As a child grows up, he undergoes changes throughout his body. The limbs of the feet are no exception. It is very important that the musculoskeletal system, bones and joints are formed correctly, in accordance with age norms. If necessary, it is necessary to start correcting the changes in a timely manner to reduce the risk of certain defects, for example, hallux valgus deformity in children.
What is this pathology?
According to statistics, more than 30% of children under the age of 5 have some kind of foot problem. If certain measures are not taken in a timely manner, then such a deviation, which at first glance is insignificant, after a while can cause significant harm to he alth. Foot valgus in a child leads to the development of diseases of the spine and musculoskeletal system, and there is also a high probability of changes in the internal organs.
Such a disease is characterized by the fact that there is a deformation of the shape of the foot, in which the heel and toes begin to turn out. Outwardly, it is very noticeable.strongly, because there is a bending of the knees and the curvature of the legs against each other becomes obvious. After some time, swelling occurs in the heel area, a clubfoot is formed, the child begins to complain of pain in the legs.
Stages of disease
Valgus deformity in children develops in stages, so this pathology is divided into mild, moderate and severe degrees.
At an early stage, foot deformity is much easier to deal with than in more advanced versions. The child does not experience any discomfort at first, and the shape of the feet, which are slightly different from the usual ones, is first taken by the parents as a feature of their baby.
When the middle stage of the disease occurs, the child begins to experience discomfort when walking, he develops pain in the legs.
The severe stage of the disease is characterized by the fact that the shape of the foot cannot be restored completely, but it can be corrected and treated.
Causes for the development of pathology
If a child starts walking early enough or is forced to do so by his parents, then in some cases this does not end without consequences. At an early age, the ligamentous apparatus is formed, which is often not ready for stress, which leads to foot deformity.
In addition, foot valgus in a child may occur due to the following factors:
- genetic predisposition, manifested in weakness of muscle tone;
- endocrine disruption;
- birth trauma;
- wrong shoes that do not fix the foot;
- diseases that weaken joint tissues and destroy bones (diabetes mellitus, rickets).
To identify a more accurate cause, you need to contact a specialist who will prescribe the optimal treatment.
Should a deformed foot be treated?
Many parents think that such a pathology will go away on its own with age and nothing needs to be done, but this is not so. If you do not treat the valgus of the feet in a child, then after a while there are pains in the legs, a change in posture occurs, and other adverse consequences occur. That is why this pathology must be treated. Most often, it lends itself well to correction, but only if it is not a severe stage of the disease. If the deformation is caused by existing diseases, for example, rickets, then the body must be treated comprehensively, and not just its individual disorders.
Basic treatments
Regular visits to the pediatrician allow you to identify the disease at an early stage of development, in which case conservative treatment is prescribed. In advanced cases, there is already a question of surgical intervention.
Thus, if foot valgus was detected in a timely manner, the treatment is as follows:
- Therapeutic exercises aimed at correcting the hallux valgus in young children. The course of the procedure should be prescribed only by a doctor, since each stage of such a procedure has its own characteristics. Gymnastics helps a lot.combined with games. For example, it can be lifting small objects with your feet, walking on a narrow path, etc.
- Recommended children's shoes with orthopedic effect. The product should have not only a special insole, but also the same instep support, hard berets, and adjustable rise. These children's shoes are quite expensive, but are very effective for successful foot recovery.
- Your doctor may also recommend wearing orthopedic insoles. Such a product is selected individually, taking into account changes in the foot. Basically, children's insoles are made to order, based on the recommendations of an orthopedist.
- As a treatment, the doctor may prescribe a course of massage. It should be carried out by a specialist, but if parents learn his technique, then they will be able to carry out such a procedure. If the case is severe enough, then massage of the foot or limbs should be carried out in a medical facility.
- Physiotherapy can be prescribed not only during the recovery period, but also for preventive purposes. Such therapy does not affect the feet specifically, but thanks to it, the overall tension decreases and pain in the legs is relieved. If you experience severe discomfort while walking, your doctor may prescribe pain medication.
- You should constantly move - walk, swim, etc. But in this case there should be no contraindications for this.
Surgical method of treatment
If conservative methods of treatment have not brought results, then an operation is performed. Foot valgus undergoes surgical intervention quite rarely. Thanks tomodern methods do without plaster and metal structures, which makes the operation less traumatic than before. The surgeon during its implementation changes the angle between the bones and distributes the ligaments in the correct way. The next day, the child can already walk independently.
But you should know that the surgical method of treatment is used only for older children with significant foot deformity. Such a radical method is not used for babies, therefore massage is prescribed to correct the legs.
Massage for foot valgus
This method of correcting foot deformity is used to strengthen the muscles of the feet and legs, as well as to improve the conduction of nerves and raise the general tone of the child's body. For massage to bring tangible results, it should be done only by a specialist.
It starts from the lower back, since it is from this part of the body that the nerves pass to the feet and legs. Massage movements are carried out on the legs and thighs, gradually moving to the feet. Depending on how severe the deformity is, this procedure can be mild or more intense.
Usually a course of massage is 10 days, but it is recommended to repeat it constantly for 3-4 months, taking a break of 1-2 weeks. The exact frequency should be determined by the orthopedist who observes the child.
For small children, massage helps to bring the foot back to normal and strengthen the muscles of the legs. But you should be patient, as this process is lengthy. It must be remembered that the necessary therapeutic effect of massage is obtained only if other therapeutic methods and rules are observed.
Prevention measures
It is quite possible to prevent the development of foot deformity in a child, except in cases of congenital pathology. To do this, it is necessary to visit a specialist, according to the schedule for monitoring the baby. After a year, this should be done every 12 months, and if deviations from the norm are detected, then you should definitely consult with an orthopedist. Preventive measures also include the following:
- Timely load on the legs. A small child who is not yet able to walk should not be forced to do this on purpose, since the ligamentous apparatus has not yet been fully formed.
- Monitoring the he alth of the child, maintaining a balanced diet, taking vitamins.
- Wearing the right shoes. Otherwise, a large arch support, insufficient fixation and other shortcomings of improperly selected shoes can provoke flat feet.
- Gymnastics. An excellent prevention of foot deformity is regular exercise with the child. Thanks to simple exercises in the form of a game, the risk of various deviations in the development of the foot is significantly reduced.
- Massage. This is an excellent prevention of foot diseases. Pediatricians often recommend that mothers massage their feet during their baby's first steps.
Conclusion
Thus, foot valgus in a child can be prevented if adhered tothe necessary recommendations. Thanks to preventive measures, serious consequences for the he alth of the baby can be avoided, the correction of which takes a lot of time and physical effort. This is not always without damage to the child's body.
