Massage with flat feet in a child. How to treat flat feet in children

The footprint of your baby's foot is not only an excellent method of "stopping the moment", but also a way to check if the crumb has such a pathology as flat feet. How to recognize a developing disease in time? And what kind of massage with flat feet does the child guarantee excellent results?

Characteristics of pathology

Flattening is a disease in which the arch of the foot is flattened. As a result of such pathology, the necessary functionality of the legs is lost. Stops are not able to act as a sufficient shock absorber. Vertical jolts, blows they do not completely extinguish.

From this pathology begins to suffer musculoskeletal system. The disease affects the functioning of the lower limbs and the spine. With pathology, even the base of the skull suffers.

A fairly common notion is flat-footed feet. As orthopedists consider, this is not a disease, but a deformation that results from loosening of ligaments. With this pathology, the foot as it were "falls in" inward. There is an irregular formation of the arch of the foot and arch. With this pathology, while walking, the legs get tired much faster.

If ploskolagulgusnye stops are not treated, then in the future it threatens not only a cosmetic defect. The crumbs will be hard to walk. Possible difficulties with the choice of shoes. The child will greatly deteriorate the gait.

Parents should understand that the baby's foot is formed, usually up to 7 years. In a more mature age, it is very difficult to change anything dramatically.

Classification of pathology

Flattening is divided into the following types:

1. Transversal. There is flattening in the forefoot. This pathology can be seen visually. The thumb, as a rule, deviates sideways. There may be build-ups inside the foot. The 2nd and 3rd fingers become hammer-shaped.
2. Longitudinal. Compaction occurs in the longitudinal arch of the foot. The extended elongated middle part is clearly visible. The foot is rotated inward. The longitudinal arch is omitted. The child's walk is awkward. Socks are bred strongly in the sides.
3. Combined flat feet. This kind combines transverse and longitudinal deformation.

Physicians distinguish 3 stages of the disease:

1. Flattening 1 degree. With such a pathology weakened ligamentous apparatus. However, the foot does not change its shape. Fatigue and pain can occur in the evening after a long walk. It's enough to rest a little - and the discomfort passes. Flattening of 1 degree affects the gait of the child. It is less plastic.
2. 2 degree. Flattening of the foot is seen visually. Vaults almost completely disappear. The foot is spread and expanded. Very painful discomfort is expressed. It acquires a permanent character. Pain can spread to the entire ankle, shin. And even reach the knee. The child is very difficult to walk, there is clubfoot.
3. Flattening 3 degrees. The deformation of the foot is sharply expressed . There may be damage to some parts of the musculoskeletal system - scoliosis, arthrosis, intervertebral hernia. The thumb is very strongly deflected outwards. Constant pain is felt in the feet, legs, knees, and sometimes in the hips, lower back. It's hard enough to walk.

Features of developing pathology

Begin to attend an orthopedic surgeon from a year of age. Already with such a crumb, a competent specialist is able to determine whether the child is inclined to pathology. Suspected development of flat feet can parents themselves, carefully examining the legs of the child and his shoes.

Factors to be addressed:

1. Footwear. With flat feet, the inner part of the heel, the sole, wears heavily. In the normal foot, the outer surface is immediately erased.
2. Colour. The leg should be pale pink. The purple-cyanotic hue of the foot characterizes venous congestion. Pale color indicates insufficient circulation.
3. Pathology. In case of illness, thickening, scuffing of the skin, calluses may occur.
4. Visual inspection. Ask the crumb to put side by side. Thumbs should adjoin very closely to each other.

If there is at least one of the above factors, you can suspect the child of flat feet. What to do in this case? Be sure to consult an orthopedist who will recommend adequate methods of foot correction.

Physiotherapy treatment

Such procedures are prescribed at any stage of the disease. They allow you to restore mobility in joints, improve metabolism in tissues.

The following physiotherapy procedures can be recommended:

• UHT - shock wave therapy;
• Electrophoresis;
• Paraffin-ozocerite application.

Electromyostimulation is quite popular. In this procedure, electrodes are applied to problem areas. Then start a weak current. There is a "forced" training of muscle tissue.

Treatment with massage

Experts recommend starting prevention almost from the birth of a crumb.

Massage with flat feet in a child should be performed as follows:

1. Feet. The sole is rubbed with the edge of the palm - from the heel to the fingers. Smash the foot with your thumb. Do the same for your fingers. Performing a foot massage for the child with flat feet, "draw" the number 7. Start from the thumb of the crumbs, move to the base of the little finger and descend the outer surface to the heel. Then rub the interdigital spaces and the bony projections of the lower part of the tibia in circular motions. Carefully turn the foot.
2. Shin. Massage with flat feet in a child should not end only with work with stops. It is necessary to make stroking, rubbing and kneading the palms of both sides of the shin. Inner surface gently beat and pinch your fingertips. Massage should be carried out from the ankle to the knee.
3. Hips and buttocks. Such a massage with flat feet in the child is carried out without certain emphases. Used techniques - rubbing, stroking, kneading muscle tissue of the hips. They move in the direction of the location of the bone. On the buttocks are allowed to massage in any direction. In addition to effective massage should be the elements of vibration - pokolachivanie an edge of the palms, tingling, perhaps shaking.

Physiotherapy

To get rid of pathology it is possible only complex therapy. It should not be forgotten that gymnastics with flat feet in children is an important and indispensable part of adequate treatment.

The following exercises are recommended for pathology:

1. A child rolls a ball with a foot or a stick.
2. The kid grabs a small object from the floor, using only the toes.
3. Walking on socks and on the heels. Such an exercise should be performed until the legs of the child get tired. Kroha makes 4 steps, becoming on the socks, then as much on the heels.
4. Offer the child to be like the outer surfaces of feet.
5. The kid twists and unbends his toes.
6. Put a special bar on the floor, the height of which is 30-40 mm. The child becomes one foot on him. It is necessary to climb on it and sink to the full foot. The second leg does not participate. Exercise is repeated until fatigue. Then do the same for the other leg.

Orthopedic massage mat

It is recommended that the baby walk barefoot. However, the surface on which the crumb comes, should be uneven. For example, it could be land or grass outside the city. The given action will allow variously to load muscles of foot.

You can use for such purposes a special orthopedic mat from flat feet for children. It can perform all physical exercises. This rug causes irritation of the receptors on the baby's foot. As a result of the provoked effect, the foot is correctly formed. In addition, a beneficial effect on the nervous system.

Orthopedic shoes

Often children are recommended to wear special shoes. Sometimes orthopedic insoles can be prescribed instead of shoes. The recommended measures depend on the revealed pathology, its features and the degree of development.

Shoes with special insole should be worn for about 5-6 hours a day.

Recommendations for parents

It is extremely important to choose the right shoes for babies. Choose only good and quality shoes.

Be sure to remember the following recommendations:

1. A crumb should not wear shoes that do not fix the ankle joint. Give up slippers, slippers, sandals with straps on the heels, winter soft boots.
2. All shoes in which a child walks must have a rigid solid back. Shoes with lacing are recommended. For summer shoes, it is preferable to have a fastener.
3. Never buy shoes for a child "for growth". In free footwear, the risk of improper formation of the foot is high. Tight shoes also lead to deformation of the feet.
4. Do not allow the child to wear other people's shoes. She does not fit the crumb at all, because she is already trampled under someone else's leg.
5. Avoid rubber and synthetic shoes.

Let the legs of your crumbs always be healthy!