Normally, the foot is not flat at all, because powerful ligaments and muscles form two arches – longitudinal (along the inner edge of the foot) and transverse (between the bases of the toes). Such a complex structure is needed not only for support, but also in order to dampen vibrations when walking and save the body from overload. With flat feet, the role of a shock absorber is taken by the knee and hip joints and the spine, although they are not adapted for this task. Therefore, arthrosis, osteochondrosis, scoliosis and posture disorders are frequent companions of flat feet. Flat feet can also be congenital, but more often it is acquired. In children, flat feet, as a rule, occurs against the background of congenital connective tissue failure, while one of the important factors is improperly selected shoes. Constant stimulation is needed to properly shape the arch of the foot. Tough grass, stones or sand make muscles and ligaments work. At home – carpet, on the street – asphalt through the thick sole of the sneakers, which is remarkably springy when walking and thus takes on the natural function of the foot. Without load, the feet begin to be lazy and the arches “sag”. The result is flat feet. According to statistics, more than 65% of children acquire flat feet by school age. To prevent this from happening, you need to carefully approach the choice of children’s shoes. In adults, static flat feet are more common, which is associated with excessive stress on the legs. First of all, this is overweight: it falls on the feet with an exorbitant weight. The situation is aggravated by standing for a long time, so teachers, surgeons, salespeople risk more than others. And in skaters and weightlifters, flat feet is an occupational disease. Women suffer from flat feet 4 times more often than men. Firstly, during pregnancy, weight increases, in addition, pregnant women produce a hormone – relaxin, which relaxes the ligaments. Secondly, it is the legs that have to pay for the beauty: in shoes with high heels and with a sharp toe, they do not rest on the entire foot, but only on the heads of the metatarsal bones. Adjusting to the shoe, the foot becomes flat. In this case, the fingers are also slowly but surely deformed. Therefore, for everyday life, you need to give preference to practical, comfortable models with low heels. To save the spine and internal organs from the constant shaking that flat feet provide them, the instep insoles will help. They return the foot to its normal position and take over the functions of a shock absorber. Sometimes they also use a heel pad (needed for the development of heel spurs and when one leg is shorter than the other). At the slightest sign of deformity of the big toe, an interdigital corrector will help – a small soft silicone spacer that is inserted between the first and second toes, so that the big toe no longer bends towards the little toe. The instep supports (special insoles) raise the foot exactly where it is needed: along the inner edge of the foot and between the base of the first and fifth toes. Performing two important functions of instep supports: they, firstly, soften the vibrations that are inevitable when walking, and, secondly, they slow down the development of flat feet. In addition, instep supports improve the blood supply to the foot and lower leg. With pronounced flat feet, instep supports, must be worn constantly. It is even advisable to put them in house slippers, since this is the only way to block the disease. For preventive purposes, the instep supports should be used no more than 3-4 hours a day, the rest of the time giving the feet a reasonable load. There is a reason for this: the muscles and ligaments of the foot naturally get used to the support – so much so that they stop working on their own. The instep supports are longitudinal (used for longitudinal flat feet and support the inner surface of the foot) and transverse (support the transverse arch). To combat transverse flat feet, half insoles are suitable. A forefoot brace can also help. This is an insole with a wide elastic band that fits over the midfoot (where the metatarsal bones are located) and prevents its deformation. The most common type of flat feet is mixed, so most instep supportshave elevations both on the inner edge and at the base of the fingers. The instep supports are also distinguished by the height of the rise: the prophylactic insoles are quite soft and have a minimum rise, while in the medical insoles it is significant. If your foot is soft and sagging, you need a frame instep support (a type of medical one), which not only support the arch of the foot, but also act as a good simulator. A stiff foot that is firmly fixed in the wrong position requires softer structures. Thus, flat feet, alas, are an integral part of our life, and willy-nilly we must learn to live with it. And the best helpers in this are SUPINATORS.
