No More Ugly Shoes!

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No More Ugly Shoes!

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=63293

Remember the kid in your class who had to wear those ugly

orthopaedic shoes? Worse yet, perhaps you were that child. Those

days are long gone as is the understanding of what flatfoot is and

how to fix it. It was once thought that the bony architecture of the

foot could be changed with shoes or positioning a bar between the

shoes to hold the feet in the " correct " position. Research has shown

that assumption is not true. Great strides have been made in

understanding and treating flatfoot.

People with flat feet lack the proper " arch " in the foot. If a child

or adult is not experiencing any pain, having difficulty walking or

wearing shoes, treatment may not be required.

If the foot becomes painful and/or it becomes difficult to wear

shoes, some type of treatment is appropriate. Patients may even

experience back, hip, or knee pain related to their flatfeet.

According to L. Haddad, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon with the

Illinois Bone and Joint Institute, Ltd. and a spokesperson for the

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, conservative treatment

works for a large percentage of those with flatfeet. " Many patients

do very well in an athletic-type shoe with an orthotic. "

Conservative treatment is used almost exclusively with children,

though some children with severe flatfeet require surgical

reconstruction to improve their quality of life.

Haddad cautions that not all adult patients with flatfoot experience

foot pain. " Sometimes a patient presents with lower back pain, or

pain in the hip, leg, knee or ankle. " It is the lack of an arch in

the foot that causes the foot to roll inward. This pronation causes

the person's gait to change, which can then produce problems

elsewhere in the body or locally within the foot itself. Pain

refractory to conservative care (i.e. orthotics, physical therapy,

and medication) is the indication for surgical reconstruction of a

flatfoot. If you are experiencing these symptoms, it is important to

seek the advice of an orthopaedic surgeon.

Acquired flatfoot (those who are not born with a flatfoot) may be

the consequence of a traumatic injury to the ankle, according to Dr.

Haddad. " Adults can rupture or injure their posterior tibial tendon,

which if the primary tendon supporting the arch. This can be the

result of sports that require " pivoting " -- like soccer or football,

and are often mistaken for a severe ankle sprain. This type of

trauma can lead to a flatfoot deformity in up to 25% of all acquired

flatfoot patients. "

Haddad admits that this type of injury is hard to prevent. If there

is a congenital abnormality, a fracture or dislocation, torn or

stretched tendons, or degenerative or systemic conditions, surgery

maybe indicated for persistent pain and/or significant deformity

from acquired flatfoot.

Dr. L. Haddad was joined by his colleagues, B.

, MD, C. McGarvey, MD for a media briefing -- " Care

of the Flatfoot " -- at the 74th Annual Meeting of the American

Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons at the San Diego Convention Center.

The briefing was held February 16, 2007.