The baby's feet are turned inward. Doctor Komarovsky about valgus deformity of the foot and flat feet

12.12.2021 -

From the very birth of the baby, any parents are worried about the condition of his legs, will they be crooked, is everything okay with the feet, and will the baby walk well? If it seems to parents that not everything is in order with the baby’s feet, they begin to worry a lot, because the health of the entire skeleton, especially the spine, the beauty of posture and the ability to actively move, largely depend on the health of the foot. Often, parents compare the gait and legs of babies with adults, and it seems to them that the child has problems with feet and gait, and sometimes, on the contrary, parents prefer not to notice that the child walks somehow incorrectly, attributing it to age-related features and leg formation. How right, where is the line between the norm and pathology when assessing gait, setting the feet and resolving the issue of foot deformities? Today we will talk about such a problem as flat-valgus feet in babies.

What is flat-valgus feet?

Valgus deformity of the foot is called such a condition when the leg is, as it were, littered inward, and if the child’s knees are tightly compressed and straightened, a distance of more than four to five centimeters appears between the inner surfaces of the ankles. With this position of the legs, the toes and heel deviate towards the outer edge of the foot, and the inner arch of the foot, as it were, collapses inward. As a result of valgus deformity of the foot, the legs acquire an X-shape, the knees sharply converge with each other by the inner edges. If valgus deformities of the foot are also accompanied by a decrease in the height of the arch of the foot, then we are talking about flat-valgus deformity of the feet in babies. It is these anomalies in the development of the feet that are found in pediatric orthopedics and traumatology.

According to statistics, almost every second of children under five years of age who gets an appointment with an orthopedist and has deviations in the development of the feet is diagnosed with plano-valgus deformity of the foot. At the same time, violations are accompanied by the following manifestations - a flattening of the longitudinal arch of the baby's leg occurs, a valgus position is formed in the posterior section, while the forefoot assumes an abduction-pronation position. Simply put, the foot becomes flat, the foot falls inward, while the toes deviate to the side, which gives a specific look to the legs and gait of the baby. Most often, such an anomaly occurs in preschool or at primary school age, although sometimes the diagnosis is made illegally when there are no problems.

Why is the shape of the foot so important?

The special shape of the human foot was formed by centuries of evolution precisely in order to maintain it in an upright position, while distributing the load on the body, given that the weight of the human head is much larger in comparison with all other living beings. The bones of the foot are numerous, they are interconnected by interosseous and very strong ligaments, which forms a fairly elastic and mobile arch of the foot, the role of which is to maintain the maximum possible depreciation during movements - running, jumping, walking. The feet act as biological springs, preventing the body from shaking violently. The convex arch of the foot has an orientation in two directions at once - in the longitudinal and in the transverse. Due to this, the normal foot of an adult has three points of support on the foot - in the area of the head of the first metatarsal bone (under the thumb), in the heel area and in the area of \u200b\u200bthe fifth metatarsal bone (under the little finger).

In children, the arch of the foot at birth does not look like an adult, their feet are flat, without arches and bulges, and when the child takes his first steps, his feet are still quite flattened, so the child’s gait is uncertain and it is difficult to keep balance. During the period of the first steps, a sufficiently large load falls on the baby's feet, which later allows the child to learn to walk and form a normal arch of the foot. Parents should remember that there is no need to panic because the child’s gait in the first years of his life is not ideal - his foot is still growing and forming, and it is impossible to draw conclusions that “we have flat feet” or “we have clubfoot”. This is incorrect from the point of view of age anatomy. A confident gait and the correct arch of the foot will be formed in the child gradually, you do not need to immediately put an end to the child in terms of his further possibilities or run to the store for corrective shoes.

Usually, parents' complaints that something is wrong with the child's legs arise from the very first attempts of the child to walk. But at this age, it is necessary to clearly distinguish such a phenomenon as the physiological flattening of the arch zone of the foot, especially if it is a baby under three years old, the development of already flat-valgus beveling of the foot, which will require observation and correction by an orthopedic doctor. Until the age of about three years, there are special fat pads on the area of \u200b\u200bthe child’s feet, and therefore, if you look at the baby’s foot, its arches will not be very visible. The arch of the foot will be contoured if you ask the baby to stand on his toes. Bone tissue in the foot area will form in a child until about five or six years old, and therefore only at this age does it make sense to talk about whether or not a child has a deformity of the foot, especially its plano-valgus form.

However, it is worth noting that there are congenital anomalies of the feet with a strong plano-valgus deviation, and then the diagnosis of valgus feet is made from the maternity hospital, there is a vertical ram, an anomaly of intrauterine development of the foot. But these anomalies of the foot are visible to the naked eye and they are present immediately from the very beginning. Why are flat-valgus feet bad, except for a directly cosmetic defect? First of all, they lead to a negative effect on the spine and its curvature, constant pain in the legs and the formation of early osteochondrosis and arthrosis in the affected joints. This significantly limits the quality of life of such children and their choice of profession in the future.

The reasons for such an anomaly of the feet

The valgus form of foot deformity can be congenital or acquired in a child. In the congenital form, the leading factors are usually unfavorable factors that affect the development of the shape and position of the bones in the top, and then valgus-type foot deformities can be diagnosed either immediately at birth or in the very first months of the baby's life. The most severe and related to true congenital forms can be considered the foot "vertical ram" and "rocking foot". The acquisition of the form of a valgus foot in childhood is associated with the imperfection of the ligamentous and tendon apparatus, deviations in the formation of the baby's musculoskeletal system. Usually, these deviations begin to be detected in children not earlier than a year, when children make attempts to walk independently without support.

Valgus deformities of the feet are usually formed in debilitated children with diffuse muscular hypotension. The reasons for such hypotension can be the prematurity of the baby or the transferred intrauterine malnutrition, hypoxia, and it can also be the result of congenital weakness of the connective tissues, with frequent diseases at an early age, especially if they were SARS, pneumonia and bronchitis. A special role in the weakening of the musculoskeletal and ligamentous apparatus is assigned to such a disease of children as rickets. Also, a violation in the dynamic and static relations of muscles and ligaments occurs with such pathologies of neuromuscular transmission as polyneuropathy, cerebral palsy, poliomyelitis and myodystrophy. Hallux valgus in toddlers at an early age can be the result of overweight and obesity, which leads to pathological stress on the foot due to body weight.

In some cases, valgus deformities in the foot area in babies can be the result of injuries to the muscles, ligaments or bones in the lower leg and foot area, prolonged immobilization of the leg with a cast or bandage. Even less often, such valgus deformities occur in children with dysplasia and congenital dislocation of the hip. And yet - and all parents need to pay attention to this, the causes of valgus deformity of the feet in babies may be the early onset of walking, when parents put children on their feet at almost 5-6 months and lead them by the handles, imitating what the child supposedly wants walk! Too soft and poor-quality shoes for the first steps can also affect the formation of a valgus foot.

If the child’s muscle tone is weakened, and at the same time he is also put on legs and forced to walk, under the weight of his own weight, the arches of the foot are flattened and weak ligaments are greatly stretched, the foot remembers such a pathological position, the ligaments of the tibial muscles are weakened, the ligaments in the fingers are weakened on the foot. And after such forced loads, the foot can no longer be formed correctly. Think about this before you put the child on his feet and lead him by the handles and allegedly "walk". With hallux valgus, the foot in children shifts inward, towards the ankle joint, while the heel and fingers turn outward.

Almost a year passes from the exciting moment of the birth of a baby to the first, very important steps in life. The crumbs at first walk awkwardly and waddling. With the build-up of walking skills, almost everyone's gait improves, but there are cases when a child continues to walk, stepping mainly on the inner surface of the foot - this is a valgus foot - a defect that can complicate the life of a little man. This negative moment will be discussed today.

Mommy's happiness is taking hard first steps with concentration.

Feet in an X

What is flat valgus foot deformity?

This is a curvature inward (towards the center of the body) of an initially straight axis from the lower leg to the foot, accompanied by a decrease in the height of the arches of the foot itself and the deviation of the heel and toes outward (looks like butterfly wings from behind). The average longitudinal inner arch of the foot (the hollow between the heel and toes) practically disappears. When squeezing and straightening the baby's knees, the distance between the inner surfaces of the ankles is more than 4 centimeters. If you put the child on the legs, then a distinctly pathological letter “X” looms between the feet.

This X-shaped position of the feet relative to each other is called "plano-valgus deformity of the feet."

It is not difficult to determine the diagnosis: the baby's feet will be located at a certain angle.

The root of the problem

What are the reasons for the development of this disease? Valgus foot in children can be:

Factors affecting the development of the disease

The prerequisites for the occurrence and development of acquired hallux valgus can be:

Visible signs of hallux valgus

The most obvious symptoms of the defect are visible when the baby is walking:

the child does not step on the entire surface of the foot, but only on its inner edge;
X-shaped form of the foot itself;
clumsy gait;
uncertainty of steps;
shuffling;
fatigue from walking.

The little man walks courageously, overcoming fatigue.

These symptoms, except for the first two, can be found in all children starting their first journeys on their own legs. As the baby acquires the skills necessary for walking, the symptoms will disappear. Another thing is if the child has been walking for a long time, and these last 4 symptoms appear. There is no point in panicking, but it is necessary to seek clarification of the causes of such pathological manifestations from a doctor.

The degree of development and severity of the disease

The doctor, depending on the degree of deformation and the severity of the pathology, will determine the severity of the disease:

the degree of deviation ranges from 10-15 0 - a well treatable degree;
deviations from the norm by 15-20 0 - treatment will require some effort;
the angle of deviation from the norm varies from 20 to 30 0 - the treatment will be long;
more than 30 0 - long-term treatment. If complex therapeutic treatment is ineffective, surgical removal of the foot defect can be performed.

Any degree of the disease can be successfully eliminated.

Often, babies with a diagnosis of "flat-valgus foot" develop flat feet. In later childhood, the consequences of a valgus defect include osteochondrosis, arthrosis, scoliosis, various deformities of the pelvic, knee and ankle regions. Less commonly, one of the limbs is shortened. Clubfoot develops with varus deformity of the foot - in the opposite direction from the valgus.

What and how to treat?

Treatment for a small patient can only be prescribed by a professional doctor. To get rid of a congenital valgus foot, fixing plaster bandages, splints or splints are used. A pediatric orthopedist can and should choose a fixing element. It takes into account the individual characteristics of the development of a defect in a child and, based on:

podometry- a method that allows to detect pathological changes in case of an unclear situation;
ultrasound;
radiography- X-ray in 3 different projections (it is done very rarely for small children);
computer plantography- studies of the morphological parameters of the foot;
visible outward signs- appoints procedures restoring the normal functioning of the foot and individual fixation of the limbs.

The outcome of numerous studies will enable the orthopedist to direct the treatment in the right direction.

Treatment of an acquired valgus foot defect is usually carried out in a complex way:

foot baths;
paraffin therapy (wax wrap);
ozocerite and mud applications;
electrophoresis;
magnetic therapy;
electrical stimulation of the muscles of the foot and lower leg;
therapeutic swimming;
IRT - acupuncture;
LFK - physiotherapy exercises.

There are a variety of ways to get rid of the disease.

Also, as in congenital pathology, orthopedic splints, plaster casts and other fixing elements are widely used to treat acquired valgus foot.

Benefits of massage

Massage with a flat-valgus foot, due to its effectiveness, occupies a special place among all technologies to combat the disease. It regulates the tone of the muscles of the lower leg and foot, relieves excessive tension and makes the muscles stronger, more elastic and resilient, improves blood circulation. An increase in the latter contributes to the normalization of the development and growth of the legs. To help the baby get rid of the valgus foot - you need to massage:

back,
lumbar region,
gluteal region,
joints and muscles of the legs,
Feet.

It is necessary to pay attention not only to problem areas.

Before starting the massage, the baby must first be laid on the tummy so that his feet hang from the edge of the massage or changing table, and put a small pillow in the form of a roller under the shins.

We begin to massage the back with strokes along the spine. We stroke the baby from the waist to the side of the neck. Gradually increasing the distance between our hands, we stroke the entire back to the sides and armpits. From stroking, we move on to light rubbing. We hold them with our fingertips over the entire surface of the baby's back. After we bend our fingers so that their tips touch the palms, and make rubbing movements with the resulting combs. One hand moves in one direction, the other in the opposite direction, as if sawing. Finish the back massage with stroking.

Let's start therapy from the back of the crumbs.

It is necessary to massage the lumbosacral region by alternating stroking and rubbing. We put a little baby cream on our hands (if the baby is not allergic to it) and begin to stroke his lower back in the direction from the spine in different directions and at the same time down. In the same direction, we carry out rubbing.

On the gluteal region we make circular and crosswise strokes. We rub the baby with the back of the fingers, knead his muscles, patting, gently tapping the buttocks of the crumbs. We finish the massage with strokes.

From the ass of the crumbs we move to the main goal of the event.

We massage small legs in the sequence:

stroking all the legs completely;
stroke the hips from the dimples under the knees up and out;
knead the muscles of the entire back surface of the leg with a little pressure;
rub the skin;
alternate patting the baby's legs with the palm of your hand with closed and open fingers;
we carry out the final stroke.

Carefully work on the child's legs, using all the methods presented.

The massage of the legs may vary depending on the condition of the muscles of the crumbs. We begin the general massage with light strokes that promote blood flow to the part of the body we need. It is necessary to iron the child from the heel to the popliteal dimple. It is not necessary to knead and rub the outer side of the lower leg strongly. Here it is better to focus on relaxing techniques: stretching, stroking and shaking. The inner part of the calf muscle, on the contrary, must be vigorously rubbed with the back of the fingers. We make kneading movements with fingertips. Here you need to apply force. After deep kneading, we perform tapping and “chopping” the inside of the lower leg with our fingers. We complete the massage of the legs with strokes.

With gentle strokes, we soothe the heated skin of the baby.

After all the actions performed, we turn the baby on its back and make a set of massage movements on the front surface of the thigh:

stroking;
rub;
knead;
shake;
stroking.

By changing the position of the crumbs, we switch attention to his hips.

Everything actions are performed from the bottom up and outwards. We massage the front surface of the lower leg from the foot to the knee in the same way as with the front surface of the thigh.

Now you can turn the baby on the tummy.

Moms, do not tremble, you are doing everything right.

We begin foot massage by giving the legs the desired position - the soles look inward. First we stroke one of the feet, then vigorously rub it. We perform the same actions with the other foot. We pay special attention to the notch between the heel and toes of the baby. We actively rub it and knead it, pinch it. The upper part of the foot is also stroked and rubbed with a little pressure. Before massaging the upper part of the baby's foot, you need to turn it on its back. Separately, massage the thumb and foot near it on each leg in a circular motion.

If you are worried that you will not be able to cope with the massage yourself, then it is better to use the services of a professional children's masseur or invite him to control your actions.

Such necessary exercises

The strengthening effect of massage can be enhanced by special exercises:

turning the feet with the soles inward;
flexion of the back of the foot;
flexion of the soles;
flexion of the toes;
turning the feet inward with the capture and retention of the toy by them;
foot rotation.

We motivate the child from childhood to do light gymnastics in the morning.

The above exercises must be performed in a complex manner. At first, you and your baby will do them, and when the baby grows up, he will be able to perform healing movements himself.

Pleasant and useful gymnastics

Along with massage and special exercises therapeutic exercises help to eliminate the pathology. There is a whole gymnastic set of exercises for children who already know how to stand.

Baths with a corrugated surface are a good leg workout.

The easiest and most enjoyable exercise to perform is jumping and walking on a small corrugated rug spread at the bottom of the tub. The exercise perfectly strengthens the baby's feet, without creating an excessive load on the child's still fragile bone joints. It is necessary to carry out a gymnastic complex several times a day. Recommendations on which exercises are best to use for the treatment of hallux valgus in your baby should be given by a pediatric orthopedist.

It is also necessary to attend all physiotherapy procedures prescribed by the doctor and not to self-medicate the baby.

“A few months ago, my baby, who was then 10 months old, was diagnosed with hallux valgus. They prescribed a massage, ozocerite and amplipulse baths, and ordered me to wear shoes. We've been dealing with this issue for 5 months now. There are changes for the better. Massage combined with physiotherapy gives a very good effect! Don't neglect these treatments!"

Proper footwear in treatment is very important

A child with an incorrect foot position must definitely wear special, individually selected orthopedic shoes. The peculiarity of the latter lies in the presence of rigid lateral fixators of the feet and heels, insoles, individually selected functional insoles, and a small wide heel. Parents themselves should not choose such shoes - this should be done by a knowledgeable specialist. He is also obliged to tell about the duration of wearing corrective shoes (you can’t wear them all the time - muscles can atrophy). Doctors recommend even a healthy baby to wear orthopedic shoes, starting from the first steps.

To walk or not to walk barefoot?

The well-known pediatrician E. O. Komarovsky advocates walking at home with a valgus foot barefoot: “This has a positive effect not only as a hardening procedure, but also as an aid in the formation of the foot,” he says. Only the surfaces on which the child walks should not be smooth and absolutely even. The practice of walking barefoot or in thin socks is used when performing therapeutic exercises.

Walking barefoot is an important aspect that parents should not miss.

Elina supports Evgeny Olegovich:

“With the diagnosis of flat-valgus planting of feet, the orthopedist prescribed walking in special shoes that tightly fix the ankle joint, but we refused to walk in such shoes because my daughter experienced discomfort and began to act up only at the mere sight of these shoes. We didn’t have too much weight and, in addition, we trained a lot with her to stand and walk barefoot at the support. So we decided: orthopedic shoes are not for us. Now there are significant improvements, but I believe that the difficult question of whether it is possible to do without hard shoes or not should be decided individually for each child in dialogue with an orthopedist.”

We prevent the occurrence and development of the disease

How can you avoid the appearance of an acquired flat-valgus foot in a child? Defect prevention is reduced to the following measures:

do not put the baby on legs before 7-8 months;
carry out daily hardening;
do exercises that strengthen muscles and ligaments;
carry out preventive massage;
give the child complete food;
follow a diet with HB;
walk daily with the baby;
give the baby anti-rachitic vitamin D;
choose high-quality and appropriate shoes for the size of the baby’s legs;
time to visit doctors-specialists.

Be sure to make a long, daily exercise with the crumbs.

Up to 7 years, a flat-valgus foot can be completely cured. Up to 12-13 years - just slow down and adjust the process. Later treatment is practically useless.

Parents are happy when the child takes the first steps. But sometimes children begin to wrap the foot inward or tuck outward when walking. This may indicate various diseases, although fathers and mothers believe that it is convenient for the baby to move around like this. If the child is a year or two, then clubfoot at this age goes away. Otherwise, it is necessary to take the baby to an orthopedist in order to find out the cause of the wrong child's gait.

The first signs of pathology

Often, small children “curve” only on one leg, and step on the other with a full foot, without turning it in or out.

Pathology develops due to the incorrect position of the feet.

Parents should pay attention to the following signs of deformation of children's feet:

the child wraps them inside - the problem is associated with the curvature of the foot, the abnormal position of the femoral neck. The kid often stumbles while moving, falls. Pathology in 95% of cases disappears after a short period of time. But it is worth contacting a pediatric orthopedist to prevent complications;
the baby walks with the feet twisted outward - a similar gait is typical for all children who take their first steps. Children's walking with their feet turned outward should not cause anxiety, but if the child's shin is twisted outward, then he may develop flat feet.

When a baby has a clubfoot for a long time, especially on one leg, it is recommended to consult a doctor. The doctor will indicate how to effectively get rid of the pathology, taking into account the age and general health of the small patient.

Possible diseases

Wrong gait appears when the little one is just learning to walk. Diseases that lead to the problem under consideration include:

a mild form of rickets - leads to deformation of the lower leg, because the baby experiences slight difficulties while walking;
hip dysplasia - even minor changes in the structure of the hip bone cause a lot of inconvenience to the child, he experiences pain in the foot, so it becomes difficult for him to walk;
flat feet - a disease of the musculoskeletal system, in which the sole of the foot does not have a characteristic bend, therefore it is in complete contact with the surface while walking. A slight flat foot is observed in almost all children under the age of 5-6 years, then the foot acquires a rational shape;
congenital pathologies - the curvature of the legs in a baby may be due to heredity. If one or both parents had a gait disorder in childhood, then the child will turn the feet inward when moving;
neurological diseases - a sign of childhood neuralgia is a unilateral clubfoot, which will make it possible to judge serious violations in the functioning of the baby's nervous system;
paralysis of the spinal cord (poliomyelitis).

During gestation, women need to carefully monitor their health. Poor nutrition and various infectious diseases will affect the unborn child, can cause curvature of the knees and feet.

Diagnostics

It is not difficult for an experienced physician to identify the varus setting of the foot, or clubfoot. A pediatric orthopedist is usually limited to an external examination of the baby, but to determine the causes of a wry gait, the doctor may recommend the following diagnostic procedures:

x-ray examination of the baby's legs;
ultrasound examination;
CT scan.

When the cause of clubfoot is neurological disorders, an additional consultation with a neurologist will be required.

Treatment

According to statistics, clubfoot is detected in 1 child out of 1000. To eliminate the defect, the doctor will select an individual course of therapy depending on the state of health of the child, the degree of neglect of the pathology and taking into account the reasons that contributed to its appearance.

Remedial measures in a situation where a child turns the foot outward when walking include therapeutic exercises, massage, and wearing special shoes. In especially difficult situations, complex treatment is necessary using all of the listed methods of improving the child's body or surgery.

Gymnastic exercises

Physiotherapy exercises are used for a mild form of children's clubfoot, but you should not neglect it even at the advanced stages of the pathology. Exercises are performed every day 2-3 times, preferably under the supervision of an experienced trainer, or parents should train the child on their own.

The goal of exercise therapy will be to strengthen the muscles and joints of the lower extremities. Gymnastics is started after a medical consultation: only a specialist can indicate which muscles need to be strengthened.

Massage

Massage procedures for children's clubfoot are carried out 2-3 times during the day. Before proceeding with the treatment method, it is important to consult with an orthopedist. Massage is contraindicated for children in the following situations:

the child has skin diseases, allergic rashes;
severe clubfoot, in which massaging will damage the health of the baby;
pathology of the musculoskeletal system;
congenital diseases of the cardiovascular, nervous system;
chronic infectious diseases (hepatitis, tuberculosis, etc.);
with fever, chills, fever, weak immunity, it is strictly forbidden to massage a child.

Massage techniques depend on the degree of curvature of the child's foot. In mild and moderate forms of clubfoot, the procedure is performed with light strokes, rubbing the inside of the legs, which alternate with claps on the muscles that stimulate the girths of the limbs.

Shoes

With any form of varus deformity of the foot, it is necessary to wear children's orthopedic shoes. The orthosis is bought in a specialized store after the doctor's recommendations or made to order. Wearing anti-varus shoes will help eliminate the defect by influencing the outer, outer part of the child's foot, the heel area.

It is necessary to wear a special orthosis 2-3 hours a day for no more than 4-5 months. The footwear does not contain synthetic and allergic materials.

Prevention

Preventive measures should begin during pregnancy. The expectant mother should try to avoid various pathological processes, eliminate them in time. The following preventive measures will help prevent deviations from the normal setting of the foot:

sports activities (swimming, exercise therapy, cycling);
the child must walk on the sand, ride on special roller skates, run;
strengthening the muscles of the legs is facilitated by baths with sea salt and pine needles extract. For cooking, you need 2-3 tablespoons of coniferous extract and 1 tbsp. l. dilute sea salt in a vessel, then add to a bath with warm water and bathe the child;
preventive massage also has a beneficial effect on strengthening the legs.

The nutrition of the baby should be balanced, rich in calcium, magnesium and other trace elements necessary for the growing body.

Shoes should be chosen comfortable so that they do not pinch the foot and toes (especially large ones). Teaching a child to walk with the help of "walkers" and other assistive devices is not recommended.

An unsuccessfully twisted leg can turn into seconds of pain, or maybe weeks of long recovery from torn ligaments. Medical editor of the Challenger Dima Solovyov explains what to do if he sprained his leg and what determines the severity of the consequences. Be careful!

This has probably happened to each of us: you are walking, it would seem, on a flat surface, without looking under your feet, and suddenly - on a bump that you did not notice, the foot turns to the side, it is pierced by a sharp pain. This means that you twisted your leg. Today we will find out what happens in this case, whether such an injury is dangerous and what to do if it does happen.

What does it mean to "tuck your leg"

“Turn the foot” is not a medical term, as this combination of words means only a mechanical process of how you can turn the foot in an unusual and unsafe way for it. This usually occurs when touching a surface that a person is walking on, although in some sports (such as football) similar injuries can occur when touching a ball or any other object.

So the tucking of the leg itself is not dangerous, but the damage that the ankle joint and the tissues surrounding it can receive is dangerous. The ligamentous apparatus suffers most often, less often bones, muscles and nerves. Precisely from that what gets hurt and how strong depend on the consequences of the injury.

What can be damaged

All the consequences of an unsuccessfully turned up leg are assumed by the ankle joint. It is located near the ankle and connects the bones of the lower leg and foot. Alas, this is a rather fragile and generally “problematic” joint. In order for us to walk easily and freely, it must be sufficiently mobile and therefore consists of small bones, which together form a complex system. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the ankle joint accounts for the mass of almost the entire body, and during loads, such as running or even fast walking, the pressure on the joint only increases. So the consequences of twisting the leg are injuries in the ankle joint: sprains, tears and even torn ligaments, as well as dislocation of the leg and, in the worst case, bone fractures.

In most cases, the leg is twisted inward, resulting in damage to the ligaments on the opposite (outer) side of the leg. This can lead to their stretching, tearing or even rupture (sometimes a click or crunch is heard at the time of injury). As a rule, the stronger and sharper the leg is twisted, the more severe the consequences for the ligaments. If the ligaments cannot compensate for too sharp a turn in the joint, its dislocation is possible, and if a person has a tendency to brittle bones, even a fracture of the bones located nearby can occur. In a word, the consequences can be very different: from mild to quite serious.

What to do if you sprained your leg

If you just twisted your leg, after ten seconds the pain goes away and you can move on - nothing needs to be done. However, if the pain still persists, you need to examine the leg in the area of the affected ankle joint.

First of all, we pay attention to the nature of the pain. “Suspicious” is considered to be, which remains strong for an hour, appears and intensifies when you try to step on an injured leg. Even touching the skin near the ankle can be painful. This may be accompanied by bruising and swelling of the tissues around. A more formidable symptom is a change in the shape of the joint and a violation of its mobility (especially the appearance of new, previously impossible movements - say, an unusual deviation to the side). In the most severe case, even the shape of adjacent bones can change - this already makes you think about a fracture.

If you twist your leg and it continues to hurt, there are four things you need to do:

Let her rest. Try to walk less in the next couple of days, ideally, activity in the affected ankle joint should generally be minimized.
Cool the joint area. Ice is best for this, but you can also use a towel soaked in cold water. During the first day, apply it on the ankle for 15-20 minutes every 3 hours. However, do not overdo it: if the skin is very pale, immediately remove the ice from the leg and warm it up.
Put something tight on your leg. It can be tight stockings, compression stockings or a tight bandage - the goal is to prevent excessive swelling around the ankle joint from developing. The compression should be tight, but not too squeezing, otherwise there will be a threat of impaired blood flow.
Raise the affected foot up, this will also help to avoid swelling. We are not talking about the fact that you need to lift it high: a pillow placed under the leg is enough.

If the pain seems too strong for you, then in the absence of contraindications, you can take painkillers from the group of non-steroidal drugs: paracetamol, ibuprofen, etc. There are also local ointments and gels with a similar effect.

Photo: Morian Marroni / freeimages.com

There are also a few things NOT to do:

Warm baths in the early days are contraindicated. Warm water activates the blood supply to the damaged area, which threatens to increase swelling and inflammation.
You should not continue to walk a lot and play sports, overcoming the pain. So you can additionally damage an already diseased joint, which threatens to aggravate existing injuries.
Massage in the area of injury at first, too, may not be very helpful. The reasons are the same - massage improves the blood supply to the tissues, and this is not at all what we need: it will increase inflammation, swelling and may even cause bruising.
There is one more thing to avoid: staying too long. Rest in the first day or two is necessary, but in the subsequent gradual increase in activity in the ankle only contributes to healing. The only exceptions are the most severe injuries, when pain simply does not allow walking, but in such cases it is also impossible to lie at home - you should consult a doctor.

When to Seek Medical Care

The most common ankle injury, a sprain, usually resolves on its own and without sequelae. However, in some cases, the injury can be much more serious, and one cannot do without going to the doctors. Here are some signs of such an injury:

if, after damage to the joint, unusual movements became possible, its stability was disturbed;
if there is a visible deformation of the bones;
if on the second day when you touch the skin over the damaged joint, severe pain persists;
if after 4 days the affected leg is still difficult to step on;
if you experience very severe pain, swelling or bleeding;
if you find that all or part of your foot is numb (a sign of nerve damage).

In all these cases, you should contact a traumatologist. He should ask you about the circumstances of the injury and will most likely take an x-ray. As a rule, these data are enough to make a diagnosis, but sometimes additional studies may be required: ultrasound of the joint, CT or MRI.

If you don't have any of the symptoms listed above, it makes sense to wait and see how your ankle will behave. There is evidence that in case of damage to the ligaments, the examination after 5 days is less than the examination during the first 2 days. So if there are no pronounced symptoms, in the first days you can wait for the pain to disappear.

As soon as the baby begins to take the first steps, mothers should be on the alert and carefully look at how the baby walks. If you notice that the child's heel collapses when walking, then this is an occasion to visit an orthopedic doctor.

The heel collapses when walking - a sign of a hallux valgus

A consultation with an orthopedist is necessary for a baby whose heel falls inward when walking, since such a gait is one of the signs of leg deformity according to the valgus type. Moreover, the actual deformation itself may not be visible at first, because the baby’s legs are gradually bent due to incorrect setting of the feet when walking.

However, if the baby gets into the habit of putting the foot, rolling the heel inward, then within a few months after he begins to actively walk, placing the foot incorrectly, the legs will begin to take on the shape of the letter X. Usually, the deformation becomes already clearly noticeable when the distance between the ankles with tightly compressed and straightened knees in a child exceeds 3.5-4 cm.

X-shaped deformation of the legs can be corrected, but this will require a lot of time and effort. That is why mothers of toddlers who start walking need to carefully monitor how their children put their legs while walking, since it is easier to prevent the tendency to develop X-shaped deformity than to correct deformed legs and valgus flat feet later.

As soon as the baby begins to walk actively enough on his own, carefully observe how he puts his legs while walking. Also pay attention to how the baby's first shoes began to wear out: if children's shoes wear out more on the inside, then it's time to show the baby to the orthopedist.

What is dangerous valgus curvature of the legs in a child

With valgus deformity of the legs, the problem is not only in the external defect. In the process of development of the curvature, changes occur in the knee joints and feet. So, the knee joint is overextended, which leads to pain during long walking, and the arch of the foot drops when the legs are incorrectly set, and flat feet are added to the deformity of the legs. As a result, the spine begins to bend and scoliosis develops, which, in turn, entails a displacement of the internal organs, leading to various diseases.

Why do children develop hallux valgus?

Quite often, children with an X-shaped deformity of the legs have an innate predisposition to this disease. The deformation is directly caused by the load on the child's legs when walking in the case when the musculoskeletal apparatus is still too weak and is not ready to withstand these loads. And the weak muscular-ligamentous apparatus is just an inherited congenital feature.

Therefore, parents who themselves suffered from leg deformity in childhood should be especially attentive to their baby and not stimulate him to walk early, and also report the child’s congenital predisposition to valgus feet to the orthopedist at the first scheduled examination of the child at 1 month . If the doctor deems it necessary, he will prescribe procedures that help strengthen the ligaments and muscles of the crumbs.

As for the advice not to encourage the child to walk early, it is relevant for absolutely all parents. The kid will go on his own when he is ready for it. Do not abuse and devices such as walkers and jumpers. For example, walkers can only be used for babies older than six months for no more than 30 minutes 2 times a day and provided that the child does not have signs of rickets, increased or decreased tone in the legs and disorders in the musculoskeletal system.

Treatment and prevention of X-shaped deformity of the legs in children

Treatment of valgus legs in a child is a long process that requires systematic training. At the same time, the earlier the disease is noticed in the crumbs, the easier it is to correct the situation.

The complex of treatment is prescribed by an orthopedic doctor, depending on the degree of deformation and the condition of the joints, muscles and ligaments of the baby. As a rule, the treatment complex includes massage courses, specially selected exercises to strengthen some muscle groups and relax others, physiotherapy, and swimming.
The doctor also selects special orthopedic shoes with specially beveled heels and corrective insoles, which will need to be worn for a certain amount of time daily. In more severe cases, special orthopedic splints may be used. And only in the most difficult situations, when no other treatment gives a result, surgical intervention can be applied.

As for prevention, in order to avoid curvature of children's legs, orthopedic doctors do not advise parents to force events and put children on their feet before the musculo-ligamentous apparatus is ready for this. Gymnastics, proper nutrition and proper selection of children's shoes can also be attributed to measures to prevent orthopedic foot problems.

Particular attention should be paid to the selection of shoes. It should be with a hard back, fix the child's leg well, and not be too tight or narrow. It is also unacceptable to purchase shoes for a child “with a margin”, that is, a size, or even two more. It is better to try on shoes when buying on the sock with which you plan to wear them.