will be able to observe the development of the feet and the way the child walks between 2 and 6 years. From 6 years old onwards, if the flat foot remains, the pediatrician can recommend a consultation with an orthopedist so that he decides if it is necessary to wait longer to see if the arch of the foot is formed alone, or if some treatment is needed..

In adults, when the flat foot causes other problems such as pain in the spine, heel or joint problems in the knee, it is necessary to consult an orthopedist to investigate the cause of these symptoms and indicate the most appropriate treatment.

Tips to form the arch of the foot naturally

Some tips can be followed to help in naturally arcing, such as:

• Walk barefoot on the beach sand for 20 to 30 minutes daily; Ride a bicycle; Wear semi-orthopedic shoes as soon as the child starts walking; Place a wide adhesive tape covering the sole of the foot.

These tips should be followed as soon as the parents notice that the child has a flat foot, without any curvature, before the age of 6, but should be followed even if the child has to undergo treatment after the age of 8.

It is normal for every child up to 3 years old to have a flat foot, without any curvature in the sole of the foot, but after that phase the curvature should start to become clearer and more evident. If this does not happen, parents should inform the pediatrician and purchase suitable shoes, observing whether the inner sole shapes the curvature of the foot.

For both children and adults, it is important to avoid all shoes that have a completely straight inner sole, which despite being the most economical and easiest to find in stores, does not maintain the correct foot position.

Treatment options

Treatments for flatfoot in childhood are usually started after 6 or 7 years of age, with:

1. Use of orthopedic shoes

In the case of the child with flat feet, the pediatric orthopedist may indicate the use of an orthopedic shoe because as the foot is still developing, the shape of the shoe and the appropriate insole help to form the arch of the foot. The child will need the orthopedic shoe every day, but nowadays there are several options like sandals, sneakers, boots and little shoes, full of colors and beauty.

The ideal is to buy the orthopedic shoe indicated by the doctor in an orthopedic store because each child has their needs and one shoe is not exactly the same, so you need to take measurements, and sometimes it may be necessary to make a custom shoe.

2. Use of insole inside non-orthopedic shoe

A custom insole can be used inside a shoe, for example. The insole should be higher on the heel and have support for the middle of the foot. Although this is an excellent aid, it does not exclude the need to use the orthopedic shoe, because this type of shoe is completely made to accommodate the foot correctly.

3. Physiotherapy sessions

Physiotherapy sessions can be performed once or twice a week, with exercises and manipulations on the child's foot. Any physiotherapy clinic is capable of providing this type of care, but the physiotherapist specialized in osteopathy and global postural reeducation can make a thorough assessment of the child's entire body, indicating a different type of treatment that can work not only the feet, but the whole body posture. Check out what is global postural reeducation.

4. Specific physical exercises

Some physical exercises can be indicated to help in the formation of the arch of the foot, such as:

• Walking on tiptoes and only on heels; Support body weight on only 1 foot and do a squat in that position; Hold a marble with your toes and place in a basin, Climb stairs on tiptoes; Lie down face up and keep the soles of both feet together

In addition, it is important to enroll the child in activities such as ballet , artistic gymnastics or swimming, as it helps to strengthen the muscles and form the arch of the foot faster. Each child has his own pace, but ideally, he should do this type of activity at least twice a week. So that the child does not get sick of the same activity, you can vary, doing each activity you want 1 time a week.

5. Surgery

It is indicated to have surgery to correct the flat foot when the 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 resorting to this last resort.

The surgery is usually done on 1 foot at a time and, usually, several surgical procedures are performed and the person is at rest for 1 week, then physiotherapy is needed to help recovery and when this is achieved, the surgery can be performed performed on the other foot.

What can happen if you don't treat

The arch of the foot serves to help cushion the pressures when walking, running and jumping and therefore when the person does not have the arch of the foot well formed and has a flat foot, his foot is unprotected and complications may arise over time, as fascitis, which is an inflammation in the sole of the foot that causes intense pain, spur, which is the formation of a bony callus in the sole of the foot, in addition to pain and discomfort in the ankles, knees and hips, for example.