Learn more about Flatfoot

Flatfoot or flatfoot injury can have several causes and result in a group of symptoms visible to the injured person, and it also has more than one type. In the following article, detailed information about flatfoot injury can be provided.

Flatfoot process

What is flatfoot

Flatfoot is known as flat feet, which is the flattening of the arch of the foot, which affects the movement of the person in general, and the flatfoot sufferer may not feel any complications and have a feeling of pain despite the presence of the injury, and this is due to the fact that the flatfoot did not affect the tendons or the heel of the foot and therefore does not appear Signs of pain on the injured person, even during times of exertion.

There are some cases of flatfoot infection, the symptoms of which can be visible, that is, the patient finds pain in the ankle joint, difficulty in movement, and a feeling of severe fatigue in the foot when doing sports, and also the arch of the foot is falling downward, and this does not give the necessary support to the foot when moving.

Flatfoot mostly occurs naturally for children under the age of six and recovery begins after this age without the need for any treatment, but if the child does not improve or has difficulty walking, the child may need a treatment program, and it is possible that this injury occurs in adolescence or young adulthood.

Causes of flat feet

A person may be exposed to some factors that lead to flatulence, including hereditary factors, and others that may occur as a result of time factors, including:

• Having an ankle injury.
• An injury to the nervous system.
• The presence of chronic diseases in a person.
• Diabetes.
• The presence of rheumatoid arthritis in the joint.
• An injury to the Achilles tendon.

Factors of flatfoot infection

Flatfoot infection can occur as a result of some serious factors that increase the possibility of the fall of the arch of the foot, and thus the patient feels pain from pressure on the foot, and thus the injured person may experience pain from walking or stress accompanied by pain when exercising.

Here are some of the risk factors for flatfoot:

• overweight.
• Having a foot injury.
• Having chronic diseases.

Flat foot symptoms

When a person is infected with flatfoot, symptoms begin to appear in succession, and it becomes more difficult to walk or put one’s foot on the ground. Symptoms of flatfoot can appear as follows:

• Pain in the toes.
• Feeling pain in the leg.
• Having pain in the ankle.
• difficulty walking
• Having convulsions.

How is flatfoot diagnosed?

Work can be done to find out if a person has flatfoot by conducting the necessary tests that help in identifying the symptoms appearing on the injured person. The doctor can perform a physical examination of the person and ask him for X-ray and magnetic resonance examinations in order to be able to identify the condition of the injured foot and ankle.

The difference between bony and meaty flatfoot

There are more than one type of flatfoot, some of which are acquired and others that are hereditary, that is, present with the birth of the injured person, but the two main types are bony flatfoot and fleshy flatfoot, and there are major differences between them, which are as follows:

1. Orthopedic or rigid flatfoot: It is the first type of flatfoot and is called this pain because the arch of the foot disappears completely, whether at rest or at the time of pressure on the foot and walking.
2. Fleshy or flexible flatfoot: This type of flatfoot can be easily identified because the arch of the foot is visible when sitting and disappears when walking or standing and may not result in any symptoms.

Flatfoot injury is not considered a disease that requires immediate medical intervention, because there are people who suffer from flatfoot and do not show any signs of pain or stress, and they can easily practice their lives while working while improving the condition of the injured person with time.

Complications of flat feet

If the patient has symptoms of flatfoot and causes pain in the ankle or leg, it is important that he begin treatment in order not to be at risk of complications. Early detection of flatfoot helps in faster recovery and getting rid of the pain in the foot as a result of a flatfoot.

Here are some of the risks that can happen to a person after a flatfoot infection:

• Osteoarthritis.
• Susceptibility to bent fasciitis.
• Having difficulty walking.
• Feeling lower back pain.
• Inflammation of the joint.
• Stiffness in the ankle.

Treatment of plateau foot

Flatfoot treatment for adults has many methods that work to improve the condition of the affected person in order to get rid of the pain that he feels in general, and the appropriate diagnosis can be made first, and after that, the attending physician determines the most appropriate method for treating the person, and in most cases, non-surgical treatment is started and followed by Surgical treatment if medically necessary.

Types of treatment without surgery for flatfoot

Some types of treatment for flat feet can be relied upon, including the following:

• Pharmacological treatment
  In some cases, medications that relieve pain and others that improve the condition of inflammation in the foot are used, and cortisone injections that reduce pain can be used.
• Conservative treatment Work
  is done to give the patient-specific instructions to live with the disease until recovery by working to improve the person’s condition, including the use of ice packs and not straining the foot, and the person can be able to reduce his weight, which relieves pressure on the ankle joint.
• Physiotherapy
  Physiotherapy is one of the best types of treatment for orthopedic diseases because it works to strengthen the muscles and improve the condition of the affected person in general, and it is possible to work on the physical activity of the person and introduce some appropriate exercises.
• Treatment using supportive devices
  There is another type or method of treatment, which is the use of foot support devices and shoes suitable for flatfoot patients, which help in restoring the arch of the foot to its correct location, which treats flatfoot.
• Surgical treatment Work
  can be done to improve the condition of the injured person if he does not find recovery through other methods of treatment through surgical operations that help in recovery and the return of the foot to its normal position and its ability to move.

Herbal flatfoot treatment

You can use herbs as a complementary treatment for other types to improve the condition of flatfoot patients because herbs work to relieve pain in the foot and treat inflammation in the joint, and thus the person can recover faster and his condition improves in general.

A person can use various types of herbs, including ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, and others, and there are important substances in them to improve the condition of the foot and treat the inflammation that affected the foot, and thus work can be done to improve the condition of the person with flatfoot.

Exercise for flatfoot patients

Physical activity and exercise in general are important in improving the patient and reaching recovery in a shorter time. Some exercises can be done, which are:

• Use a rubber ball, put your foot on it, and move it forward and backward.
• Try to walk on tiptoe daily.
• The work can be done by using the towel and holding it using the fingers on the bottom of the foot.

How to prevent flat feet

Work can be done to prevent flatfoot infection through the following steps:

• Work to reduce weight.
• Periodic detection if you have a genetic history of the disease.
• Avoid ill-fitting shoes.

Flatfoot process for children

Flatfoot in children is an injury that occurs when the arch of the foot becomes non-existent or falls, and thus the support for the foot and ankle joint decreases, and there is a feeling of pain in the leg that extends to the back and also affects the child’s ability to walk normally.

Often, work is done to find a treatment for flatfooted children in the event that there is a feeling of inconvenience when walking or there is a disturbance when standing, and in this case, a treatment program must be worked on for the child until recovery is complete.

Flat foot treatment for children can be through several steps before the surgery for flat feet in children is approved, and the doctor can work on other medical procedures, including the following:

• Work on proper exercise.
• Conservative treatment can be done.
• Use of appropriate medications.
• Use of supporting devices.

How to perform flatfoot surgery for children

Flat foot surgery can be performed for children by working to improve the condition of the injured child, and work can be done on the foot to repair the curvature and enable the injured person to return to his life and grow the foot normally.

Flatfoot process

A flat foot operation is considered one of the medical procedures that can help improve the condition of the injured person, after which he can regain his physical activity and start practicing the sports that he was doing before the injury.

There are some people who are qualified to perform the flatfoot operation, some of whom did not succeed with other treatment methods, and others affected the flatness of the foot on their ability to walk or rest on the foot.

Procedures before the flatfoot process

In most cases, the patient does not need major procedures before surgery, but the doctor knows his health condition completely in order to prescribe appropriate medications for him before surgery. It can be ensured that there is no sensitivity to anesthesia. It is important that the person stay away from smoking or consuming alcohol during the period before surgery.

How to perform flatfoot surgery 

There is more than one surgical procedure that can be followed in the treatment of a flatfoot patient until the person feels an improvement in the foot and returns to his normal activity again, and the following surgeries can be performed:

• Posterior tibia tendon excision.
• Achilles tendon lengthening.
• Cut the bones.
• Joint fusion work.
• tendon transfer.

One type of these operations is performed, and it is often under the influence of general anesthesia, and it is through conventional surgery. After the surgery, the patient returns to the recovery room until his health condition is assured. A splint is placed on the knee in the affected foot to stabilize it.

Procedures after the flat foot operation 

Some procedures can be taken to help speed up the recovery process for a flatfoot patient after surgery, which are:

• The patient can be discharged on the same day of surgery or the day after at most from the hospital.
• After the patient returns to the recovery room, an appropriate splint is placed on the injured foot for up to 6 weeks.
• After the splint is removed, the patient can wear medical shoes for a certain period after surgery.
• Crutches should be used after the operation, so as not to overload the affected part of the foot.
• The duration of flat foot treatment can last from one to 3 months, and periodic medical follow-ups should be paid attention to.

Damages of the flatfoot process

The flatfoot operation has many benefits that the patient gets after its procedure, including the ability to walk normally and the presence of balance when standing, so it is important to start treatment and also to avoid post-surgical complications that may affect the operation.

Here are some of the complications of flat foot surgery :

• Inflammation of the foot.
• The presence of nerve damage.
• Venous thrombosis.

The recovery period after the flatfoot operation 

After the surgeries, the patient needs a period of recovery in order to reach recovery and get rid of the pain he feels. After surgery, the injured person uses a splint that stabilizes the leg, and medical shoes can be used after that for a certain period that the doctor determines.

It is possible to obtain an appropriate recovery period for the injured person, starting from 6 to 12 weeks, with attention to certain types of physical therapy that are used to get rid of pain, improve the condition of the foot after surgery, and strengthen the leg muscles.

Flatfoot success rate

Flat foot surgery or correcting flat feet can be used to treat people with flat feet and lack of natural curvature, which leads to pain, difficulty in movement, or imbalance when standing, whether in adults or children.

There is a surgery that is performed to treat flatfoot, but after doing all other treatment methods, including pharmacological and natural treatment, as well as conservative treatment, to better preserve the condition of the injured person and not be exposed to complications from flatfoot injury.

The success rate after the flatfoot operation reaches about 95% and increases in some other cases depending on the person’s health condition and the extent of adherence to the medical instructions that the doctor explains to him after the operation.

Is the flat missed a disability?

Flatfoot is one of the diseases related to the foot and it occurs as a result of a lack of correct arching in the foot and often does not cause complications from the injury, and complications can occur in the case of flatfoot infection, but mostly they do not lead to disability and the person can get rid of the injury by working to improve the condition of the patient and appropriate treatment for it.

Does obesity cause flat feet?

A person with flatfoot can be exposed to complications as a result of the injury, and attention must be paid to the factors that help increase the pain, including obesity, which mainly works on excessive pressure on the foot, which affects the person’s condition and the extent of the ability to recover.

Does flatfoot cause back pain?

Flatfoot or flat foot has risks, including affecting the leg and causing pain, and the pain can extend to the back vertebrae, which can affect the condition of the patient and the extent of pain he feels in general. It is important to start treatment early in order to feel more improvement.