Varusa stop at children and adults: diagnostics and treatment

Most diseases and health problems begin in our near childhood. However, not all parents in a timely manner notice them and seek help. The main reason for this, as a rule, is not the removal and complete indifference of adults, but the elementary ignorance and lack of appropriate information about these or other diseases. One of these problems, which is difficult to recognize to an unprepared person, is considered a varus stop. What it is? How to determine and how to treat an ailment, we will tell in this article.

General information about the varus stop

How parvilo. An ailment appears in childhood, when the baby is just starting to make its first steps. During this period, his foot is most vulnerable, since the process of its formation is not yet fully completed. What does a deformation of this type look like? According to experts, it remotely resembles clubfoot, but, unlike it, it is much less likely to be caused by an actively progressive congenital pathology.

Varus deformity of the foot suggests visually visible deviation of the middle part of the tibia to the outside. In this case, uneven development of the knee joints occurs, which causes the so-called O-shaped curvature. With its presence, the knee joints can not close together (especially when the child's two legs stand together), and there is a certain space between them.

What kinds of varus foot are there?

Depending on the initial causes of the ailment, varus deformities are of the following types:

• Static (due to an existing disorder in the patient's bearing);
• Structural (occurs against the background of the vertical location of the talus bone) ;
• Compensatory (occurs when there is a short Achilles tendon, incorrect position of the ankle and deformation of the tibia) ;
• Paralytic (after the transfer of the patient poliomyelitis or encephalitis);
• Spastic (is a concomitant disease in muscle cramps in the tibia) ;
• Hypercorrection (formed in the case of improper treatment of the already clubfoot in the baby);
• Rachitic (occurs when a child has rickets) ;
• Traumatic (develops as a consequence after rupture of ligaments, fracture of the bones of the legs, hips, knee joints, shin).

What are the severity of the ailment?

Depending on the degree of severity, the varus stop is of the following types:

• Light;
• Average;
• Heavy.

With a slight degree of heaviness, the angle of inclination is small (15º) at the heel of the toddler, the height of the longitudinal arch is about 15-20 mm (and its height reaches 140º). The apparent angle of curvature at the foot corresponds to 10 °. At moderate severity, the varus stop in adults and children is deformed by another 5 degrees, and the height of the arch and the incline of the heel, on the contrary, is reduced by 5 degrees and millimeters (10 mm and 10 degrees). And the angle of the arch increases to 150-160º.

In severe cases, the height of the arch and the angle of inclination of the heel decreases twofold, and the angle of the arch increases to 160-180º. Consequently, the valgus deviation increases to 20 °. At this degree of severity, the patient complains of severe pain in the joint of the Chopar (transverse joint at the tarsus). In addition, according to doctors, the last stage of the disease does not involve conservative treatment, the violation is eliminated exclusively by operative means.

What consequences can result?

If the varus stop is not detected in time, this can lead to the most unpredictable consequences. In particular, in neglected cases, deformation of the leg entails the displacement of the hip to the outside. In this case, there is an even more curvature of the foot inward, which leads to the development of clubfoot.

In addition, the launched varus stop in a child may be accompanied by other problems with the knees. This is due to the fact that with this disease they can not fully straighten out, because of which pressure on the meniscus grows. As a result, the joint gap increases both from the inside and from the outside.

If the aforementioned deformity is not treated in time, children with a varus stop not only change their gait and regularly swollen legs, but also develop more serious problems with the spine.

What are the causes of the development of the disease?

At the child varus deformity of feet arises, as a rule, not suddenly. According to experts, this is a consequence of a whole complex of other causes or the result of another disease. For example, a violation of the natural position of the shin is due to the progressive disease of the bone system. At a later age, the ailment develops due to a deficiency of vitamin D or calcium.

In addition, the following factors may be prerequisites for the development of the disease:

• Weakening of immunity;
• Problems with metabolic processes in the body;
• In time, rickets and flat feet were not detected;
• Problems with the thyroid gland and malfunctions in the endocrine system;
• Early injuries of the feet;
• overweight;
• Genetic predisposition;
• Problems with the osseous system and joints;
• Regular use of uncomfortable children's shoes.

As you can see, there are a lot of reasons that can lead to deformation. But how is the varus stop diagnosed (photos of children with such a pathology you see in our article) in the child? And how difficult is it to recognize this deviation?

How to determine the appearance of ailment?

To see the deviations at the initial stage of the disease is extremely difficult. This is due to the fact that the disease manifests itself not immediately. Only after the time the baby's feet begin to acquire the already known form of the letter "O". If, however, the child's shin with time moves inward, then there is a somewhat different deformation of the feet. At this point, the limbs of the baby are bent in the opposite direction and begin to resemble the letter "X".

However, you can still recognize the problem. According to doctors, parents should pay attention to the shoes of the baby. If the baby has a varus stop, his sandals and shoes, as a rule, stagger from the outside. And this phenomenon can be observed either from one or both sides at once (that is, both on the left and on the right boot).

How to recognize equinovarus deformation?

Another type of physical deviation of the foot is equinovarus deformation, which is also called the "horse foot". With its presence, children are not able to step on the entire foot, but only on its front part. While walking these babies there is a strong bending of the ankle joint, which looks like the child is trying to get on the socks. How to treat such an unpleasant illness?

Varus stomps in adults: features

As noted earlier, pathology occurs mainly in childhood. However, if it is not recognized and treated in time, the illness will remind you about it later. And relapse in adolescents is accompanied by vivid pain sensations.

In middle-aged people, the pain can be pulsating, and the disease itself can progress after excessive physical activity, during pregnancy (on the last terms), during the menopause, because of sudden weight gain, etc.

In persons of retirement age, pathology is accompanied by functional disorders and acute or muffled pain when walking.

Varus feet: treatment

According to experts, the treatment of varus feet is a complex and lengthy process. It provides a comprehensive approach, which includes a combination of special physical exercises, therapy, massage and other measures aimed at improving the child.

The treatment of children suffering from such abnormalities is as follows: the parents of the baby with a suspicion of a viral defect refer to orthopedic doctors; After conducting the diagnosis, a patient is prescribed a sparing conservative treatment. For example, the package of measures to combat the disease includes the following actions:

• Massage for the varus foot (performed on the feet, legs, affects the gluteal and lumbar regions);
• Physical exercises aimed at strengthening and correcting the muscles of the legs;
• Physiotherapeutic procedures;
• Use of special correctors, orthopedic insoles and insteps;
• Application of special orthopedic footwear.

More often than not, such an integrated approach brings results, and the child becomes absolutely healthy. But what if the expected result has not been achieved?

If the methods of physiotherapy did not help

It is believed that talking about the benefits of therapy can only be when the baby is 5-7 years old. During this period, the ligaments and muscles of the child will be so strengthened that they can easily keep his foot in the right position.

When the previously prescribed conservative treatment did not bring positive results, physicians begin to act more actively, and their next step will be prompt intervention. At the same time, the operated varus stop needs further rehabilitation, which can take only a few days. It provides a course of massage aimed at the final consolidation of the medical effect.

How to timely identify and prevent an ailment?

In order to see the problem in a timely manner and prevent its further development, one should visit an orthopedist at least once a year. For preventive purposes, only shoes that have orthopedic insoles or an instep support should be used. You can find out the angle of the foot, as well as determine the degree of deviation with the help of planography (it determines the type and the very presence of flatfoot) and the sub-dimension (it gives an opportunity to learn about the actual load on the foot that occurs when walking). In addition, experts can see problems with feet on an X-ray.

It is also recommended that from childhood strengthen the immunity of the child, accustoming him to proper nutrition, moderate physical activity (in accordance with age) and observance of the regime of the day. In addition, you need to pay attention to the correct position of the feet while walking.

In a word, despite the complexity of the definition of an ailment, it can still be recognized. And with timely access to the doctor unpleasant consequences and complications of the disease can be avoided.