The change in the shape of the feet related to its flattening is rarely perceived as a real disease. Meanwhile, congenital or acquired flatfeet is observed in more than half of the population.
This disease has three stages, the latter provokes extremely negative and irreversible processes. It is better to diagnose flat feet in advance to prevent the reduced quality of life.
Why Do Flat Feet Occur?
If it is not a congenital disease, which is diagnosed in childhood, then it turns out that there are quite a few reasons for the occurrence of flat feet.
These can be the consequences of a sharply increased body weight that occurs during pregnancy or as a factor in endocrine diseases. Also, the risk of flat feet can be attributed to a sedentary job and lifestyle. In this case, the muscles and ligaments of the foot become weakened, because for a long time they don’t move. But excessive load such as the constant wearing of high-heeled shoes, daily running, jumping, frequently doing various sports, such as playing football can lead to negative consequences for the muscles of the legs, ligaments of the feet, and as a result, development of flat feet.
Foot injuries can also be the cause of flat feet. Fracture of the calcaneus or ankle, cracks, severe bruising of cartilage, damage to muscles and ligaments may lead to flat feet. Another cause is a hereditary predisposition, which is characterized by defects in the development of muscles, ligaments, and bones of the foot.
The Consequences of Flat Feet
The manifestation of the disease can begin quite harmlessly. At first, it is only a periodic feeling of tiredness and heaviness in the legs. Then the person notices discomfort when pressing on the foot or while putting on shoes. The legs often swell in the evenings.
Meanwhile, all of these things are signs of flat feet of the first degree. If you do not go to a doctor in time, then in addition to the further development of the disease, you may get varicose veins and possibly gouty changes of the bones in fingers. Also, you will be at a high risk of corn development which will make your every move excruciatingly painful. You will be able to get rid of this condition only through a corn removal procedure.
If the first symptoms are ignored, flat feet begin to show constant and intense pain in the lower legs and ankles. The second degree of the disease is noticeable, it becomes harder for a person to walk and any strain on the legs causes anguish. At this moment the body is independently trying to redirect the load from the diseased muscles and ligaments of the feet to other healthy areas, this causes pain in the knee and hip joints. Now any cold can provoke the development of arthritis and arthrosis of the joints.
The third degree of flat feet can be imperceptible, the deformity of the foot becomes pronounced, frequent swelling and pain in the joints lead to the fact that even a short distance for the patient becomes really hard. As a result of the fact that the body is still trying to be depreciated when walking, you may get curvature of the spine, such as lordosis, kyphosis, scoliosis.
This can lead to changes in the internal organs. In the case of the diaphragm, it will cause shortness of breath. And shifted vertebrae can affect the functioning of the heart and disrupt the intestinal permeability. And if during the continuing curvature of the spine any nerve will be pinched, then even a young person may forget about an active lifestyle, because this condition leads to disability.
Treatment of Flat Feet
Treatment of flat feet should certainly be done by a professional. But any person experiencing the first symptoms of this disease is quite able to prevent its further development. The muscles of the feet should be periodically rubbed. Healing massages will be very good for you. You should also definitely avoid excessive loads on the legs and watch your weight.
Properly chosen shoes with arch support, electrical stimulation of the ligaments of the feet and evening baths with soothing and relaxing herbs can noticeably reduce manifestations of the disease. Flat feet is a very insidious disease, although at first, it does not seem so.
Manhattan Foot Specialists
51 East 25th Street, Ste 409,
New York, NY 10010
+1 (212) 389-9918