Deformation of the foot leads to various pathologies of the spine, painful deposits in the knees and hip joint. At the same time, such a problem has become widespread, earlier diagnosis will avoid a large number of serious deposits.
The foot acts as a natural shock absorber, it is designed to protect the musculoskeletal system from impact. A similar problem is determined at home, for which it is enough to pay attention to the main symptoms.
Symptoms of flat feet
It should be borne in mind that flat feet can occur with little or no symptoms. This has a negative impact on the human body.
The most common symptoms are:
- The surface of the skin is atypical; redness or a blue tint may appear.
- The rapid onset of fatigue also indicates flat feet. However, it can be associated with long walks or just a standing position.
- Calluses and calluses indicate that the load is unevenly distributed.
- Swelling of the limbs. It can indicate the appearance of other diseases.
- The appearance of regular pain in the back.
- Poor posture and gait change.
- Change in foot length.
- The appearance of frequent seizures.
- Uneven shoe wear, wear on the back and inner sole. If, after several days of using new shoes, the sole is worn out unevenly, then you should contact a specialist.
- Deformity of 2 or 3 toes. This symptom develops only at the last stage of the disease. In this case, the deformation of the fingers becomes the reason why it becomes difficult to maintain balance when walking.
Some of the above signs indicate the development of other problems. Only a professional can make the final diagnosis when conducting various studies, including an X-ray.
How to understand that you have flat feet?
The first signs can develop gradually, so they do not pay attention to them immediately. In order to save money on going to the doctor, you can use two methods of self-determination at home.
They are as follows:
- With prints. This method is considered less accurate, but it is quite simple to carry out.
- Friedland's method. It provides for the measurement of a ruler, the calculations carried out are characterized by high accuracy.
It is quite simple to carry out them; if you get a positive result, you should consult a doctor.
With foot prints
For a long period, a method was used that was based on obtaining footprints.
It is characterized by the following features:
- The procedure requires paint and a blank sheet of paper. The foot can be treated with brilliant green, iodine, ink and other similar substances. The substance used should not be too fluid, as otherwise the pattern will not be clear.
- After the foot has been attached to a piece of paper, a drawing will appear on it. The conclusion is made depending on the age category. With a change in age, the anatomy of the foot is adjusted, which should be taken into account during the procedure.
A completely painted surface indicates that a pathology has appeared and a specialist should be consulted.
Friedland's podometric method
In some cases, the Friedland method can be applied.
Its features are as follows:
- Measurement of the foot height and leg length from heel to big toe. A rigid ruler can be used for this.
- The arch height is multiplied by 100 and divided by the length of the foot.
- If the result is in the range of 29-31, then there is no pathology. Any other values indicate that you need to contact a specialist.
This method allows you to accurately determine the condition of the foot.
How to identify flat feet in young children?
In adults and children, flat feet are tested in different ways.
When checking children, the following points are taken into account:
- A notch less than half of the foot indicates grade 1 disease.
- If the deepening takes less than a third, then the disease is grade 2.
- Grade 3 is placed in the absence of a notch.
Do not forget that several types of flat feet can be distinguished. Therefore, only a specialist should make a diagnosis.
The reasons for the development of flat feet
There are quite a number of different reasons that lead to the development of flat feet.
The most common are:
- Lack or excess of load. This occurs when the wrong shoes are selected. When the first signs appear, it is recommended to switch to comfortable shoes, for example, sneakers.
- Studies have shown that in 3% of cases, the disease is transmitted from parents. In this case, the diagnosis is made at an early age, after which a certain treatment is prescribed. If the problem is not resolved in a timely manner, serious illnesses can develop.
- In some cases, the problem develops with rickets, diabetes mellitus or polio. These diseases can lead to flat feet of varying degrees.
- Walking in high heels also leads to flat feet. This is due to the incorrect distribution of the applied load.
- Overweight determines the impact of high load, which causes this problem. Treatment involves not only choosing the right footwear, but also losing weight through exercise or diet.
With timely treatment, the likelihood of developing the disease can be excluded. It provides for the use of special insoles or shoes, the passage of special operations.
Flat feet is a common condition. Its symptoms can cause many problems, and the consequences cause the development of various diseases.
