Clubfoot exercise therapy. About the treatment of clubfoot in children with exercise therapy. Indications for massage sessions

Clubfoot is a common developmental abnormality of the musculoskeletal system in young children. The disease is expressed in a persistent violation of the physiological location of the bones of the talonavicular joint, which is responsible for flexion and extension of the foot. The lack of timely therapy can lead to the development of muscle atrophy, curvature of the spine, and impaired mobility of the lower extremities. Comprehensive exercise therapy for clubfoot in children is the preferred method for correcting congenital and acquired deformities.

Training goal for clubfoot

Clubfoot of varying severity is diagnosed in almost 12% of infants. It was found that congenital pathology may be the result of a genetic predisposition or excessive mechanical impact on the lower limbs of the fetus during intrauterine development with oligohydramnios or incorrect presentation. Acquired clubfoot in children at an early age occurs in about 3-5% of cases and most often develops after injuries or some infectious and inflammatory diseases. As a result of anatomical abnormalities, persistent deformity of the feet is formed: the soles are turned inward, an inflection forms in the center of the feet, and the volume of the legs is significantly reduced.

Pathology does not cause any painful sensations to the baby, but is accompanied by a limitation of the mobility of the talonavicular joint and a change in gait. In severe cases, if left untreated, clubfoot can cause disability. Medical gymnastics is used as the main method of therapy, the main goals of which are:

• Restoration of mobility and physiological structure of the foot;
• Normalization of the muscle tone of the lower extremities;
• Prevention of muscle atrophy of the lower leg and thigh;
• Activation of local blood flow and tissue nutrition.

Attention!

When diagnosing congenital clubfoot, it is necessary to start therapy from the first days of life. The older the child, the less elastic and pliable his musculo-ligamentous apparatus becomes, and it takes much longer to restore the natural position of the foot.

Exercise therapy rules

When doing exercises for clubfoot in children of all ages, you must adhere to the following rules:

• Training is required at least 5-6 times a week. The duration of work with each foot in newborns is 5-7 minutes, in school-age children - at least 15-20 minutes;
• All movements should be smooth and painless. If you experience discomfort or fatigue, you need to take a break;
• Classes for children of all ages are conducted without shoes. It is allowed to wear thin socks;
• Exercising for clubfoot should be done after thermal procedures (taking a bath or shower, warming compress). It is recommended to complete each complex with an intensive foot massage using oil or a special cream. After the end of the workout, hypothermia should be avoided, and the legs should be insulated with woolen socks or tights;
• To improve the effectiveness of treatment, exercise should be combined with physical therapy, swimming, sports, and wearing orthopedic shoes as directed by your doctor.

Gymnastics for newborns

Before starting the lesson, the baby must be undressed and placed with his stomach on a changing table or other flat hard surface. As a warm-up, it is recommended to bend each leg at the knee several times and warm up the muscles with stroking and rubbing movements in the direction from the foot to the thigh. The complex includes:

• Stretching the heel tendon. While lying on your stomach, bend one leg at the knee, holding the lower leg with your left hand. With the palm of your right hand, press the baby's sole with soft springy movements, directing it to the back side;
• Elimination of plantar flexion. Turn the baby over on his back, pressing his shin tightly against the surface of the changing table. With the other hand, grasp the foot and press on its outer edge towards the back;
• Elimination of adduction of the forefoot. In the supine position, fix the baby's shin with one hand, and with the other make smooth straightening movements, moving the front arch of the foot to its outer side;
• Relaxation of contracture. Having grabbed the baby's foot, carefully rotate it with a small amplitude in both directions.

Exercises for double-sided clubfoot must be repeated for the other leg. It should be postponed if the baby is hungry, naughty or feeling unwell.

Exercises for children from 2 years old

When a child begins to walk, the workout becomes more difficult and includes exercises aimed at strengthening the muscle corset, improving blood circulation and correcting gait. Classes are recommended to be carried out in a playful way. Each movement should be repeated 6-8 times:

• Free warm-up (running, marching, jumping);
• Ballet step. Walk in a straight line with the toe abducted outward, trying to push the heel in and forward as much as possible;
• Soldier's step. Walk, raising your knees high and rolling from heel to toe;
• Development of the lateral surfaces of the feet. Stand for 20-40 seconds on the outer and then on the inner arches of the foot. It is allowed to hold on to any fixed support with your hands;
• Development of the forefoot. Stand up straight, feet together, feet parallel to each other. Holding the back of the chair, raise your toes as high as possible, lingering at the top point for 15-20 seconds;
• In the same position, tuck in your toes without lifting your heels off the floor;
• While sitting on a chair, rotate your feet in different directions, roll balls of different diameters, grab with your fingers and move small objects (pencils, shreds, crumpled paper, toys);
• Squat deeply without lifting the sole from the floor surface.

Experts recommend that children with clubfoot walk barefoot on uneven surfaces as often as possible, practice on the Swedish wall, swim in the pool, ride a bicycle. If you have free time, you should take the corrective posture "sitting between the heels". To do this, you need to kneel on the floor, spreading your feet with your socks outward, then sit between your heels, keeping your legs in position.

Activities for teens

Therapeutic gymnastics for clubfoot in older children includes performing all the above exercises in an arbitrary order. Classes should be supplemented with light jogging for at least 20-30 minutes. When running and walking, special attention must be paid to the correct positioning of the foot.

In adolescence, it is required to additionally strengthen the muscles of the lower back and shoulder girdle. For this, it is recommended to train with a heavy gymnastic ball with a diameter of 45-60 cm:

• Squat with a straight back, holding the fitball in front of you on outstretched arms;
• Push up from the floor with your feet on the ball;
• To swing the press, resting your lower back on the surface of the fitball and turning your feet out with your socks;
• Do lunges with the knee and shin of one leg on the ball.

It is also recommended to supplement the exercise therapy complex for clubfoot with exercises with elastic gymnastic bands (you can replace it with a thick wide elastic band). The most effective exercise is stretching. To perform it, you need to sit on the floor with your straight legs extended forward, and wrap both feet with tape just below the level of your toes. Try to spread your feet as wide as possible, lingering in this position for 20-30 seconds. Repeat at least 12 times.

Exercise performance and prognosis

The younger the child is and the earlier the classes to correct the defect are started, the more favorable the prognosis for the patient. With a mild form of pathology, visible improvements are noticeable after 1-2 months. Experts recommend regularly performing exercise therapy exercises for clubfoot in children for at least 2-3 years, even with complete recovery.

Therapeutic gymnastics is effective only with mild to moderate clubfoot, when the angle of inclination of the foot does not exceed 45 °, and the mobility of the joint is preserved. In the case of severe impairment, young patients are shown the imposition of plaster casts or surgical intervention.

In almost 90% of cases, clubfoot in children of all ages is completely cured with exercise. To achieve a quick and lasting result, complex therapy is required, taking into account the doctor's prescription.

A set of exercises that you need to do with your child daily, for a long time. Each exercise should be repeated 5-7 times, with the foot fixed at the end of the exercise for 15-20 seconds. In this case, the child should lie on his back, on a hard surface (for example, on a changing table).

Exercise 1. Taking the child's shin in one hand, and the middle part of his foot in the other, make a foot movement "towards yourself and away from you."

Exercise 2. One hand of an adult holds the child's foot by the heel, and the fingers of the other hand move the child's toes "away from you and up".

Exercise 3. One hand of an adult fixes the ankle joint of the baby, and the other, clasping the middle of the foot, carries out the movement of the foot "from side to side".

Exercise 4. One hand of an adult fixes the middle part of the child's foot, and the thumb of the other hand gently unbends the toes of this foot.

Exercise 5. The position of the hands of an adult is the same as in the previous exercise. But extension is carried out only with the child's big toe.

Exercise 6. One hand of an adult holds the child's foot by the heel, and the fingers of the other hand press on the front and middle sections of the foot, bringing it to the side.

Exercise 7. One hand of an adult fixes the child's shin, and the fingers of the other hand press on the outer edge of the foot, bringing it to the inside.

Exercise 8. When performing this exercise, the child is placed on his stomach. An adult holds the baby's shin with one hand, pulling his heel towards himself with the other hand.

Exercise 9. One hand of an adult fixes the ankle joint of the baby, and the palm of the other hand is firmly pressed against the foot of the child and presses on it, slightly twisting outwards.

Exercise 10. One hand of an adult fixes the child's ankle joint, while the other grabs the foot and performs an outward movement.

Exercise 11. One hand of an adult holds the child's leg bent at the knee joint, the other hand grabs the foot and gently pulls it forward, shifting it into a natural position.

To prevent and treat clubfoot, you can use:

1. Walking along the "path - herringbone". Draw a 1–2 m long herringbone on the floor with chalk or on paper with bright colors, with branches at an angle of 15–30 degrees. Invite your baby to walk along such a path, stepping on each "twig", turning the feet outward. In the summer, you can draw such a path on the sand, lay it out of boards or bricks, and let the child walk along it several times a day. Gradually, thanks to your perseverance and patience, the correct installation of the feet is developed, the gait is normalized, and the curvature of the legs is corrected.

2. "Rubber band". Sitting on the floor, support with your hands behind, straightened legs together, put on a wide elastic band on the front sections of your feet. Take the feet to the sides, stretching the elastic; the heels remain closed; try to direct your fingers "towards yourself" (foot extension). Maintain this voltage from 10 seconds to 1 minute 1 time. (If at first it is not possible to stretch the elastic for longer, then perform the exercise several times until the muscles are tired).

3. "Bar". Standing with the front sections of the feet on a bar 10-15 cm high, the heels hang from the bar, hold the bar of the wall bar (or the back of the chair) with your hands.

1, 2, 3 - springy movements with the heels to the floor, stretching the back surfaces of the shins and the Achilles tendons. 4 - return to starting position. 8 times.

4. "Squats". Standing in front of the Swedish wall, hold the bar in front of you with your hands, feet shoulder-width apart. 1- Sit down as deep as possible, connecting the knees, the feet turn to the inner arches. 2- Straighten up. 10 times.

5. "Airplane" or "Boat". Lying on your stomach, legs are straightened and tightly pressed against each other, feet in an extension position (toes towards themselves), hands in front of you.

1- Raise your head, upper shoulder girdle and arms to the sides so that the shoulder blades are connected. At the same time, raise your tightly closed legs, stretch your heels back, stretching the spine. Hold this position for 1 minute.

2- Return to ref. position. 1 time.

6. Standing in front of a chair, hands on the belt, legs together.

1- Raise your right leg, bending at the knee, and put it on the seat of a chair with the foot abducted to the right.

2- Return to starting position.

3- Raise your left leg, bending at the knee, and put it on the seat of a chair with the foot abducted to the left.

4- Return to starting position. Run 6 times.

7. "Walking goose step" in the squat position with the feet abducted to the sides. Hands free or on the belt. Tired.

8. "Walking on heels" 20 sec.

9. "Birdie". Sitting on a chair, legs together, hands on the belt.

1- raise the front sections of the feet with abduction to the sides.

2- return to ref. position. Tired.

10. "Rotation of the foot".

Sitting on a chair, put your right leg on your left knee on your knee, put your hands in the "lock" on your right knee to fix your right leg.

1- With the right foot, "draw" circles clockwise (until slightly tired).

2- With the left foot "draw" circles counterclockwise (until slightly tired).

11. Dance movement. Standing feet together, hands on the belt.

1- Place the right leg to the right side on the heel with the foot abducted to the right, light squat on the left leg.

2- Return to ref. position.

3- Place the left leg to the side on the heel with the foot abduction to the left, light squat on the right leg.

4- Return to ref. position. 8 times.

When moving the leg to the side, bend the leg at the knee so that there is a dance movement.

12. Stretching the back surfaces of the legs. Sitting on the floor, legs straightened and closed, hands on the waist.

Stretch your arms to your feet, feet in extension position (towards yourself), do not bend your legs:

1, 2, 3- perform springy slopes.

4- Return to ref. position. 6 times.

13. "Rope Walker". Walking on a rope or a gymnastic stick with the feet abducted to the sides.

14. Crawling on bellies with advancement and with support on the feet set aside to the sides.

15. "Taz". Lying on your back, arms along the body, legs bent and spaced shoulder-width apart.

1 - Raise the pelvis, leaving the feet shoulder-width apart and knees, trying to connect.

2 - Return to starting position. 6 times

16. Game of ghosts

With this game, you can perfectly develop coordination of movements, the muscles of the child's legs become stronger. A white sheet and a large rug with a hard, fluffy surface will help your child to play for themselves.

One person (an adult) throws a sheet over himself, playing the role of a ghost. The child takes off his shoes and repeats all the actions of the ghost, which moves around the room. The ghost can run, walk, sit, freeze, the child does the same so that the ghost does not notice him.

The child repeats all the actions of the ghost quietly, on tiptoe, in order to train the muscles of the legs. When the ghost turns around, the child must "protect" from it by jumping on one leg. It trains and strengthens the leg muscles.

17. "Fishing with the feet"

This exercise is great for clubfoot by training the feet and ankles. It is necessary to put the child on a high chair - "river bank", from there he will fish. But not with your hands, but with your legs. You need to scatter a few objects around the child, such that you can lift with your toes. This is what the child will do, and at the same time, correct the shape of the foot.

Such a game must be carried out every day, and then the child's clubfoot will be leveled, and the mobility of the fingers will increase.

clubfoot foot deformity rehabilitation

Clubfoot. Therapeutic gymnastics and massage

Treating clubfoot in children Treating clubfoot in children

Exercise therapy complex for clubfoot in children:
Important: Exercises for clubfoot in children are done without shoes.

1) Walking (done every day):
1. "Step of a ballerina". Extend the toe of one leg forward and slightly to the side, then push the heel of the same leg forward as much as possible, take a step, then repeat everything with the other leg. In this case, you need to ensure that the legs are straightened at the knees to the end.
2. "We walk like a clown." Stand - heels together, toes as strong as possible to the sides. Thus, start walking, while trying to maintain the original position.
3. "Toe walking". The toes must necessarily be to the sides.
4. "Walking on heels" The same thing.
5. "X-walking" (for those who do not suffer from X-shaped legs). Try to stand on the inside of the foot. To do this, you need to sit down a little, push your knees forward, raise the outer edge of the foot (toes to the sides). It should be noted that this exercise is difficult, it immediately becomes very difficult for the child.
6. "Walking like soldiers". Raising the knees high (they should be directed only forward parallel to each other), spread the toes to the sides.

2) Exercises for clubfoot in children with a gymnastic stick, you can use any longer stick with a diameter of about 1.5 - 2.0 cm (done every day):
1. Walking across the stick. In this case, the heels must necessarily touch the ground.
2. Walking along a stick like a circus performer.
3. Walking in the same way as in "Ballerina's step", only the toe should be placed on the stick, and the heel should be left on the ground.

3) Squats (can be combined):
1. Regular squats. It is necessary to strive to ensure that the child does them independently. Hands forward, foot completely on the ground. At first, you can hold the child's hands. Run 10-15 times.
2. Cross-legged squats. The same, but here the child's help is obligatory. You need to hold his hands.
3. Exercise - "Pussy". The child stands in front of the sofa (chair), makes a bend, reaches the floor with his hands, and begins to move forward with his hands to the sofa, reaches the sofa. In this case, the legs are straightened. At this time, the parent sits behind and holds the child by the legs (you should try to pull the child's heels as low as possible to the floor). Having reached the couch, the child does push-ups, then again with his hands on the floor returns to the starting position.

4) Exercises with a gymnastic wall (can be combined with squats):
1. A small wooden slide is additionally purchased or made to the wall. The child gets up the hill completely with his entire foot, and moves, holding on to the parent, up. In this case, the knees should be fully extended. It is necessary to ensure that the toes are directed to the sides, and the foot is completely touching the slide.
2. Standing on the slide and holding on to one of the wall steps, the child can do squats on his own. Care should be taken to keep the knees pointing only parallel to the front and not to the sides.
3. Just climbing the stairs. At the same time, it is good if the child climbs without shoes.
4. "Sailor-style climbing". Imitating the sailor, you need to grab one of the supports of the gymnastic wall with your hips, put your foot on the lower step so that the foot is twisted to the side, then push off, put the other leg, etc.

At night, before putting on splints:
1. Lying down, lift the foot up to the stop, then to the side until it stops. Repeat 20 times with each leg.
2. Lying down, the parent lifts the leg up and to the side and asks the child to hold the leg in this position for a count of 10. Repeat 3 times with each leg.

Also, parents can develop a set of exercises for clubfoot in children and gradually increase the load. An exercise therapy specialist can suggest some useful exercises.
You can advise the following:
The first lesson must be started with a run - preferably in a circle. This will help the child warm up the muscles. I must say that when running, speed is not required. The main thing is for the child to put his legs correctly. In the next lesson, you need to introduce additional exercises, and then do a "psychological" exercise so that it deliberately distracts the baby from the correct setting of the legs. You need to raise your arms to your chest, clench your fists and twist them in front of you while running. To begin with, you can twist your fists only in one direction, for example, towards yourself, and after a while, after several sessions, 10 times in each direction. Parents should pay attention to how the child will place the legs during this exercise.
Walking, running around the hall should be diluted with jumping on the toes. In this case, the setting of the legs should be like Charlie Chaplin's, in other words - the heels together and the socks apart. In this position, the legs should come off the floor, and then land. It is good to walk up stairs with such a gait, it is best of all, constantly. You should also include goose-step walking. An excellent corrective posture is sitting between the heels on the floor, with the legs turned out like a frog.
You also need to include exercises to stretch the spine. Thanks to such exercises, the back is relieved.
I must say that regardless of the cause of clubfoot, children should have a strict daily routine, in which exercise therapy should be a mandatory place - Physiotherapy for clubfoot in children and swimming. It is also a good prevention of clubfoot in children. If the approach to treatment is correct, all the recommendations of the orthopedist are followed, then the pathological deformity of the foot can be completely eliminated.

Exercise therapy for clubfoot in children http://lfk-gimnastika.com/lfk-dlya-detej/141-lfk-pri-kosolaposti-u-detej
Massage for clubfoot in children is one of the most effective treatments.
The massage is used to relax the inner and back muscle groups of the lower leg, where there is an increased tone, you need to stroke, shake the muscles, followed by stretching them with vibrating movements.
To strengthen the stretched or weakened front and outer muscle groups of the lower leg, other, more active techniques are used - rubbing and kneading, as well as light tapping with your fingers.
Massage for children with clubfoot is most effective with a general tonic massage of the whole body, without working with the hands. The same is true for clubfoot massage in adults.
First, you need to stroke the entire length of the leg, then the thigh, lower leg, Achilles tendon and sole are massaged in turn.
The thigh is stroked from bottom to top, from the popliteal fossa along the posterior-outer surface and to the sub-buttocks fold. It is vigorously rubbed and kneaded with slight shaking - for better muscle relaxation.
When massaging the lower leg on the back surface, a differentiated massage is performed.
After stroking from the heel to the popliteal fossa, it is necessary to influence the calf muscle.
Achilles tendon - stroking with pinching, strokes, stretching with vibration.
The position of the foot during massage is light pronation, that is, lifting the outer edge. When massaging, stretch the inner edge of the foot and tone the outer edge.
The front surface of the legs is also massaged, after stroking along the entire length, then in turn. Then they move to the dorsum of the foot - during massage, the foot is at a right angle to the lower leg, with the normal position of the anterior section.
Vigorous rubbing along the edge, rake-like, hatching, pincer-like, kneading along the edge - shifting, pressure, pincer-like, light percussion techniques.
The ankle is rubbed well, the ankles are rubbed in a circular motion. It is important to keep the foot in the correct position of light pronation.
When massaging the front surface of the lower leg, you need to rub vigorously, tonic pressure and light blows - chopping and tapping with your fingers.
The knee joint is stroked in a circular motion and rubbed.
The front of the thigh is massaged vigorously with some movement called passive.
With one hand, you need to fix the lower part of the lower leg, and with the other you need to grip the foot so that the palm rests on the sole. Gently bend simultaneously to the back and pressing on the outer edge, slightly turning the foot to the outside. Then you need to fix the ankle joint, gently pressing on the front part of the foot, pulling it out.
Rotation of the foot outward along the longitudinal axis should be done gently, gradually lowering the inner and raising the outer edge of the foot.
However, it must be remembered that massage alone with congenital clubfoot is not enough, therefore, to improve and consolidate the result obtained, regular exercises are needed in therapeutic gymnastics.
Yandex.Direct

Gymnastics for clubfoot occupies a special place at the stage of treatment, because it is she who will strengthen the muscles and in the early stages, together with massage, will eliminate deformation. Before performing certain exercises, it is necessary to consult a specialist, because there are forms of clubfoot that are taken into account when prescribing a set of exercises. An exercise therapy instructor can also help, but only after consulting with the attending physician. In the article, let us cite some complexes for different clubfoot and general principles.

Here is an approximate complex of therapeutic exercises for clubfoot. They all start with the fact that the child's lower leg is fixed with one hand, and the foot rotates outward with the other. The left leg rotates clockwise and the right leg rotates in the opposite direction.

Parents can help during gymnastics not only toddlers, but also to adult children

The second exercise fixes the ankle joint, after which adjusting movements are carried out, while the forefoot is retracted outward.

Further, the child lies on his back, while with one hand his shin is fixed in the ankle area. The left leg is fixed with the right hand, and vice versa. With the free hand, the foot is taken so that the palm rests on the sole area, after the foot is gently bent upward, while pressing on its outer edge. This exercise helps to stretch the Achilles tendon and eliminate the plantar flexure.

With varus deformity

With varus deformity, the foot also resembles a clubfoot. This condition is most often not congenital, but is acquired in the course of life, mainly due to rickets, flat feet and many other reasons, one of which may be a bad habit.

The child is sitting, his legs should be extended, knees directed upward, feet are parallel. It is necessary to alternately bend the feet outward, the child can be helped.

Without changing the previous position, the child rotates the foot of one leg, and then the other, then rotates with both feet. The rotation takes place outward.

The child lies on his back and raises his straight legs up together or in turn. You need to reach your hand or toy with your fingertips.

It is useful to sit "between the heels" with a varus foot. The child is on his knees, his legs are slightly apart, after which he sits between the heels. Sitting in this position is necessary as often as possible.

Walking

All clubfoot exercises will be useful if the child performs them barefoot or in socks, but only without shoes.

There can be many exercises for clubfoot, you can even come up with your own

There are many walking options that will help you not only build strong muscles, but also position your leg correctly. You need to do these exercises every day.

1. You can start with the "ballerina step", which is done by putting the sock forward, as well as a little to the side. After that, the heel of this leg is extended and a wide step is taken. The same sequence is repeated with the second leg. It is important to constantly pay attention to the aspect that the leg in the knee joint is fully extended.
2. Then you can go to the "clown gait", this exercise resembles the famous steps of Charlie Chaplin. The heels should be together, but the socks, on the contrary, are spread as far as possible to the sides. In this position, walking begins, only it is important to keep the starting position as much as possible.
3. Gait "on toes", with it the tips of the fingers must be parted to the sides.
4. When walking on the heels, the same principle is followed as in the last exercise.
5. When gait "X-th", you need to stand on the inner edge of the foot. To achieve this, you need to sit down slightly, the knees are pushed forward, the outer edge of the foot is raised, and the socks, meanwhile, are deployed to the sides. It is unlikely that the child will succeed in performing this exercise right away, but it is worth trying it, over time everything will work out.
6. "Soldier's gait" is performed with knees raised high (their direction is straight forward, and parallel to each other), socks are pulled apart on the sides.

Using a stick

You need to do exercises with a gymnastic stick every day. For them, a long gymnastic stick is used, having a diameter of 1.5 to 2 centimeters.

During gymnastics, you can use not only a gymnastic stick, but also other equipment

You can walk across the stick, but the child must feel the ground with his heels. Walking along the stick should resemble that of a circus performer, as if a child is walking on a tightrope under a dome. You can walk like in the exercise "step of a ballerina", only in this case the toe is placed on the stick, and the heel, meanwhile, touches the ground.

Squats

Squats can be done in different ways and it is important to combine several types of exercises. The child can do normal squats by himself, while his arms are stretched forward, and the foot should touch the ground with the entire surface. During the first exercises, the child can be supported by the hands. The multiplicity of execution is from 10 to 15 times.

Squats with crossed legs, according to their technique, repeat the previous exercise, only now the parents must help and hold them by the hands, otherwise nothing will work.

Exercise "Pussy" can also be an element of the squat. To complete it, the child stands in front of a sofa or chair. After a tilt is made, his hands should reach the floor, after which he reaches with his hands to the sofa and smoothly begins to move, imitating the bends of a cat, his legs must be straightened.

One of the parents is constantly behind and holds the child from behind, trying to make sure that the heels do not come off the floor. When the goal - the sofa is achieved, push-ups are done, after which you need to return to the starting position.

Using a gymnastic wall

The use of this projectile can be combined with squats. Of course, someone might think that this item can take up half an apartment, but if a child has clubfoot or suspicion of it, it is better to get one.

The Swedish wall is a must for kids with clubfoot

It is better to buy or make a small wooden slide against the wall. The child becomes the entire surface of the foot on it and, with the help of the parents, begins to step up. It is important that the knees are fully extended during this exercise.

It is constantly necessary to ensure that the toes are directed to the sides, and the entire surface of the foot touches the surface of the slide.

Standing on the surface of the slide and holding onto the crossbar, the child can do squats by himself. The knees should only look forward and parallel, it is considered a mistake if they are directed to the sides.

It is also important to just climb the wall, preferably without shoes. You can also climb "sailor style". With this exercise, you need to imitate the sailors, with one leg wrapped around the support of the gymnastic wall. And the second foot with the toe turned to the side is placed on the crossbar, after which a push is made and the second leg is placed in exactly the same way.

Before bedtime

There is also a complex that is important to complete before going to bed, and then put on splints on your legs. In the supine position, the foot rises all the way up, and then to the side. The repetition rate for each leg is approximately 20 times.

In the same position, the parent lifts the child's leg up and then to the side. After holding the leg in this position, the child counts to 10. The repetition rate for each leg is three times.

Other options

You can also come up with your own complexes, only initially by consulting with your doctor or exercise therapy instructor. Gradually, with clubfoot, the load increases, this is the key point of all classes.

The first lesson, for example, begins with the child running and preferably in a circle. This exercise helps to warm up the muscles, and the speed can not be developed. The main thing with this procedure is the correct positioning of the legs, parents must control this.

One surefire way to prevent and treat clubfoot is by swimming.

Regardless of the cause of clubfoot, the child must have a strict daily routine. An important place during the day is given to therapeutic exercises and swimming, which promotes muscle development. With the help of swimming, clubfoot can be prevented. In the case of the correct approach to treatment and following all the recommendations of the orthopedist, the deformity of the foot is completely eliminated. Due diligence of the child leads to the fact that the result will be faster and better. The task of the parents is to arouse the child's interest, for this, games are suitable during which exercises are performed, you can come up with them yourself and play with the child.

What kind of massage is performed for clubfoot in children? A doctor will tell you about this, to whom parents need to contact when the first symptoms appear in a baby.
Clubfoot is a congenital or acquired defect. With it, the feet are completely or partially wrapped inward. The consequences of this defect can be very serious (up to the onset of disability).

To avoid them, it is necessary to begin the fight against pathology immediately after the birth of the baby. It is during this period that the ligaments are elastic, pliable. The foot can be set in the correct, natural position through massage.

Indications for massage sessions

Clubfoot is diagnosed at the hospital by a neonatologist. There are certain signs that allow you to identify this defect. Among them:

• the big toes are curled inward;
• axial indicators do not match;
• if the leg is placed on a flat surface, the top edge of the foot or heel rises.

Massage is prescribed if a mild or moderate degree of the disease is diagnosed, when the mobility of the joints is maximally preserved. The procedure is carried out by a specialist (in the clinic), parents must repeat the massage exercises at home and exactly those that the doctor showed them.

Many parents believe that clubfoot can go away on its own, especially after the child begins to walk. This is why they ignore therapy. This is absolutely the wrong approach. Untreated clubfoot leads to the development of scoliosis, foot defects and many other problems, including lameness.

If the situation is very difficult, then massage is not prescribed, doctors resort to other methods of treatment (this can be a cast or an operation). Clubfoot can develop in a child at a later age. It can also be caused by improperly selected shoes.

Massage at this age is prescribed for:

• dysplasia (underdevelopment of bones);
• rickets (when a lack of vitamin D affects bone development).

The procedure is prohibited if:

• the child has a temporary viral disease, accompanied by general weakness, fever;
• there are dermatological rashes on the skin;
• diagnosed with acute bone diseases;
• there are congenital heart diseases, neuralgic diseases;
• there is a hernia that falls into the massage zone.

It is important to remember that incorrect and unprofessional massage can only harm the patient and lead to a worsening of the condition.

Impact technique

The types of massage manipulations for clubfoot in a child have a certain sequence. Before prescribing the procedure, the doctor must diagnose the muscles of the lower leg and feet in order to identify the places of increased hypertonicity. The massage should not hurt the child.
The following types of manipulations are used for the legs:

• point pressure.
• spiral movements with rubbing.
• pressing and stroking the foot.
• deep rubbing, accompanied by light stroking.
• patting.
• corrective movements.
• slight vibration and light beating.
• finishing light movements.

It is best to take a massage course in the first month of a child's life. At this time, the legs and feet lend themselves well to correction and the clubfoot can be completely corrected. If this period is missed, and the pathology is diagnosed, then it is necessary to carry out massage procedures before six months. At this age, the bones of the child are soft, they lend themselves to the necessary correction.

The following exercises are used:

1. 1. Place the child on his stomach and gently bend the legs at the knees, in parallel, lightly massage the feet and legs.
2. 2. Turn the child over on his back, fix the leg in the correct position and massage the area from the lower leg to the feet with point movements.
3. 3. Be sure to treat the thigh area (top-down, movements should be more intense). In areas of increased muscle tone, it is also necessary to apply more force when pressing.
4. 4. Massage your feet, but very gently, with light movements.
5. 5. Work the knee joint with light circular motions.

It is best to observe how the doctor does the massage several times, and only then try to carry out the exercises and manipulations on your own. It must be remembered that there are areas that cannot be touched during manipulations (for example, the groin).

Correctly performed massage promotes:

• relaxation of a certain muscle group located in the back of the lower leg (where there is increased tone with clubfoot);
• increasing the tone of the muscles on the anterior surface of the lower leg and strengthening them;
• stimulation of blood circulation;
• increased conduction of nerve impulses;
• improving lymph flow;
• strengthening exactly those muscles that will keep the foot in the correct position.

Clubfoot can be diagnosed in children over 1 year old who have already begun to walk on their own. If it is pronounced, then the defect is visible even with the naked eye (the ankles do not touch when walking).

One of the most severe foot defects in children is a combined deformation of their soft tissues - clubfoot. It can be congenital and acquired, manifests itself in the wrong position of the feet: their inner part is raised, the toes are turned towards each other. With timely action, the pathology is successfully corrected using a set of various methods and procedures prescribed by a doctor.

Massage is an excellent treatment for clubfoot in children. With congenital pathology, it must be started from the very first days of the baby's life, carried out in parallel with therapeutic passive gymnastics and fixation of the feet.

The benefits of massage for treating clubfoot in children

If clubfoot is detected in children, the procedure of massage manipulations must be included in a set of measures designed to correct the position of the feet. Its systematic implementation provides the following results:

• The anterior calf muscles are strengthened.
• The conduction of nerve tissues is stimulated.
• Relaxes muscle tissue in the back and inner parts of the legs.
• Blood circulation in deformed tissues is normalized.
• A flexible, healthy leg is formed.

If the treatment of clubfoot in children with the help of massage is not carried out, this is fraught with:

• Formation of an awkward gait, posture.
• Stumbling over feet, surface.
• Further deformation of the feet, the occurrence of joint contracture.
• Developmental delays.
• Arthritis in the future.

Features of massage for clubfoot in children

The greatest efficiency of the manipulations carried out to correct the feet are in the case of their combination with procedures for the entire leg and trunk. For this, various massage movements are used:

With clubfoot in children, the muscles of the outer and front sides of the lower leg, the feet are stretched and weak, they must be toned. Therefore, the massage applied in this area must be energetic. Their goal:

• Raise muscle tone.
• Help them shrink.
• Stimulate increased mobility of ligaments and tendons.
• Improve blood circulation.

The muscles of the back and inner region of the foot and lower leg are toned. They need to be relaxed. Massage in these areas should:

• Improve metabolism.
• Anesthetize.
• Stretch muscle tissue.

It is forbidden to put pressure on the lower leg. This can be painful as the bone in this area is not protected by muscle tissue.

After studying all the features of the massage procedure in babies, you can start to start it. It is carried out once a month for 15 sessions, repeated until complete recovery.

The best option is to contact a specialist who knows the technique of treating clubfoot in children using massage. In the absence of such an opportunity and a slight manifestation of pathology, parents can carry out the procedure themselves, having learned the necessary manipulations from a doctor.

Massage technique for clubfoot in children

All movements are simple, they must be performed affectionately, gently:

When treating clubfoot in children with the help of massage, medical prescriptions must be strictly observed. After the massage procedure, it is recommended to start special exercises aimed at correcting the feet. To successfully get rid of the anomaly, massage is always used in combination with other medical procedures.

It is a defect in which the feet are partially or maximally curled inward. It can be congenital and acquired. To avoid serious consequences, including disability, it is necessary to take urgent measures immediately after the birth of the child. In the first months of a baby's life, the ligaments and muscles lend themselves well to stretching, malleable to correction, so the foot can be quickly set to its natural position. Below we will tell you what types of clubfoot can be treated with massage and how to deal with them.

Indications for massage

Massage can help with mild to moderate clubfoot, in more difficult situations they resort to other methods

The massage is recommended for children diagnosed with mild to moderate clubfoot. The initial examination by a neonatologist of a newborn in a maternity hospital will suggest the existing clubfoot by the following signs: the big toe is turned inward, the axial indicators of the lower leg and heel do not match, the inner edge of the foot or heel rises when the leg is placed on a flat surface. If the child's clubfoot is poorly expressed, the mobility in the ankle joints is preserved, then massage is prescribed. Preventive treatment is carried out by a doctor in a polyclinic, and at home the parents repeat the massage movements shown by a specialist.

Clubfoot may be due to improperly fitted shoes

Some parents believe that clubfoot will go away on its own over time, especially when the child begins to actively walk and run, regularly loading the leg muscles. However, this is a big mistake. Ignoring clubfoot treatment will lead to gait distortion, and in the future can provoke the development of scoliosis. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to the alarming symptoms and start treatment immediately.

Indications for the appointment of massage at the age of 2-3 years are underdevelopment of bones (dysplasia), weakness and improper formation of bones as a result of a lack of vitamin D (rickets) . Improperly sized shoes worn by a child can also provoke the formation of a disease. Clubfoot has a negative effect on the ankle: the outer muscles are overstretched and stretched when walking, while the inner muscles, on the contrary, are in a relaxed state. The result is extensive deformity of the foot, leading to lameness in severe cases.

Contraindications to massage

If clubfoot is left untreated, the consequences for the child can be very dire.

Massage is undesirable in cases:

• temporary course of infectious diseases associated with fever and a general weakened state of the child;
• dermatological skin diseases;
• acute bone diseases;
• congenital heart, neurological diseases;
• the presence of a hernia in the immediate vicinity of the massage area;
• , hepatitis, atrophy, tuberculosis of the osteoarticular system.

Improper massage performance can lead to a deterioration in the patient's condition. Massage is considered ineffective for severe clubfoot. In these cases, the doctor prescribes plaster correction or surgery.

Types of massage movements

Before choosing massage movements, the doctor diagnoses the child's legs and feet by probing. This allows you to assess the condition of the muscles and determine the areas of hypertonicity that require increased attention. The massage is performed in such a way that the child does not experience pain.

The following types of movements are used for the lower limbs:

• pinpoint finger pressure;
• massaging rubbing in a spiral direction;
• stroking the foot with pressure;
• light touch, accompanied by deeper rubbing;
• corrective movements with patting;
• final stroking.

Exercises during

Massage for clubfoot works best in the first month of a baby's life.

The best time for a foot massage with massage is the first month of a child's life.... If this time is missed, then you should try to undergo massage procedures for up to six months, while the bones on the legs are soft and amenable to correction.

1. Place the baby on its stomach. With your left hand, bend the leg at the knee, with the right stroking movements, move from the lower leg to the foot. The right hand, using the method of pressure, acts on the baby's foot, slightly pressing the fingers downward.
2. Turn the baby over on its back. With one hand, fix the position of the leg, with the other, begin to perform acupressure on the area from the foot to the lower leg.
3. To better get blood into the small arteries of the sole, alternate stroking the lower leg and massaging the thigh area.
4. The massage of the inner thigh is carried out from the bottom up. The thickened skin of the back of the thighs requires more intensive kneading and rubbing.
5. In those areas where there is an increased tone, stronger hand presses are used.
6. Work with the feet is carried out with extreme caution, since there are about 90 points on the soles of the feet, which, if pressed carelessly, can provoke an exacerbation of diseases.
7. The front of the thigh is stroked, the knee joint perceives well cyclic movements, then rubbing. Any movement is suitable for the ankle.

Clubfoot after one year of age

Fir-tree scheme

Hallux valgus can be found in a toddler who has already started walking. Visually, it is defined as follows: with tightly compressed knees, the inner ankles of the legs cannot come close to each other. To strengthen muscles and ligaments, an orthopedist recommends a certain set of exercises performed in a medical institution, wearing orthopedic shoes or a specially made insole that corrects the position of the foot and heel.

Massage of the back, lower back, gluteal region and limbs is prescribed.

First, stroking the legs is done, then with vigorous movements they warm up the hips, go down to the knees, grab the shins, heels and feet. The massage is especially active with the feet.

Children 3-6 years old can do some of the exercises on their own. For example, rotate your foot, sit in a frog pose, stand on your heels, squat with your back against a wall or hold on to a chair. It is advisable to carry out these exercises under the supervision of an adult, since the child may forget something or refuse to do something. The exercise "herringbone" arouses children's interest. To do this, you need to draw a Christmas tree on the floor with chalk, as little children do: an even trunk and branches outgoing in different directions. You can place pencils, pens, rulers on the floor like a Christmas tree. The child's task is to place the leg so that the inside of the foot is parallel to the branch.

Diseases are unpleasant in themselves, and diseases of the most important organs and parts of the body are a real disaster. The legs, namely the feet, carry all the weight. To always be healthy and on your feet, it is imperative to carefully monitor your health.

• Foot diseases in adults
  • Thumb bone
  • Treatment of calluses and corns
  • Warts on the sole
  • Symptoms and treatment of gout
  • Removing an ingrown toenail
  • Fighting flat feet
• Foot diseases in children
  • Heel foot placement treatment
  • Reduced feet
  • Symptoms and treatment of congenital clubfoot
  • Children's flat feet
• Reviews

In humans, the foot is the lowest part of the leg that touches the ground. The human foot is conventionally divided into several parts - the arch, back, heel, instep and sole. The constituent parts of the feet are muscles, ligaments and bones. The foot moves thanks to the joints. Muscles, which are attached with tendons to the bones, provide the ability to flex and extend the toes. The bones are connected to each other by ligaments. They also support the muscles. Bones and muscles are connected by tendons.

Painful sensations in the foot can indicate a variety of diseases that are treated with different methods. And also pain in the foot under certain circumstances accompany internal diseases. Therefore, before using this or that method of curing pain, it is imperative to identify the cause of the painful sensations.

Pain in the foot is divided into acute and chronic. Acute pain appears abruptly and bothers for a short time, and chronic pain lasts for several days, weeks, and if not treated, then months after years. Pain in the foot is accompanied by:

• Burning.
• Tumor.
• Edema.
• Numbness.
• Discoloration of the skin on the leg.

In case of painful sensations, you need to contact a traumatologist, orthopedist, neurologist, surgeon, rheumatologist or therapist. After all, only a specialist can truly correctly diagnose the disease that has appeared.

Foot diseases in adults

In adults, the appearance of foot diseases is associated with improper care, shoes that are uncomfortable to wear, lifting and carrying heavy objects. The legs must be carefully monitored, because they enable a person to walk.

Thumb bone

The change and deviation of the big toe from the growth rate is called a bone. With this deformity, the big toe slopes towards the inside of the foot. For this reason, the joints are bent on the outside, a kind of bump is formed. The activators of this foot disease are tight uncomfortable shoes, foot diseases (for example, arthrosis, arthritis).

The initial and middle stages of the disease are treated by wearing the correct shoes. Good, proper footwear has a wide toe. It is the wide toe that reduces the pressure on the toes, which eliminates discomfort while walking. And also, together with a specialist, specialized orthopedic aids, which also help to reduce stress and friction.

In the treatment of the thumb bone, the following are used: instep supports, interdigital rollers, orthopedic insoles and correctors. With the help of all these aids, pains are eliminated, the process of disease development slows down, and gait is corrected.

Medication used to remove the bone is physiotherapy and anti-inflammatory drugs.

In the case when the disease has passed into the stage of neglect, it is possible to correct it only with the help of surgical intervention. The process of removing the thumb bone is as follows:

• The surgeon removes the growth that has appeared.
• Deformed bones are reconstructed.
• Surgically, the periarticular muscles are balanced.
• The angle between the bones of the foot changes.
• Arthrodesis is performed, during which the joint of the foot is fixed.
• Tendon transplant.

A person who has noticed a growth on the foot in the area of \u200b\u200bthe big toe should contact a specialist. During the examination, the doctor will study the symptoms, the course of the process and inform about the necessary treatment, which will allow in the future to maintain the ability to move independently.

Treatment of calluses and corns

Calluses and corns are common on human feet. This is a kind of damage protection. They are often caused by wearing tight shoes. To avoid the appearance of corns and calluses, you must refuse to buy tight, uncomfortable shoes, and if you did buy them, then use a plaster during the first wear.

Methods for the treatment of corns and calluses:

• For two weeks, do hot baths with apple cider vinegar. The best time to do this is before bed. After completion, lubricate the legs with salicylic ointment.
• Use special plasters for calluses. In the evening, in order to soften the corn, baked onions can be applied in the evening.
• Leave the honey and radish compress on the corn overnight. Make a mixture of honey and radish, grated on a fine grater. Put the mass on the corn with a film, and bandage it on top or put on a tight sock.
• In the evenings, make warm baths, in which a few drops of tea tree oil are added. After the end of the procedure, be sure to wipe your feet dry.
• In the case when there are a large number of calluses on the feet, it is necessary to make warm baths with apple cider vinegar. Then take clean socks, which are not a pity. Soak them in a mixture of lemon juice and vegetable oil in equal proportions. Put on socks, wrap your legs with foil, and wrap them with a bandage on top. Wash your feet with foam in the morning.

Warts on the sole

The cause of the appearance is a virus. It penetrates the soles of the feet through microcracks in a humid environment (for example, in public baths or saunas).

Salicylic acid works well with plantar warts. In the case of a severe stage of the disease, the treatment is carried out by a specialist, resorting to the help of freezing, moxibustion, and so on.

Symptoms and treatment of gout

Gout is a kind of arthritis. Symptoms include intense pain, the skin may turn red, swelling or hardening.

The causes of gout are the deposition of salts in the joints and an increased content of uric acid in the blood. To alleviate the condition and reduce pain, the doctor prescribes anti-inflammatory and drugs that lower the level of uric acid. After the acute pain has been relieved, the specialist continues treatment as follows:

• drink a course of drugs that reduce the level of salt and uric acid.
• therapeutic procedures - therapeutic massage and physical education, physiotherapy, the use of mineral waters.
• Daily consumption of alkaline water from two to three liters.
• Drawing up the right diet. Completely excluded: coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate, alcoholic beverages. And you also have to give up fried and overly fatty foods. And give preference to plant and dairy foods.

With the steady fulfillment of all the instructions of the doctor, gout is treatable, and the foot can be restored to health.

Removing an ingrown toenail

Anyone who has encountered this unpleasant disease knows what unbearable pain this very nail delivers. Additional symptoms are foot swelling, redness, infection.

Causes of ingrown toenail include tight shoes and improper nail clipping.

In case of unbearable pain, the doctor uses a surgical procedure to remove the ingrown nail. In other cases, treatment occurs by steaming the foot and placing a cotton pad under the nail. Place the cotton pad gently so that the nail does not touch the skin of the foot.

Fighting flat feet

Causes of flat feet: heredity, trauma or rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms: Pain in the legs after prolonged walking or standing. With a lot of weight, acute pain in the feet.

Treatment: the obligatory wearing of orthopedic insoles with instep supports and the performance of physical exercises aimed at strengthening the muscles of the legs.

Foot diseases in children

The health of children must be monitored closely. If the baby begins to complain of pain in the leg and you know for sure that this is not any bruise or sprain, then you should immediately see a doctor. After all, the sooner a problem or disease is detected, the more likely it is that in the future your child will not have problems with the legs. Only a specialist can carry out the correct and necessary examinations and inform about the cause and methods of treatment of the disease.

Heel foot placement treatment

A common disease in children that develops due to the special position of the foot during intrauterine development. Treatment of this type of deformity occurs with the help of physiotherapy exercises and the installation of special splints on the feet.

The calcaneal position of the legs sometimes occurs with neurological disorders of the legs. In this case, the spine must be diagnosed for the presence of bone deformities. In this case, treatment is carried out not only with the help of orthopedic means, but also therapy that corrects the work of the spinal cord.

Reduced feet

This pathology can be diagnosed already at the age of one month in a baby. It looks like this - the front part of the foot is turned inward, and the outer part is kind of rounded. The distance between the toes is increased and the big toe looks inward. In the early stages of detection of the disease, and this is up to about three years, the deformity is cured without surgery.

The foot is corrected by hand, and then fixed with plaster splints. This correction is performed once every seven days. Conducted by a specialist. After two to three months, the pathology is eliminated.

Symptoms and treatment of congenital clubfoot

Most often, congenital clubfoot attacks males. With clubfoot, in general, the position and even the shape of the leg bones changes, and the soft tissues of the lower leg are shortened.

Clubfoot is a hereditary disease, however, it may well develop due to abnormal development of the spinal cord. By the age of seven, a child's legs become of different lengths, the difference ranges from one to two centimeters.

Treatment of congenital clubfoot should be carried out from the first month of a baby's life. The specialist performs all the same manipulations as with the given feet. And also an additional measure to improve the blood supply to the legs is given an appointment for physiotherapy treatment of the lumbar spine.

At three months, the feet are fixed with plaster casts. The complete cure of congenital clubfoot requires five years of continuous therapy.

Children's flat feet

A widespread disease in children. Only a doctor can correctly diagnose flat feet. Treatment of children's flat feet consists in performing certain physical exercises and using orthopedic insoles in shoes.

Reviews

Clubfoot is common in newborns. Often, boys become the object (girls get sick twice less often). According to various sources, about 3-5 children per 1,000 have a congenital pathology.

Information about the disease

Congenital clubfoot is one of the most common defects of the musculoskeletal system. Many factors can cause this pathology. In 30% of children, this is a hereditary disease. Also, the cause of development is the occurrence of pathology in the intrauterine state, associated with diseases of the mother or bad habits, improper positioning of the child during gestation. For the rest, this is insufficient development of the muscular apparatus and the nervous system. Congenital clubfoot is manifested by pathology in the development of joints, ligaments and bones of the ankle.

The upper edge of the talus is particularly affected. Changes in the structure of the joints of the legs, ligaments and the muscular apparatus of the limb occur due to the lack of their development, shortening and displacement of the attachment points.

Successful treatment of clubfoot depends on how quickly the defect is identified. Doctors classify the disease in the following stages:

1. Light - slight deformation of the foot, the defect can be eliminated without consequences.
2. Moderate - When limited movement of the ankle is present, difficult but treatable.
3. Severe - severe limitation in the movement of the foot, correction is possible only with surgical intervention. Full recovery is impossible. As a rule, there are consequences after a full course of rehabilitation.

Deviation diagnosis

Diagnostics of the detection of congenital clubfoot is carried out at the stage of pregnancy and the first deviations can be noticed by doing an ultrasound. You can notice clubfoot in children at an early stage of life. The best thing to do at this time is to contact a pediatrician or pediatric surgeon and decide on the tactics and program of dealing with the disease.

Acquired disease is often manifested by hunger. In the early period, it is necessary to pay attention to the functionality of the child's joints and, at the first suspicion, inform the doctor. You can also notice the wear of the shoe in certain places: at the edges of the foot on one side or the other.

This pathology is easy to correct in the early stages, and it is much more difficult to treat when the joints get stronger and the ligaments become strong.

But in the current century, medicine is progressing and every year it becomes possible that did not respond to treatment before.

Treatment tactics

In the past, recovery and elimination of defects consisted of a series of complex surgical interventions that did not always meet the expectations of the parents and the little patient. But the development of technologies and methods of therapy makes it possible to influence the healing process from different sides.

If it is possible to identify a deviation in the early stages, this allows you to almost completely remove the curvature of the bones, ligaments and joints. Modern equipment makes it possible to diagnose clubfoot even in the period of intrauterine development. Depending on the symptoms, rehabilitation and timely intervention can correct complex deformities.

Conservative therapy

Clubfoot in a child can be noticed when he starts to walk. Although everything could have been fine before that, for some reason there was an imbalance in the growth of muscle groups, joints, bones and the child begins to limp.

In this case, it is necessary to consult with a specialist and understand in detail the cause of the pathology. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor will prescribe a number of necessary procedures. Among them:

1. Plastering is a special procedure that involves the application of several layers of plaster on the limb requiring intervention, combined with paraffin applications. The foot is fixed with plaster in the correct position. Initially, the dressing is changed once a week, then two or more times as it cope with the defect. Until now, specialists use the method of the famous orthopedist Ponseti. He was the first to figure out how to fix clubfoot without surgery in the early stages. The essence of the method is that the child's ligaments lend themselves well to stretching and with the help of fixing the foot, the correct repositioning of the defect can be performed. The treatment period is 4–8 weeks, during this time the position of the foot in the cast changes several times.
2. The use of special orthopedic devices (splints, orthoses), which are attached to the deformed limb. They are in the shape of a boot and are fixed along the entire limb with Velcro and straps, giving the foot the correct position. It is widely used by orthopedists in the early stages of the disease. For effective exposure, it is applied up to 20-22 hours a day. Can only be used when the child is 2 years old.
3. Correctly selected orthopedic shoes combined with thermal treatments followed by a massage. Gives a good effect if the stage of the disease is not higher than the middle stage. With the timely use of the complex, the likelihood of surgical intervention decreases. Allows you to get rid of early clubfoot.
4. Medicines and physiotherapy. Used preparations of vitamins and minerals, collagen. Warm baths are used to improve blood circulation, increase elasticity and relax muscles.

Features of infant treatment

Clubfoot can be treated immediately after discharge from the hospital. Not the last place is taken by massage and therapeutic gymnastics:

1. The massage is performed in a gentle mode so as not to cause unnecessary pain to the baby. Systematic implementation is necessary to achieve positive results.
2. Gymnastics takes second place and is done in combination with massage, about 15 sessions per month.

Most of the treatment is performed by an orthopedic surgeon. But with his permission, you can perform the complex at home. If the defect is not very pronounced, then massage and gymnastics will be enough.

With strong changes in the foot, more radical measures are needed, perhaps surgical intervention.

Surgical intervention

There are times when exercises and various methods of conservative therapy may not work. This is due to the severity of the manifestation of deformity. Surgical intervention will help to eliminate congenital imbalances in the work of joints and ligaments. It is advisable to carry out this intervention before the child begins to walk. And together with other methods to influence the improvement and correct formation of posture with clubfoot in children.

All over the world, hundreds of thousands of children are born with clubfoot and not everyone is provided with timely medical care. The prognosis for recovery depends on the degree of clubfoot. A neglected pathology can eventually lead to disability. In severe cases, only 10–12% of patients can do without surgery.

With paralytic clubfoot, the causes are mainly trauma or damage to the peroneal nerve and muscles. In this case, surgical intervention cannot be avoided. Sometimes doctors have to use the method of fixing the bones in the joint (arthrodesis). Often, with severe deformity of the feet, after surgery on ligaments and muscle tissues, the Ilizarov compression-distraction apparatus is used. In this case, orthopedists need to work together with neurologists to eliminate innervation disorders. You need to know that for a successful operation it is necessary not only to eliminate the defect that has arisen, but also its cause.

Subsequently, children must wear special orthopedic shoes or braces used for walking throughout the year.

Rehabilitation

Sometimes congenital clubfoot in severe cases does not allow surgeons to achieve the desired result. Several operations are carried out, but the desired effect cannot be achieved.

Good performance is given by hard work to eliminate clubfoot at home. Of course, this method may not give a 100% positive result, but it is possible and possible to correct and improve the work of some joints and tendons. Necessary daily classes of medical gymnastics and exercises, the use of various types of exercises and massage.

First of all, you need to remember that exercise starts small. It is necessary to consolidate skills and ensure that simple exercises turn out better and better. Following this, it is necessary to move on to more complex exercises, use various kinds of weights, work with deformed feet daily, otherwise this part of the body will atrophy over time and the patient will not be able to move.

There is a lot of work to be done on oneself, joints and ligaments, and although not 100% result, but significantly improve the functioning of the limbs.

When the illness overtook the child, then he needs to be helped regularly, not to forget and not to leave him alone with the problem, not to allow him to close in himself. He should feel that he is not alone in this world and that through practice, he can get rid of clubfoot. In the first place in the treatment of this disease is work to restore the function of the joint, tendons and muscles.

Exercise and massage

For exercises to be more effective, discipline, desire, perseverance and parenting are important. Exercises must be selected taking into account age characteristics and the degree of deformation. It is best to consult an orthopedist-traumatologist in moderate cases. The purpose of the exercises is to get rid of atrophy of non-working muscles, to give them tone. For greater benefit, exercise 2-3 times a day, and change training programs several times every six months.

It is important not to miss the moment when the baby's joints and tissues begin to lose elasticity. Then getting rid of clubfoot will be much more difficult, especially if this process was congenital. As your child grows, you need to choose the right orthopedic shoes. A mild clubfoot can be eliminated in a fairly short time, if you do not forget to systematically perform a set of exercises.

It is necessary to pay special attention to the process of the formation of the child's foot on the surface, the first steps, to explain, correct and teach the correct movements.

Exercises for toddlers

Exercises for the legs:

• Squats. The child holds your hands with his hands, and you together with him begin to squat on the command "sit down and stand up". Repetition 10-20 times.
• Squat lifting toys. Place the toys on the floor in different parts of the room, it is necessary for the baby to come up to the toy, squat down, pick it up and bring it to you. Repeat 2-3 times, use 5-10 toys.
• Swaying legs. The feet are parallel to each other, the arms are lowered, it is possible to hold the child or so that he clings to the back of the chair. Shakes first with one leg in a completely relaxed state, then the other. The first couple of repetitions, you need to swing the leg back and forth, swing the next couple of repetitions right and left. First, the exercise must be done with the baby.

Ball exercises:

• Ball rolling. A simple exercise in its execution. Sit opposite each other, roll the ball in any direction so that the baby stretches as much as possible. The required number of repetitions is 12-20 times.
• Throwing the ball. A large ball is required for the exercise. It is necessary for the child to throw it, in different directions or at some target. 10-15 repetitions will be enough.

• After the child warms up, gently massage the defective area.
• The simplest exercises should be used. Stroking and kneading will be enough.

Carefully and gradually add more complex exercises to this complex, and the positive effect will not keep you waiting long.

For older children

At preschool age (5-6 years), the child can start with a light jog. Attention must be paid not to speed qualities, but to the correct placement of the feet. If the baby understands and begins to succeed, then the exercise can be complicated, add running with side steps and warm up the upper shoulder girdle on the go.

Children will be happy to play with a ball, ride a bike, swim in the pool, if parents give them due time. It is necessary to control the child's fatigue, and smoothly bring the classes up to 30–45 minutes. You should also add different types of walking: "like a bear", "like an elephant", "like a bunny". It is necessary that the exercises have a playful subtext, so the child will practice with a smile and be happy during the lesson. Positive emotions are very important in working with children.

After warm-up, do squats near the wall (20-30 reps). It is necessary to follow the technique of execution, the feet should not come off the floor and be flat on the surface, the back is even.

Then the exercise "lowering the heels off the step" is applied. It is convenient to do it holding on to the support. Put your socks on a step and pull the heel as low as possible. It is very good to practice where there is a gymnastic staircase. Climbing of all kinds strengthens the muscles and ligaments of the legs and spine.

In combination with massage and orthopedic shoes, the result will not be long in coming, the main thing is to develop the child's habit of stepping on the foot correctly.

Massage for treating clubfoot in children

This form of foot deformity in children, like clubfoot, is easily treated at the initial stages of development. In babies, bones and ligaments are still soft, pliable, so the earlier treatment is started, the more favorable the prognosis. Congenital clubfoot is characterized by changes not only in bones, but also in muscles and ligaments. As a rule, it is bilateral, therefore, when the child begins to walk, it will be much more difficult to correct the deformity.

Massage stands out among the main methods of treating this pathology. In combination with gymnastics, it helps to correct deformation at the initial stage. If treatment is started when the first symptoms of clubfoot are detected in a newborn, the feet can be quickly placed in the correct position. Massage is prescribed for 10-15 sessions daily. It is necessary to repeat the course of procedures every month until complete recovery.

Features of this treatment method

Massage for clubfoot in children is considered one of the most effective methods of treatment. It should be carried out in courses, repeating several times until the functions of the foot are fully restored. The first massage course must be done by a specialist, then the mother can massage the baby on her own. Such treatment will be most effective if it is carried out in the first six months of a baby's life. This is the period when the bones are still soft, and the muscles and ligaments are plastic, so they can be easily corrected. It is best to start the massage from the very first days after birth.

Massage and gymnastics for clubfoot in children aged 2-3 years is also prescribed, but in combination with other methods of treatment. This acquired form of the disease can be due to injuries, improper bone formation, and uncomfortable shoes. With a severe degree of pathology, massage can only be an auxiliary method. It performs mainly the functions of stimulating blood circulation, stretching and relaxing muscles and ligaments. This clubfoot is treated with a cast or surgery.

Massage is prescribed as part of the complex therapy of any degree of clubfoot. It is one of the most effective methods of rehabilitation after surgery or casting. Massage is also an excellent preventive measure against foot deformity. It helps to strengthen muscles and ligaments, improve the functioning of the ankle joint, and activates blood circulation and metabolic processes in cells.

Massage functions

Clubfoot is characterized by increased muscle tone in the back of the lower leg and weakening in the front. The child's feet are turned inward, and their inner part is slightly raised. Therefore, massage is used in order to normalize muscles and ligaments, as well as prevent bone deformation. Before the first session, the doctor probes the child's legs to determine which muscles need to be addressed. A correctly performed massage performs the following functions:

• relaxes the muscles in the back of the lower leg, triceps and tibialis muscles, Achilles tendon and flexors of the fingers;
• strengthens and tones the muscles on the anterior surface of the lower leg, finger extensors, peroneal muscles;
• stimulates blood circulation and conduction of nerve impulses, normalizes lymph flow;
• relieves pain due to strong muscle tone, relaxing them;
• strengthens the muscles and ligaments of the foot, which will keep it in the correct position.

Contraindications for conducting

Although massage is the most effective treatment for clubfoot in children, in some cases it cannot be done. Contraindications for the procedure are the following cases:

• various skin lesions, scratches, dermatitis;
• infectious or inflammatory diseases with a high fever;
• the presence of a hernia or acute diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
• tuberculosis, osteomyelitis, diathesis, or hepatitis;
• if the child has congenital pathologies of the functioning of the cardiovascular or nervous system.

If a mother conducts a massage, she should know that it is advisable not to touch some areas, or to affect them only with light stroking. This is the groin area, the inner surface of the thigh and lower leg near the knee, the popliteal cavity.

There are many blood and lymph vessels in these places. And the front of the lower leg is not protected by the muscles, so when pressing on it, the child can experience pain. You should also try to bypass moles and other formations on the skin. In order to have the correct effect on the circulatory and lymphatic system, all movements must be carried out from the bottom up.

Massage techniques

The specialist chooses the sequence of movements and their intensity depending on the individual characteristics of the baby. Only the right technique can have a beneficial effect. The most commonly used techniques for clubfoot in newborns are:

• stroking with the whole palm;
• massaging spiral rubbing with three fingers;
• point pressure, especially you need to pay attention to biologically active points on the surface of the foot;
• deep kneading with the thumb;
• rubbing with pressure;
• corrective movements;
• slight vibration and tapping;
• patting.

Massage rules

The procedures must be performed in such a way that the child does not experience pain. For this, massage begins with warming up the muscles. This can be achieved with a special massage oil or by massage after thermal treatments (eg paraffin wax). It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that with all movements the child's foot is fixed in the correct position. To do this, hold it with one hand, while rubbing or kneading with the other.

In order for the procedure to help correct the deformation of the baby's legs, massage movements are combined with special passive exercises. It is especially important to gently stretch the muscles on the inner surface of the foot. Each exercise must be performed 5-7 times, fixing the leg in the correct position for 15-20 seconds.

During the massage, slow rotational movements are performed in the ankle joint. At the same time, slowly lower the inner edge of the foot, raising its outer part. They also do its adduction and abduction, flexion and extension. In this case, it is necessary to hold the ankle joint with one hand, the other hand with the palm rests on the sole of the baby's leg and moves the foot, turning it into the correct position.

Massage of the legs for clubfoot in children should be carried out in combination with a tonic massage of the body, except for the upper limbs. This will help improve blood circulation and metabolic processes. Sometimes the doctor recommends bandaging the child's feet after the procedure, fixing them in the correct position. It is necessary to ensure that such a bandage does not pinch the vessels, and it should be changed 3-4 times a day, each time performing several massage and corrective movements.

For babies up to six months, the duration of the procedure should be 5-10 minutes. It is better to repeat it 2-3 times a day. You need to deal with the child every day, simultaneously with the massage, performing other procedures prescribed by the doctor. After 2 weeks, you need to take a break for the same time, then the massage course is repeated.

Massage technique

There are many massage options for correcting foot deformities, so only a doctor can choose the right technique, taking into account the individual characteristics of the child. For children over a year old, the procedure is effective only in combination with gymnastics and orthopedic correction. You need to perform movements more intensively, paying special attention to the foot, kneading and rubbing it, while fixing it in the correct position.

And with congenital clubfoot, the movements should be soft and smooth, they should not cause pain or discomfort to the baby. You can use, for example, the following technique:

• put the baby on his stomach and bend his leg at the knee, with the other hand, stroke the lower leg towards the foot;
• gently press on the foot, slightly pressing the toes down;
• the Achilles tendon is affected by pinching and vibration, its stretching is very effective by smoothly unfolding the foot perpendicular to the lower leg;
• then you need to turn the child over on his back and point pressure to work out the front surface of the lower leg, paying special attention to the ankle joint;
• stroking the lower leg should be alternated with rubbing the thigh, this will help better blood circulation;
• intensive kneading and rubbing is required on the back of the thigh, the inner part only needs to be lightly stroked;
• where there is an increased muscle tone, stronger pressing and kneading is necessary;
• the knee joint is stroked in a circular motion and rubbed gently;
• a point massage of the lower leg and ankle joint is useful;
• at the end, be sure to stretch the inner surface of the foot for a few minutes.

After the massage, it is advisable to perform several exercises to strengthen the muscles and ligaments of the foot and fix it in the correct position. The most effective exercise is to rotate the foot along the longitudinal axis. All movements must be performed gently and carefully so as not to hurt the baby.

Children's clubfoot is easily treated in the initial stages. Especially if you use a set of methods: massage, gymnastics, physiotherapy. To fully correct the foot requires patience and a lot of effort. Parents should be more attentive to the health of the baby, not to expect that the deformity of the foot will go away on its own. Only timely treatment will help prevent disability in a child.

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Clubfoot in children is one of the types of deformation of the musculoskeletal system. It occurs relatively often - out of 1000 children it is found in 1 baby.

Deformation of the feet, heels and joints of the lower extremities are those visual pathologies, without treatment of which there are restrictions on mobility when walking, disability. Why and what is the danger of delay in eliminating such a disease?

Such a violation of the musculoskeletal system in a child, such as clubfoot, requires mandatory long-term treatment under the supervision of a doctor.

Clubfoot classification

There are several classifications of clubfoot, but taking into account the latest data, it is customary to subdivide pathology into 3 categories:

• the nature of the manifestation is typical and atypical;
• origin - congenital and acquired;
• manifestation - one- or two-sided, that is, it is diagnosed on one or both feet.

There is also a division according to the severity of clubfoot, taking into account certain signs:

• Lightweight. The ankle is mobile, there is no deformation of the bones. Treatable at home.
• Average. There are deformities of bone, muscle tissue and ligaments, ankle joint. Requires professional treatment in a hospital.
• Heavy. Congenital deformity of the musculoskeletal system in both feet.
• Very heavy. Dangerous for the child's disability. Often resistant to surgery.

Causes of deformation

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