Correction and prevention of children’s foot deformities

Nowadays children’s foot deformities are quite a common phenomenon, which is sad. Foot deformities start showing themselves when the child starts to take his first steps or a little bit later. Let’s have a look at different types of children's foot deformities.

There are two main foot deformities that children face: hallux valgus and varus foot deformities.

Children's hallux valgus occurs when the distance between the inner ankles of straightened and tightly placed knees is more than 4-5 cm. This kind of curvature appears several months later after the child starts to take his first steps. This can be explained by the fact that the feet feel the whole body weight load, and the child’s weak muscles simply can’t cope with it.

In order to treat such deformity, doctors recommend the use of therapeutic massage and physical therapy, which help to strengthen the muscular-ligamentous apparatus of the foot and correct the deformity. Besides, orthopedists necessarily prescribe wearing special shoes, which correct the child's incorrectly standing legs.

Varus feet deformity is a disease that is regarded as the curvature of the foot arches and axis. The feet are positioned inwards, the load distribution is uneven, there is more load on the outer foot part.

Varus foot deformity is treatable, but it’s not a simple process. The treatment should be performed only by an experienced orthopedist. If diagnosed at an early stage of development, varus treatment consists of:

- exercise therapy aimed at strengthening muscles and correcting foot shape;

- physiotherapy procedures;

- use of orthopedic insoles, stretchers, instep supports, and correctors;

- complex leg massage, which includes massage of the gluteofemoral and lumbar regions, and massage of the back of the legs.