The doctor told about the causes of flat feet and scoliosis

One of the leading causes of orthopedic problems in children is muscle imbalance, which affects not only physical activity, but also skeletal formation. Olga Chizhevskaya, director of Podiatr and head of the League of Podiatry Association of Medical Centers and Doctors, told Izvestia on May 22 how to prevent the development of problems with the musculoskeletal system.

"A muscle imbalance is a mismatch in the strength or tone of the interacting muscles that support the joints, spine, and feet. In children, this problem is often associated with uneven physical exertion, incorrect body position during classes, injuries, hereditary factors, as well as infections," explained Chizhevskaya.

According to her, even the banal improper sitting at a desk can cause overexertion of some muscles and weakening of others.

The specialist noted that the main danger of muscle imbalance lies in changing the biomechanics of the child's movements. Overworked muscles work in an "emergency" mode, they get tired quickly and fix joints poorly, weakened muscles cannot effectively participate in movements and maintain posture. This condition leads to uneven bone growth and development, curvature of the spine, flat feet, gait disorders, back and leg pain, and increases the risk of injury during active games and sports.

These conditions, the doctor added, can lead to secondary disorders such as fatigue, headaches, decreased performance, impaired attention, and even problems with the respiratory and cardiovascular systems with pronounced chest deformities.

"Practice shows that the earlier a muscle imbalance is detected, the greater the effect of preventive measures and conservative treatment. Regular routine checkups with a pediatric orthopedist are of particular importance, even if nothing bothers the child. An experienced doctor is able to notice subtle signs of initial changes that are not always noticeable to parents or caregivers," Olga Chizhevskaya emphasized.

The expert noted that it is not worth postponing a visit to an orthopedist if parents notice an unnatural gait, dragging of the foot, "slapping" of the feet, fatigue when walking, complaints of pain in the legs, back, periodic cramps, frequent falls, balance difficulties, asymmetry of the shoulders, collarbones, hip folds, difference in the length of the legs, deformity of the feet, curvature of the axis of the legs, "clubfoot", walking on tiptoes or, conversely, with an internal blockage of the foot.

Sometimes the first signs are expressed only in a decrease in physical endurance compared to peers or an unwillingness to participate in outdoor games. Such complaints among school-age children should be particularly vigilant when the learning load is combined with long sitting.

Orthopedic insoles will help significantly reduce the load on pathologically altered areas, correct the biomechanics of movements, reduce pain and prevent the development of severe complications, according to Olga Chizhevskaya. Preference, she added, should be given to individual insoles.

"Their advantage is that they are made according to the foot of a particular child, taking into account the identified violations and the recommendations of the orthopedist," the doctor said.

Prevention of orthopedic diseases should begin literally from the first months of a child's life. It consists in properly laying out on the stomach, timely introduction of active games, posture control, selection of comfortable and suitable shoes, and balanced nutrition.

Earlier, on May 13, Chizhevskaya told Izvestia about the reasons for the different leg lengths. According to her, sometimes different leg lengths are the result of bone fractures. Children are more sensitive to injury than adults. Damage to the cartilage tissue of their growth zones leads to a slowdown in bone growth in length.