1. Achilles tendon contracture:
After the medial longitudinal arch collapses, the moment of the Achilles tendon acting on the ankle joint is reduced, and the pulling force of the Achilles tendon cannot effectively pass through the hard foot. The arch is transmitted to the forefoot. In order to push the body forward and lift the heel, the Achilles tendon needs to become shorter, tighter, and stronger;
2. Looseness of the midfoot. As a result, the mid-tarsal joint cannot be locked;
3. Forefoot displacement: After the medial longitudinal arch collapses, the metatarsal bones are plantarflexed, the calcaneus is subluxed posteriorly, and the anterior tubercle of the calcaneus no longer supports the talus head. To accommodate this position, both the forefoot and midfoot shift dorsally and laterally around the talus. The forefoot abducts and the lateral column of the foot shortens;
4. The stress on the posterior tibial tendon increases, and posterior tibial tendon strain is prone to occur. In severe cases, there may be damage to the medial ligament of the foot;
5. The subtalar joint is pronated and the calcaneus is everted.
6. Pain
It is usually located on the inside of the sole of the foot (pain on the inside of the rear foot), and is aggravated after standing or walking for a long time, and can often become progressively worse. Occasionally, the pain may also be located on the outside of the ankle, near the lateral malleolus. This is the result of the arch of the foot collapsing, causing the hindfoot to evert, and then the fibula and calcaneus impinge.
7. Swelling
Painful swelling outside the joint, especially at the navicular tubercle.
8. Abnormal gait
Pain in the affected foot and collapse of the arch can cause a decrease in running or even walking ability, and abnormal gait, such as a splayed gait.
9. Severe flatfoot deformity
It can be seen that other joints of the foot and ankle are affected, such as the flexibility of the subtalar joint and the transverse tarsal joint is reduced or even stiff.
Treatment:
1. Early detection of flat feet is very important. After discovery, active examination and treatment should be carried out to clarify the cause and prevent possible irreversible damage to bones and joints. Lesions, not only in adults, but also in children and adolescents with flat feet. Foot pads are a commonly used non-surgical treatment that can relieve pain, support the arch of the foot, and improve the position of dislocated joints.
2. In addition, wearing shoes with hard soles can provide strong support for the soles of the feet, and shoes with rocking chair soles can reduce the stress on the ankles when walking. For those with ankle joint disease, walking boots can be worn to alleviate symptoms. However, orthotics such as foot pads cannot completely correct the abnormal position of the talus and completely restore the normal arch. For patients with severe deformity, if non-surgical treatment fails, appropriate surgery can be selected according to the type of lesion.
3. A series of soft tissue and bone reconstruction surgeries can be performed to reconstruct the arch position. In recent years, more subtalar joint stabilization surgeries have been performed, which can effectively reduce and stabilize the talus by placing a subtalar joint brake in the tarsal canal. The suitable age range for pediatric patients to place a subtalar joint stabilizer to treat flatfoot is 6 to 12 years old. Because of the subsequent reshaping of the body, the child's arches can be rebuilt, and even after the stabilizer is removed, the arches can still be maintained for life.
Baidu Encyclopedia - Flat Foot