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Health

Treatment of transverse flat feet

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Treatment of transverse flatfoot most often occurs with the help of various devices that correct the shape of the foot, such as insoles in shoes, or even special shoes. Surgical intervention is used in the treatment of flatfoot extremely rarely.

Every second person on Earth is familiar with such a disease as flat feet. If you did not have flat feet in your youth, this does not mean that it will not overtake you in old age. The foot can become deformed with age due to various external factors (wrong shoes, loads on the feet, etc.). Now this disease is very often diagnosed in children.Flat feet are a change in the foot. Doctors recommend prevention of flat feet to almost everyone. Our spine, and all organs depend on the correct shape of the foot.

Treatment of transverse flatfoot in adults

The first and most frequent clients of flat feet are women. In order to look beautiful, they make great sacrifices. They wear the wrong shoes, high heels, platforms, blindly following fashion.

Men are much less likely to have transverse flatfoot. This disease can occur in men when they spend a lot of time on their feet and the entire body weight presses on them or the problem is aggravated by improper footwear. According to statistics, transverse flatfoot occurs in a ratio of 8: 2 (women-men). Transverse flatfoot is also genetically transmitted through the maternal line.

Treatment of transverse flatfoot in adults is divided into two stages (types): conservative and surgical. The treatment method is selected by an orthopedic doctor after examining the foot and taking an X-ray. At an early stage, transverse flatfoot is recommended to be treated with a simple warm foot bath. Massages are recommended, which are done by a specialist to correct transverse flatfoot. The doctor can prescribe corrective gymnastics and physiotherapy. With severe flatfoot, special insoles or orthopedic shoes are prescribed. With serious foot deformation, surgical intervention is prescribed.

The most unpleasant thing about this disease is that it is impossible to get rid of it completely. The longer you delay the treatment of transverse flatfoot, the less chances you have to cure it. It is almost impossible for an adult to get rid of transverse flatfoot completely, but if it was diagnosed in childhood, then there is a chance.

Treatment of transverse flatfoot in children

According to statistics, 60% of children aged 6-7 years have flat feet. If the disease is diagnosed in time, it can be cured and forgotten forever, provided that the right shoes are worn. In fact, it is difficult to treat transverse flat feet in small children. Only at the age of 12-13, when the arch of the foot is not fully formed, but the whole body is in the process of active growth, can you influence the correct formation of the foot. At a more mature age, the chances of curing transverse flat feet are greatly reduced. This means one thing, that the child will wear orthopedic shoes and insoles. Cases of congenital flat feet are very rare. Then the treatment begins from the moment the diagnosis is made. To treat congenital transverse flat feet in children, plaster casts or splints are prescribed. Surgical intervention is not practiced for flat feet in children.

During treatment, you need to pay close attention to how the child walks. You need to try to put the feet parallel and lean on the outer edge of the foot.

Treatment of transverse-longitudinal flatfoot

Transverse-longitudinal flatfoot is associated with weak foot muscles. The foot muscles shift, the forefoot deviates outward, and the heel bone deviates inward. With transverse-longitudinal flatfoot, people often suffer from swelling and pain in the legs. This type of flatfoot most often occurs in women who wear narrow shoes and are overweight. In this combination, the foot does not distribute the load correctly and becomes deformed over time.

Treatment of transverse-longitudinal flatfoot is initially carried out using conservative methods. The treatment complex includes hot foot baths with a saline solution, which relieves swelling. Baths with chamomile are also recommended, they will help with foot pain and relieve inflammation. Of the physiotherapeutic methods for the treatment of longitudinal-transverse flatfoot, electrophoresis with herbal preparations and paraffin applications are good. An orthopedic insole will help support the foot in the correct position. If walking is impaired, then surgery is performed, otherwise transverse-longitudinal flatfoot will lead to limited movement. Surgery will help get rid of pain and swelling, eliminate discomfort in the foot.

Treatment of transverse flatfoot with insoles

Unfortunately, the first thing that contributes to transverse flatfoot is footwear. Today, when we live in the modern world, walking barefoot is a luxury for us. Therefore, we suffer from flatfoot and are forced to improve footwear so that our feet are comfortable. So, orthopedic insoles and various insoles were developed to treat transverse flatfoot. Orthopedic insoles cope with their task to the fullest extent.

They cushion the foot well and reduce the load on the feet. Before buying insoles, you should definitely consult an orthopedist. If you choose the wrong orthopedic insoles, you can harm your foot and worsen flat feet. To choose the right insole, you need to measure all changes in your foot. Ideally, orthopedic insoles should be worn not only for treatment, but also for the prevention of transverse flat feet.

Surgical treatment of transverse flatfoot

In modern Kalinniki, surgical operations to eliminate transverse flatfoot have been performed for many years. Surgical intervention is prescribed when conservative treatment does not give any results, and the pain in the foot increases, the foot is deformed further. Most often, the essence of the operation is to change the angle between the bones of the foot and correct the transverse arch. After surgery, the foot is restored correctly, pain and swelling disappear. An important fact is that after the operation, transverse flatfoot will no longer return.

Traditional treatment of transverse flatfoot

Traditional treatment of transverse flatfoot involves physical exercise. No herbal infusions can cure flatfoot, but they help reduce pain and swelling. Chamomile and various coniferous plants will help relieve fatigue. They should be added to salt baths. A good effect is observed when walking on tracing paper. You can also make a special rug with different pebbles of different shapes and sizes, and walk on them. A somewhat unusual, but effective method can be an abacus. Place your feet on the abacus and massage. It is very useful to walk barefoot, even on a flat surface. This means walking not on asphalt, but on grass. Swinging a bottle with your feet on the floor has a good effect. If you do such exercises well and for a long time, the result will not be long in coming.

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Treatment of transverse flatfoot grade 2

First, we need to understand what is transverse flatfoot of the 2nd degree. In medicine, there are three degrees of flatfoot. The second degree is the level of the arch of the foot from 141 to 155 °, the height of the arch is 24-17 mm.

The second degree of transverse flatfoot is characterized by an increase in the angle to 15 degrees. The pain mainly comes from the localized under the heads of the middle metatarsal bone. At the second degree, the calluses become larger and continue to grow. The big toe is curved and grows inward. At this stage, the pain becomes more significant when loading the foot.

Treatment of grade 2 transverse flatfoot involves wearing orthopedic shoes and limiting standing. Massages, physiotherapy procedures and therapeutic exercises are very effective. Often, an orthopedic doctor recommends surgery. After surgery, grade 2 transverse flatfoot completely disappears and does not return.

Treatment of transverse flatfoot with exercises

Treatment of transverse flatfoot with physical exercises (LFK) consists of strengthening the ligament and muscles of the foot. Therapeutic exercises should be performed every day for 15-20 minutes, and it is better to do several approaches. Treatment with exercises is effective only for transverse flatfoot. Such therapeutic physical training is the following process. Connect straightened legs so that the knees and feet touch each other. Try to straighten the left foot and put the front part under the right foot. Repeat for the other leg. Repeat this exercise for 10-15 minutes.

For the following exercises, you need to squat. Take a small ball and try to lift the inside of your foot. Place small objects on the floor, these can be pencils, batteries, pens, and try to pick up these objects with your toes. Take a newspaper or paper and crumple it into a ball with your feet.

For the following exercises, you need to stand up. Walk on the outer foot, bending your toes. Also walk around the room on tiptoe.

Physical exercise is one of the components of successful treatment of transverse flatfoot.

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