How to prevent flat feet
Flat feet can be prevented with a comprehensive approach. Timely visits to the orthopedist, wearing orthopedic shoes and exercise are important. All these points are worth a more detailed explanation.
Checking the development of the spine and legs
The occurrence of flat feet can have several causes: congenital predisposition, neurological problems, overweight, lack of vitamin D (rickets), incorrect position of the feet when walking. Each of these conditions manifests itself at a different time, which is why regular checkups with an orthopedist are important.
First check-up with the doctor when the baby is one month old. Congenital abnormalities in skeletal development can be identified already at this time. The next two visits should be scheduled at the age of 3 and 6 months - this will allow early detection of rickets. The next visit to the orthopedist is appropriate after another six months. At 12 months, the child is already moving more and has taken or is about to take his first steps, so it is important to check the development of the spine, the condition of the joints and the arches of the feet.
If there are no serious problems, the next preventive examination by an orthopedist should take place at the age of 2-3 years. The child's posture, gait and feet are examined and the proportions of the legs are checked.
How to prevent flat feet with orthopedic shoes
Wearing the right shoes is recommended from the time the child learns to walk, i.e. from 10-12 months of age. Special attention should be paid to the choice of orthopedic shoes if there is a predisposition to flat feet (eg, heredity).
This advice is not given for the benefit of shoe manufacturers, but for obvious reasons: when a child learns to walk, he does not lean well on his feet to maintain balance. At the same time, the foot of a modern small person does not get the necessary exercise in the form of constant walking on an uneven surface. During this period, it is very important to pay attention to the position of the foot, in which the right shoes help.
These shoes are characterized by:
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by the presence of special supporting supinators;
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special tapered Thomas heels that distribute the load on the feet;
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hard, high enough heels that do not allow the feet to slide;
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well-fixed fasteners ;
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upper made of natural and high-quality materials;
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special construction of the instep on which the shoes are made.
Another important point is the exercise of the feet.
Barefoot walking and exercise
Not everyone knows how to prevent flat feet by walking barefoot and that it really works.
Walking barefoot means walking on an uneven surface. Pebbles help a lot. You can put pebbles in a box and let the child step on them for 10-15 minutes. This exercise exercises the arches of the feet and allows them to be shaped correctly. It is good if the child also regularly walks on warm earth or sand, but pebbles have the best preventive effect. If you can't bring pebbles home, massage pads are a great substitute to prevent flat feet.
Exercises to prevent flat feet are both useful and fun. The exercises are simple, and mom or dad can turn them into a game:
- Walk with the baby on the toes, then on the heels and finally on the outside of the feet. Do this several times.
- Scatter small balls or cubes (but with flattened edges) on the floor and let the child pick them up with his fingers. Dice and balls can be replaced with other objects (eg pencil/pen), but remember to avoid the risk of leg injuries.
- Put the gymnastic bar on the floor, show the child how to roll it with his feet and ask him to repeat it.
These are the simplest exercises, the orthopedist can recommend another complex, but the most important thing is correct and regular stimulation of the child's feet.
We tried to answer the question "how to prevent flat feet" as completely as possible. These tips should help you start effective prevention and avoid developing the disease, as it is much more difficult to treat.
