Exercises for clubfoot in children. Indications for exercise therapy in children with clubfoot, a set of exercises, contraindications, clinical efficacy and harm

Encyclopedia of Plants 30.06.2020
Encyclopedia of Plants

What kind of massage is performed for clubfoot in children? The doctor will tell about this, to whom parents need to contact when the first symptoms appear in the baby.
Clubfoot is a congenital or acquired defect. With it, the feet are completely or partially wrapped inward. The consequences of this defect can be very severe (up to the onset of disability).

To avoid them, it is necessary to start the fight against pathology immediately after the birth of the baby. It is during this period that the ligaments are elastic, pliable. The foot can be set in the correct, natural position through massage.

Indications for massage sessions

Clubfoot is diagnosed in the hospital by a neonatologist. There are certain signs that allow you to identify this defect. Among them:

  • big toes are turned inside;
  • axial indicators do not match;
  • if you place the foot on a flat surface, then the upper edge of the foot or heel rises.

Massage is prescribed if a mild or moderate degree of the disease is diagnosed, when joint mobility is maximally preserved. The procedure is necessarily carried out by a specialist (in the clinic), parents must repeat the massage exercises at home and exactly those that the doctor showed them.

Many parents believe that clubfoot can disappear on its own, especially after the child begins to walk. That is why they ignore therapy. This is absolutely the wrong approach. Untreated clubfoot leads to the development of scoliosis, foot defects and many other problems, including lameness.

If the situation is very difficult, then massage is not prescribed, doctors resort to other methods of treatment (this may be plastering or surgery). Clubfoot can develop in a child at a later age. It can also be caused by improperly selected shoes.

Massage at this age is prescribed for:

  • dysplasia (underdevelopment of bones);
  • rickets (when the development of bones is affected by a lack of vitamin D).

The procedure is prohibited if:

  • the child has a temporary viral disease, accompanied by general weakness, fever;
  • there are dermatological rashes on the skin;
  • diagnosed with acute bone diseases;
  • there are congenital heart diseases, neuralgic diseases;
  • there is a hernia that gets into the massage area.

It is important to remember that improper and unprofessional massage can only harm the patient and lead to a deterioration in the condition.

Impact technique

Types of massage manipulations for clubfoot in a child have a certain sequence. Before prescribing the procedure, the doctor must diagnose the muscles of the lower leg and feet in order to identify places of increased hypertonicity. Massage should not cause pain to the child.
For the legs, the following types of manipulations are used:

  • point pressure.
  • spiraling movements with rubbing.
  • pressing and stroking the foot.
  • deep rubbing, accompanied by light stroking.
  • patting.
  • corrective movements.
  • slight vibration and slight effleurage.
  • completing light movements.

It is best to undergo a massage course in the first month of a child's life. At this time, the legs and feet lend themselves well to correction and clubfoot can be completely corrected. If this period is missed, and the pathology is diagnosed, then it is necessary to carry out massage procedures before the onset of six months. At this age, the child's bones are soft, they lend themselves to the necessary correction.

The following exercises are used:

  1. 1. Put the child on his stomach and gently bend the legs at the knees, massage the feet and shins with light movements in parallel.
  2. 2. Turn the child on his back, fix the leg in the correct position and massage the area from the lower leg to the feet with point movements.
  3. 3. Be sure to treat the hip area (from top to bottom, the movements should be more intense). In areas of increased muscle tone, it is also necessary to apply more effort when pressing.
  4. 4. Massage your feet, but very gently, with light movements.
  5. 5. Treat the knee joint with light circular motions.

It is best to observe several times how the massage is done by the doctor, and only then try to carry out exercises and manipulations on your own. It must be remembered that there are areas that cannot be affected during manipulations (for example, inguinal).

Properly performed massage contributes to:

  • relaxation of a certain group of muscles located in the back of the lower leg (where there is an increased tone with clubfoot);
  • increasing muscle tone on the anterior surface of the lower leg and strengthening them;
  • stimulation of blood circulation;
  • increase the conductivity of nerve impulses;
  • improvement of lymph flow;
  • strengthening precisely those muscles that will hold the foot in the correct position.

Clubfoot can be diagnosed in children older than 1 year who have already begun to move independently. If it is pronounced, then the defect is visible even to the naked eye (the ankles do not touch when walking).

One of the most severe foot defects in children is a combined deformity of their soft tissues - clubfoot. It can be congenital and acquired, manifested in the wrong location of the feet: their inner part is raised, the socks are turned towards each other. With timely measures taken, the pathology is successfully corrected using a complex of various methods and procedures prescribed by a doctor.

Perfectly treats clubfoot in children massage. With congenital pathology, it must be started from the very first days of the baby's life, carried out in parallel with therapeutic passive gymnastics and fixation of the feet.

The benefits of massage in the treatment of clubfoot in children

If clubfoot is detected in children, the massage manipulation procedure is necessarily included in the set of measures intended to correct the position of the feet. Its systematic implementation provides the following results:

  • The anterior calf muscles are strengthened.
  • Stimulates the conduction of nerve tissues.
  • Muscle tissue is relaxed in the back and inner parts of the legs.
  • Normalizes blood circulation in deformed tissues.
  • A flexible, healthy leg is formed.

If the treatment of clubfoot in children with the help of massage is not carried out, this is fraught with:

  • The formation of a clumsy gait, posture.
  • Tripping on the feet, the surface.
  • Further deformation of the feet, the occurrence of contracture of the joints.
  • developmental delays.
  • arthritis in the future.

Features of massage for clubfoot in children

Foot correction manipulations are most effective when they are combined with procedures for the entire leg and torso. For this, various massage movements are used:



With clubfoot in children, the muscles of the outer and front side of the lower leg, the feet are stretched and weak, they must be brought into tone. Therefore, the massage used in this area should be vigorous. Their goal:

  • Raise muscle tone.
  • Help them shrink.
  • Stimulate increased mobility of ligaments, tendons.
  • Improve blood circulation.

The muscles of the back and inner region of the foot and lower leg have an increased tone. They need to be relaxed. Massage in these areas should:

  • Improve metabolism.
  • Anesthetize.
  • Stretch muscle tissue.

It is forbidden to press on the shin. This can cause pain because the bone in this area is not protected by muscle tissue.

After studying all the features of the massage procedure in babies, you can proceed to its beginning. It is carried out once a month for 15 sessions, repeated until complete recovery.

The best option is to contact a specialist who knows the technique of treating clubfoot in children with the help of massage. In the absence of such an opportunity and a slight manifestation of pathology, parents can carry out the procedure themselves, having learned the necessary manipulations from a doctor.

Massage technique for clubfoot in children

All movements are simple, they must be performed gently, gently:



When treating clubfoot in children with massage, it is necessary to strictly follow medical prescriptions. After the massage procedure, it is recommended to start special exercises aimed at correcting the feet. To successfully get rid of the anomaly, massage is always used in combination with other medical procedures.

It is a defect in which the feet are partially or maximally wrapped inward. It can be congenital and acquired. To avoid serious consequences up to disability, it is necessary to take urgent measures immediately after the birth of a child. In the first months of a baby's life, the ligaments and muscles lend themselves well to stretching, pliable to correction, so the foot can be quickly set in its natural position. Next, we will tell you which types of clubfoot can be treated with massage and how to deal with them.

Indications for massage

Massage can help with mild or moderate clubfoot, in more difficult situations resort to other methods.

Massage is recommended for children diagnosed with mild or moderate clubfoot. The initial examination by a neonatologist of a newborn in the maternity hospital will suggest an existing clubfoot according to the following signs: the big toe is turned inward, the axial indicators of the lower leg and heel do not match, the inner edge of the foot or heel rises when the leg is placed on a flat surface. If the clubfoot in a child is weakly expressed, mobility in the ankle joints is preserved, then a massage is prescribed. Preventive treatment is carried out by a doctor in a clinic, and at home, parents repeat the massage movements shown by a specialist.



Clubfoot can be the result of improperly fitting shoes

Some parents believe that clubfoot will go away on its own over time, especially when the child begins to actively walk and run, regularly loading the muscles of the legs. However, this is a big mistake. Ignoring the treatment of clubfoot will lead to a distortion of the gait, and in the future may provoke the development of scoliosis. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to disturbing symptoms and begin treatment immediately.

Indications for the appointment of massage at the age of 2-3 years are underdevelopment of bones (dysplasia), weakness and abnormal formation of bones as a result of a lack of vitamin D(rickets) . Incorrectly sized shoes worn by a child can also provoke the formation of the disease. Clubfoot has a negative effect on the ankle: when walking, the external muscles are overstressed and stretched, while the internal ones, on the contrary, are in a relaxed state. As a result, extensive deformity of the foot occurs, in severe cases leading to lameness.

Massage contraindications


If clubfoot is left untreated, the consequences for the child can be very sad.

Massage is undesirable in the following cases:

  • temporary course of infectious diseases associated with fever and general weakened condition of the child;
  • dermatological skin diseases;
  • acute bone diseases;
  • congenital cardiac, neurological diseases;
  • the presence of a hernia in the immediate vicinity of the massage area;
  • , hepatitis, atrophy, tuberculosis of the musculoskeletal system.

Improper massage can lead to a deterioration in the patient's condition. Massage is considered ineffective in severe forms of clubfoot. In these cases, the doctor prescribes a plaster correction or surgery.

Types of massage movements

Before choosing massage movements, the doctor diagnoses the legs and feet of the child by probing. This allows you to assess the condition of the muscles and identify areas of hypertonicity that require increased attention. Massage is performed in such a way that the child does not experience pain.

For the lower limbs, the following types of movements are used:

  • point pressure with fingers;
  • massaging rubbing in a spiral direction;
  • stroking the foot with pressure;
  • light touch, accompanied by deeper rubbing;
  • corrective movements with a pat;
  • final strokes.

Conducting exercises


Massage for clubfoot is best in the first month of a baby's life.

The most successful time for a foot massage with massage is the first month of a child's life.. If this time is missed, then you should try to undergo massage procedures for up to six months, while the bones on the legs are soft and can be corrected.

  1. Lay the baby on your stomach. Bend the leg at the knee with your left hand, move from the lower leg to the foot with the right stroking movements. The right hand, by pressing, acts on the baby's foot, slightly pressing the fingers down.
  2. Turn the child over on its back. With one hand, fix the position of the leg, with the other, begin to perform acupressure in the area from the foot to the lower leg.
  3. In order for blood to flow better into the small arteries of the sole, alternate stroking the lower leg and massaging the thigh area.
  4. The massage of the inner part of the thigh is carried out in the direction from the bottom up. The thickened skin of the back of the thighs requires more intensive kneading, rubbing.
  5. In those areas where there is an increased tone, apply stronger hand pressure.
  6. Work with the feet is carried out with extreme caution, since there are about 90 points on the soles of the feet, which, if pressed inaccurately, can provoke an exacerbation of diseases.
  7. The front part of the thigh is stroked, the knee joint well perceives cyclic movements, then rubbing. Any movement is suitable for the ankle.

Clubfoot after a year

The scheme "Herringbone"

Valgus clubfoot can be found in a child who has already begun to walk. Visually, it is defined as follows: with tightly compressed knees, the inner ankles of the legs cannot approach each other. To strengthen the muscles and ligaments, the orthopedist recommended a certain set of exercises performed in a medical institution, wearing orthopedic shoes or a specially made insole that corrects the position of the foot and heel.

A massage of the back, lower back, buttocks and limbs is prescribed.

First, the legs are stroked, then the hips are warmed up with vigorous movements, they go down to the knees, they grab the shins, heels and feet. Especially active massage is carried out with the feet.

Children 3-6 years old can perform part of the exercises on their own. For example, rotate your foot, sit in a frog pose, stand on your heels, squat with your back against a wall or holding on to a chair. It is advisable to carry out these exercises under the supervision of an adult, as the child may forget something or refuse to do something. The exercise "Christmas tree" causes children's interest. To do this, you need to draw a Christmas tree with chalk on the floor the way little children do: an even trunk and branches that go in different directions. You can place pencils, pens, rulers on the floor like a Christmas tree. The task of the child is to place the leg so that the inside of the foot is parallel to the branch.

Diseases in themselves are an unpleasant phenomenon, and the disease of the most important organs and parts of the body is a real disaster. The legs, namely the feet, carry all the weight. To always be healthy and on your feet, it is imperative to carefully monitor your health.

  • Foot problems in adults
    • Thumb bone
    • Treatment of corns and corns
    • Warts on the soles
    • Symptoms and treatment of gout
    • Ingrown toenail removal
    • The fight against flat feet
  • Foot problems in children
    • Heel planting treatment
    • Adducted stops
    • Symptoms and treatment of congenital clubfoot
    • Children's flat feet
  • Reviews

In humans, the foot is the lowest part of the leg that is in contact with the ground. The human foot is conditionally divided into several parts - arch, back, heel, instep and sole. The components of the foot are muscles, ligaments and bones. The foot moves thanks to the joints. Muscles, which are attached to the bones with the help of tendons, provide the possibility of flexion and extension of the toes. Ligaments connect bones to each other. They also support muscles. Bones and muscles are connected by tendons.

Pain in the foot can indicate a variety of diseases that are treated by different methods. And also pain in the foot, under certain circumstances, accompanies internal diseases. Therefore, before applying this or that method of curing pain, it is necessary to identify the cause of pain.

Pain in the foot of the foot is divided into acute and chronic. Acute pain appears abruptly and worries for a short time, and chronic pain lasts for several days, weeks, and if not treated, then months over the years. Accompanied by pain in the foot:

  • Burning.
  • Tumor.
  • Edema.
  • Numbness.
  • Change in skin color on the leg.

In the event of pain, you need to contact a traumatologist, orthopedist, neurologist, surgeon, rheumatologist or therapist. After all, only a specialist can truly correctly diagnose the disease that has appeared.

Foot problems in adults

In adults, the appearance of foot diseases is associated with improper care, shoes that are uncomfortable to wear, lifting and carrying heavy objects. It is necessary to carefully monitor the legs, because it is they that enable a person to walk.

Thumb bone

The change and deviation of the big toe from the norm of growth is called a bone. With this deformity, the big toe has a bias towards the inside of the foot. For this reason, the joints are crooked on the outside, a kind of lump is formed. The activators of this disease of the foot are tight uncomfortable shoes, foot diseases (for example, arthrosis, arthritis).

The initial and middle stages of the disease are treated by wearing the right shoes. Good, correct shoes have a wide toe. It is the wide toe that reduces pressure on the toes, which eliminates inconvenience while walking. And also, together with a specialist, specialized orthopedic products, which also help to reduce stress and friction.

In the treatment of the bones of the thumb, arch support, interdigital ridges, orthopedic insoles and correctors are used. With the help of all these aids, pain is eliminated, the process of disease development slows down, and gait is corrected.

Drug treatment used to eliminate the bone - physiotherapy and anti-inflammatory drugs.

In the case when the disease has passed into the stage of neglect, it is possible to correct this only with the help of surgical intervention. The process of removing the thumb bone is as follows:

  • The surgeon removes the growth that has appeared.
  • Deformed bones undergo reconstruction.
  • Surgically, the periarticular muscles are balanced.
  • The angle between the bones of the foot changes.
  • Arthrodesis is performed, during which the joint of the foot is fixed.
  • Tendon transplant.

A person who notices a growth on the foot in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe big toe should contact a specialist. During the examination, the doctor will study the symptoms, the course of the course and report on the necessary treatment, which will allow in the future to maintain the ability to move independently.

Treatment of corns and corns

Calluses and corns are common on human feet. This is a kind of damage protection. The reason for their appearance is often the wearing of tight shoes. To avoid the appearance of corns and corns, it is necessary to refuse to buy tight, uncomfortable shoes, and if you nevertheless purchased it, then use a patch during the first wear.

Treatment methods for corns and calluses:

  • For two weeks, do hot baths with apple cider vinegar. It is best to carry out this procedure before going to bed. After completion of the legs, lubricate with salicylic ointment.
  • For corns, use special patches. In the evening, in order to soften the corn, you can apply a baked onion in the evening.
  • Leave a compress of honey and radish on the corn all night. Make a mixture of honey and radish, grated on a fine grater. Put the mass on the corn, cover with a film, and bandage it on top or put on a tight sock.
  • In the evenings, take warm baths in which a few drops of tea tree oil are added. After finishing the procedures, be sure to wipe your feet dry.
  • In the case when there are a large number of calluses on the feet, it is necessary to make warm baths with apple cider vinegar. Then take clean socks that are not a pity. Soak them in a mixture of lemon juice and vegetable oil in equal proportions. Put on socks, wrap your legs with a film, and wrap a bandage on top. In the morning, wash your feet with penza.

Warts on the soles

The cause is a virus. It penetrates the soles of the feet through microcracks in a humid environment (for example, in public baths or saunas).

Salicylic acid works well for plantar warts. In the case of a severe stage of the disease, the treatment is carried out by a specialist, resorting to freezing, cauterization, and so on.

Symptoms and treatment of gout

Gout is a kind of arthritis. Symptoms include severe pain, the skin may become red, swollen or hard.

The causes of gout are the deposition of salts in the joints and an increased content of uric acid in the blood. To alleviate the condition and reduce pain, the doctor prescribes anti-inflammatory and drugs that reduce the level of uric acid. After the acute pain is relieved, the specialist continues the treatment as follows:

  • drink a course of drugs that reduce the level of salt and uric acid.
  • therapeutic procedures - therapeutic massage and physical education, physiotherapy, drinking mineral waters.
  • Daily consumption of alkaline water is two to three liters.
  • Making the right diet. Completely excluded: coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate, alcoholic beverages. And also have to give up fried and overly fatty foods. And give preference to plant and dairy foods.

With the steady implementation of all the doctor's instructions, gout can be treated, and the foot can be restored to health.

Ingrown toenail removal

Anyone who has experienced this unpleasant disease knows what unbearable pain this nail causes. Additional symptoms are swelling of the foot, redness, infection.

Causes of an ingrown toenail include tight shoes and improper trimming of the nails.

With unbearable pain, the doctor removes the ingrown nail with the help of surgery. In other cases, treatment occurs by steaming the foot and placing a cotton pad under the nail. The cotton pad should be carefully placed so that the nail does not touch the skin of the leg.

The fight against flat feet

Causes of flat feet: heredity, injury or rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms: Pain in the legs after prolonged walking or standing. With a lot of weight, sharp pain in the feet.

Treatment: obligatory wearing of orthopedic insoles with arch supports and performing physical exercises aimed at strengthening the muscles of the legs.

Foot problems in children

The health of children must be closely monitored. If the baby began to complain of pain in the leg and you know for sure that this is not some kind of bruise or sprain, then you should immediately see a doctor. After all, the sooner a problem or disease is detected, the more likely it is that in the future your child will not have problems with the legs. Only a specialist can conduct the correct and necessary examinations and report on the cause and methods of treating the disease.

Heel planting treatment

A common disease in children that develops due to the special location of the foot during fetal development. Treatment of this type of deformity occurs with the help of physiotherapy exercises and the installation of special splints on the feet.

Heel planting sometimes appears with a neurological disorder of the legs. In this case, the spine must be diagnosed for the presence of bone deformities. In this case, treatment is carried out not only with the help of orthopedic remedies, but also therapy that corrects the functioning of the spinal cord.

Adducted stops

This pathology can be diagnosed already at the age of one month in a baby. It looks like this - the front of the foot is wrapped inward, and the outer one is, as it were, rounded. The distance between the toes is increased, and the big toe points inward. In the early stages of the detection of the disease, and this is up to about three years, the deformity is cured without surgical intervention.

The foot is corrected by hand, and then fixed with plaster splints. Such a correction is performed once every seven days. It must be carried out by a specialist. After two or three months, the pathology is eliminated.

Symptoms and treatment of congenital clubfoot

Most often, congenital clubfoot attack males. With clubfoot, the position and even the shape of the bones of the legs generally change, and the soft tissues of the lower leg are also shortened.

Clubfoot is a hereditary disease, however, it may well develop due to abnormal development of the spinal cord. By the age of seven, the child's legs become of different lengths, the difference ranges from one to two centimeters.

Treatment of congenital clubfoot should be carried out from the first month of a baby's life. The specialist performs all the same manipulations as with the reduced feet. As well as an additional measure to improve the blood supply to the legs, they are given an appointment for physiotherapy treatment of the lumbar spine.

At three months, the feet are fixed with plaster casts. Complete cure of congenital clubfoot requires five years of continuous therapy.

Children's flat feet

Widespread disease in children. Correctly diagnosing flat feet is subject only to a doctor. Treatment of children's flat feet consists in performing certain physical exercises and using orthopedic insoles in shoes.

Reviews

Clubfoot is quite common in newborns. Boys often become the object (girls get sick twice as often). According to various sources, approximately 3–5 children per 1,000 have a congenital pathology.

Information about the disease

Congenital clubfoot is one of the most common malformations of the musculoskeletal system. Many factors can cause this pathology. In 30% of children, this is a hereditary disease. Also, the cause of development is the occurrence of pathology in the prenatal state, associated with maternal diseases or bad habits, the wrong position of the child during gestation. For the rest, this is an insufficient development of the muscular apparatus and the nervous system. Congenital clubfoot is manifested by pathology in the development of joints, ligaments and bones of the ankle.

Especially often the upper edge of the talus suffers. Changes in the structure of the joints of the legs, ligaments and the muscular apparatus of the limb arise due to the insufficiency of their development, shortening and displacement of attachment points.

Successful treatment of clubfoot depends on how quickly the defect can be identified. Doctors classify the disease in the following stages:

  1. Light - slight deformation of the foot, the defect can be eliminated without consequences.
  2. Medium - when there is limited movement of the ankle joint, it is difficult, but treatable.
  3. Severe - severe limitation in the movement of the foot, correction is possible only with surgical intervention. Full recovery is not possible. As a rule, there are consequences after a full course of rehabilitation.

Deviation diagnostics

Diagnosis of detection of congenital clubfoot is carried out at the stage of pregnancy and the first deviations can be noticed by doing an ultrasound. You can notice clubfoot in children at an early stage of life. The best thing to do at this time is to contact a pediatrician or pediatric surgeon and decide on tactics and a program to combat the disease.

Acquired disease is often manifested by limping. In the early period, it is necessary to pay attention to the functionality of the child's joints and inform the doctor at the first suspicion. You can also notice the wear of shoes in certain places: at the edges of the foot on one side or the other.

This pathology is easy to correct in the early stages, and it is much more difficult to treat when the joints get stronger and the ligaments become strong.

But in the current century, medicine is progressing and every year it becomes possible that which was not amenable to treatment before.

Treatment tactics

In the past, recovery and elimination of defects consisted of a series of complex surgical interventions that did not always justify the hopes of the parents and the little patient. But the development of technologies and methods of therapy allows you to influence the healing process from different angles.

If it is possible to detect a deviation in the early stages, this allows you to almost completely remove the curvature of the bones, ligaments and joints. Modern equipment makes it possible to diagnose clubfoot even during fetal development. Depending on the symptoms, rehabilitation and timely intervention can correct complex deformities.

Conservative therapy

Clubfoot in a child can be noticed when he already begins to walk. Although before that everything could be fine, but for some reason there was an imbalance in the growth of muscle groups, joints, bones, and the child begins to limp.

In this case, it is necessary to consult with a specialist and understand in detail the cause of the pathology. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor will prescribe a number of necessary procedures. Among them:

  1. Casting is a special procedure that involves the application of several layers of plaster on the limb requiring intervention, combined with paraffin applications. The foot is fixed with plaster in the correct position. Initially, the dressing is changed once a week, then two or more times as it copes with the defect. Until our time, specialists use the method of the famous orthopedist Ponseti. He was the first to figure out how to correct clubfoot without surgery in the early stages. The essence of the method is that the child's ligaments lend themselves well to stretching, and by fixing the foot, it is possible to make the correct reposition of the defect. The duration of treatment is 4–8 weeks, during which time the position of the foot in the cast changes several times.
  2. The use of special orthopedic devices (braces, orthoses) that are attached to the deformed limb. They have the shape of a boot and are fixed throughout the limb with Velcro and straps, giving the foot the correct position. It is widely used by orthopedists in the early stages of the development of the disease. For effective exposure, it is applied up to 20-22 hours a day. Can only be used when the child is 2 years old.
  3. Properly selected orthopedic shoes in combination with thermal procedures followed by a massage. It gives a good effect if the stage of the disease is not higher than the average stage. With the timely use of the complex, the likelihood of surgical intervention is reduced. Allows you to get rid of early clubfoot.
  4. Medicines and physiotherapy. Preparations of vitamins and minerals, collagen are used. Warm baths are used to improve blood circulation, increase extensibility and relax muscles.
Features of the treatment of the baby

Clubfoot can be treated immediately after discharge from the hospital. Not the last place here is occupied by massage and therapeutic exercises:

  1. Massage is performed in a gentle mode so as not to cause unnecessary pain to the baby. It is necessary to systematically implement it in order to achieve positive results.
  2. Gymnastics takes second place and is done in combination with massage, about 15 classes per month.

The main treatment is an orthopedic doctor. But with his permission, you can perform the complex at home. If the defect is not very pronounced, then massage and gymnastics will be enough.

With severe changes in the foot, more drastic measures are needed, possibly surgical intervention.

Surgical intervention

There are cases when exercises and various methods of conservative therapy may not produce results. This is related to the severity of the deformity. Surgery will help eliminate congenital imbalances in the functioning of the joints and ligaments. It is advisable to carry out such an intervention before the child begins to walk. And together with other methods to influence the improvement and correct formation of posture in children with clubfoot.

All over the world, hundreds of thousands of children are born with clubfoot, and not everyone is provided with timely medical care. The prognosis for recovery depends on the degree of clubfoot. A neglected pathology can eventually lead to disability. In severe cases, only 10–12% of patients can do without surgery.

With paralytic clubfoot, the causes are mainly injuries or damage to the peroneal nerve and muscles. In this case, surgical intervention cannot be avoided. Sometimes doctors have to use the method of fixing the bones in the joint (arthrodesis). Often, with severe deformity of the feet, after surgery on the ligaments and muscle tissues, the Ilizarov compression-distraction apparatus is used. In this case, orthopedists need to work together with neurologists to eliminate innervation disorders. It is necessary to know that for a successful operation, it is necessary not only to eliminate the defect that has arisen, but also its cause.

Subsequently, children during the year need to wear special orthopedic shoes or braces used for walking.

Rehabilitation

Sometimes congenital clubfoot in severe cases does not allow surgeons to achieve the desired result. Several operations are carried out, but the desired effect cannot be achieved.

Good performance gives hard work to eliminate clubfoot at home. Of course, this method may not give a 100% positive result, but it is possible and possible to correct and improve the functioning of some joints and tendons. Daily therapeutic exercises and exercises, the use of various types of exercises and massage are necessary.

First of all, you need to remember that the exercises start small. It is necessary to consolidate skills and ensure that simple exercises get better and better. Following this, it is necessary to move on to more complex exercises, use various kinds of weighting agents, work with deformed feet every day, otherwise this part of the body will atrophy over time and the patient will not be able to move.

We have to do a lot of work on ourselves, joints and ligaments, and get, although not a 100% result, but significantly improve the functioning of the limbs.

When a child is overtaken by a disease, he needs to be helped regularly, not to forget and not to leave him alone with the problem, not to let him close in on himself. He must feel that he is not alone in this world and that through practice he can get rid of his clubfoot. In the first place in the treatment of this disease is the work to restore the function of the joint, tendons and muscles.

Exercise and massage

In order for the exercises to be more effective, discipline, desire, perseverance and attention from parents are important. Exercises must be selected taking into account age characteristics and the degree of deformation. It is best to consult an orthopedic traumatologist in cases of moderate degree. The purpose of the exercises is to get rid of the atrophy of non-working muscles, to give them a tone. For greater benefit, exercise 2-3 times a day, and change training programs several times every six months.

It is important not to miss the moment when the joints and tissues of the child begin to lose elasticity. Then it will be much more difficult to get rid of clubfoot, especially if this process was congenital. As the child grows, you need to choose the right orthopedic shoes. Light clubfoot can be eliminated in a fairly short time, if you do not forget to systematically perform a set of exercises.

It is necessary to pay special attention to the process of bringing the child's foot to the surface, the first steps, to explain, correct and teach the correct movements.

Toddler Exercises

Leg exercises:

  • Squats. The child holds your hands with your hands, and you, together with him, begin to squat on the command "sit down and stand up." Repetition 10-20 times.
  • Squat with lifting toys. Spread the toys on the floor in different parts of the room, it is necessary that the baby comes up to the toy, squats, picks it up and brings it to you. Repeat 2-3 times, use 5-10 toys.
  • Swinging legs. The feet are parallel to each other, the arms are lowered, it is possible to hold the child or so that he holds on to the back of the chair. Shakes first one leg in a completely relaxed state, then the second. The first couple of repetitions, you need to swing the leg back and forth, the next couple of repetitions, swing it to the right and left. First, the exercise must be done with the baby.

Ball exercises:

  • Ball rolling. An easy exercise to do. Sit opposite each other, roll the ball in any direction so that the baby stretches as much as possible. The required number of repetitions is 12-20 times.
  • Throwing the ball. For the exercise you need a large ball. It is necessary that the child throws it, in different directions or at some goal. 10-15 repetitions will be enough.
  • After the child warms up, you need to gently massage the defective area.
  • It is necessary to apply the simplest exercises. Stroking and kneading will be enough.

Carefully and gradually add more complex exercises to this complex, and the positive effect will not be long in coming.

For older children

At preschool age (5-6 years), the child can start the lesson with a light jog. Attention must be paid not to speed qualities, but to the correct setting of the feet. If the kid understands and he starts to succeed, then the exercise can be complicated, add running with side steps and warming up the upper shoulder girdle on the go.

Children will be happy to play with a ball, ride a bike, swim in the pool if their parents give them proper time. It is necessary to control the child's fatigue, and smoothly bring classes up to 30-45 minutes. You should also add different types of walking: “like a bear”, “like an elephant”, “like a bunny”. It is necessary that the exercises have a game connotation, so the child will be engaged with a smile and rejoice during the lesson. Positive emotions are very important in working with children.

After warming up, do squats near the wall (20-30 repetitions). It is necessary to follow the execution technique, the feet should not come off the floor and be on the surface with the whole plane, the back is even.

Then the exercise "lowering the heels from the step" is applied. It is convenient to do it while holding on to a support. Put the socks on the step and pull the heel as low as possible. It is very good to practice where there is a gymnastic ladder. Various kinds of climbing strengthen the muscles and ligaments of the legs and spine.

In combination with massage and orthopedic shoes, the result will not be long in coming, the main thing is to develop the habit of the child to step on the foot correctly.

Massage for the treatment of clubfoot in children

This form of foot deformity in children, like clubfoot, is easily treated at the initial stages of development. In babies, the bones and ligaments are still soft, supple, so the sooner treatment is started, the better the prognosis. Congenital clubfoot is characterized by changes not only in the bones, but in the muscles and ligaments. As a rule, it is bilateral, so when the child begins to walk, it will be much more difficult to correct the deformity.

Among the main methods of treatment of this pathology is massage. In combination with gymnastics, it helps to correct the deformation at the initial stage. If treatment is started when the first symptoms of clubfoot are detected in a newborn, the feet can be quickly set in the correct position. Massage is prescribed for 10-15 sessions daily. It is necessary to repeat the course of procedures every month until a complete cure.

Features of this treatment method

Massage for clubfoot in children is considered one of the most effective methods of treatment. It should be carried out in courses, repeating several times until the functions of the foot are fully restored. The first course of massage must be done by a specialist, then the mother can massage the baby on her own. Such treatment will be most effective if it is carried out in the first six months of a baby's life. This is the period when the bones are still soft, and the muscles and ligaments are plastic, so they can be easily corrected. It is best to start massage from the very first days after birth.

Massage and gymnastics for clubfoot in children aged 2-3 years are also prescribed, but in combination with other methods of treatment. This acquired form of the disease may be due to injuries, improper bone formation, uncomfortable shoes. With a severe degree of pathology, massage can only be an auxiliary method. It performs mainly the functions of stimulating blood circulation, stretching and relaxing muscles and ligaments. This clubfoot is treated with a cast or surgery.

Massage is prescribed as part of the complex therapy of any degree of clubfoot. It is one of the most effective methods of rehabilitation after surgical treatment or plastering. Massage is also an excellent prophylactic against foot deformity. It helps to strengthen muscles and ligaments, improve the functioning of the ankle joint, activates blood circulation and metabolic processes in cells.

Massage functions

Clubfoot is characterized by increased tone of the muscles of the back of the lower leg and their weakening in front. The child's feet are turned inward, and their insides are slightly raised. Therefore, massage is used to normalize muscles and ligaments, as well as to prevent bone deformation. Before the first session, the doctor probes the child's legs to determine which muscles need attention. Properly performed massage performs the following functions:

  • relaxes the muscles in the back of the leg, the triceps and tibia, the Achilles tendon and the flexors of the fingers;
  • strengthens and tones the muscles on the anterior surface of the lower leg, extensors of the fingers, peroneal muscles;
  • stimulates blood circulation and conduction of nerve impulses, normalizes lymph flow;
  • relieves pain due to strong muscle tone, relaxing them;
  • strengthens the muscles and ligaments of the foot, which will hold it in the correct position.

Contraindications for carrying out

While massage is the most effective treatment for clubfoot in children, there are some cases where it should not be done. Contraindications for the procedure are such cases:

  • various skin lesions, scratches, dermatitis;
  • infectious or inflammatory diseases with high fever;
  • the presence of a hernia or acute diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
  • tuberculosis, osteomyelitis, diathesis or hepatitis;
  • if the child has congenital pathologies of the functioning of the cardiovascular or nervous system.

If the massage is carried out by the mother, she should know that it is desirable not to touch some areas or to influence them only with a light stroke. This is the inguinal region, the inner surface of the thigh and lower leg near the knee, the popliteal cavity.

There are many blood and lymphatic vessels in these places. And the front of the lower leg is not protected by muscles, so when pressing on it, the child may experience pain. You should also try to bypass moles and other formations on the skin. To have the right effect on the circulatory and lymphatic system, all movements must be carried out from the bottom up.

Massage techniques

The specialist chooses the sequence of movements and their intensity, depending on the individual characteristics of the baby. Only the right technique can have a beneficial effect. The most commonly used for clubfoot in newborns are the following techniques:

  • stroking with the whole palm;
  • massaging spiral rubbing with three fingers;
  • point pressure, especially attention should be paid to biologically active points on the surface of the foot;
  • deep kneading with the thumb;
  • rubbing with pressure;
  • corrective movements;
  • slight vibration and tapping;
  • patting.

Massage rules

Procedures must be performed in such a way that the child does not experience pain. To do this, massage begins with warming up the muscles. This can be achieved with a special massage oil or massage after thermal treatments (eg paraffin packs). It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that with all movements of the child's foot it is fixed in the correct position. To do this, it is held with one hand, while the other is rubbing or kneading.

In order for the procedure to help correct the deformation of the baby's legs, massage movements are combined with special passive exercises. It is especially important to carefully stretch the muscles of the inner surface of the foot. Each exercise should be performed 5-7 times, fixing the leg in the correct position for 15-20 seconds.

During the massage, slow rotational movements are carried out in the ankle joint. At the same time, slowly lower the inner edge of the foot, lifting its outer part. They also do its adduction and abduction, flexion and extension. At the same time, it is necessary to hold the ankle joint with one hand, the other hand lies on the sole of the baby’s foot with the palm and moves the foot, turning it into the correct position.

Foot massage for clubfoot in children should be carried out in combination with a tonic body massage, except for the upper limbs. This will help improve blood circulation and metabolic processes. Sometimes the doctor recommends bandaging the child's feet after the procedure, fixing them in the correct position. It is necessary to ensure that such a bandage does not pinch the vessels, and it should be changed 3-4 times a day, each time performing several massage and corrective movements.

For babies up to six months, the duration of the procedure should be 5-10 minutes. It is better to repeat it 2-3 times a day. You need to deal with the child daily, while performing other procedures prescribed by the doctor at the same time as the massage. After 2 weeks, you need to take a break for the same time, then the massage course is repeated.

Massage technique

There are many massage options for correcting foot deformities, so only a doctor can choose the right technique, taking into account the individual characteristics of the child. For children older than a year, the procedure is effective only in combination with gymnastics and orthopedic correction. You need to perform movements more intensively, paying special attention to the foot, kneading and rubbing it, while fixing it in the correct position.

And with congenital clubfoot, movements should be soft and smooth, they should not cause pain or discomfort to the baby. You can use, for example, the following technique:

  • put the baby on his stomach and bend his leg at the knee, with the other hand stroke the lower leg towards the foot;
  • gently press on the foot, slightly pressing the fingers down;
  • the Achilles tendon is affected by pinching and vibration, it is very effective to stretch it by smoothly turning the foot perpendicular to the lower leg;
  • then you need to turn the child on his back and work out the front surface of the lower leg with point pressure, paying special attention to the ankle joint;
  • stroking the lower leg should be alternated with rubbing the thigh, this will help better blood circulation;
  • intensive kneading and rubbing is required on the back of the thigh, the inside only needs to be lightly stroked;
  • where there is increased muscle tone, stronger pressing and kneading is necessary;
  • the knee joint is stroked in a circular motion and gently rubbed;
  • useful acupressure of the lower leg and ankle joint;
  • at the end, be sure to stretch the inner surface of the foot for several minutes.

After a massage session, it is advisable to perform several exercises to strengthen the muscles and ligaments of the foot and fix it in the correct position. The most effective exercise is the rotation of the foot along the longitudinal axis. All movements must be performed gently and carefully so as not to cause pain to the baby.

Children's clubfoot is easily treated in the initial stages. Especially if you use a complex of methods: massage, gymnastics, physiotherapy. To fully correct the foot requires patience and a lot of effort. Parents should be more attentive to the health of the baby, not to wait for the deformity of the foot to go away on its own. Only timely treatment will help prevent disability in a child.

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Clubfoot in children is one of the varieties of deformation of the musculoskeletal system. It is relatively common - out of 1000 children it is found in 1 baby.

Deformation of the feet, heels and joints of the lower extremities - those visual pathologies, without treatment of which there are restrictions on mobility when walking, disability. Why and what is the danger of delay in the elimination of such a disease?

Such a violation of the musculoskeletal system in a child, like clubfoot, requires mandatory long-term treatment under the supervision of a doctor.

Clubfoot classification

There are several classifications of clubfoot, but taking into account the latest data, it is customary to subdivide the pathology into 3 categories:

  • the nature of the manifestation - typical and atypical;
  • origin - congenital and acquired;
  • the manifestation is one- or two-sided, that is, it is diagnosed on one or both feet.

There is also a division according to the severity of clubfoot, taking into account certain signs:

  • Light. The ankle is mobile, there is no deformation of the bones. Can be treated at home.
  • Average. There are deformations of bone, muscle tissues and ligaments, the ankle joint. Requires professional treatment in a hospital.
  • Heavy. Congenital deformity of the musculoskeletal system on both feet.
  • Very heavy. Dangerous disability of the child. Often resistant to surgery.

Reasons for the appearance of deformation

This article talks about typical ways to solve your questions, but each case is unique! If you want to know from me how to solve exactly your problem - ask your question. It's fast and free!

This is a complex combined deformity of the foot. The foot is turned inward, resting on the outer edge of the foot (supination of the foot); is in the position of plantar flexion; there is an adduction of the forefoot (toward the first toe).

With such a defect, a “bearish” gait, clumsiness, and the danger of falling due to tripping over one’s own feet and uneven roads are formed in a person.

Clubfoot congenital

Clubfoot is congenital.

It is caused by contracture of the soft tissues of the foot and lower leg. The reasons are the unfavorable course of pregnancy, childbirth and heredity. Treatment of clubfoot begin from the first days of life: massage, passive gymnastics and fixation of the feet in the correct position. If left untreated, soft tissue contracture will increase joint contracture. And that's much harder to fix.

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In preschool age clubfoot may occur due to rickets, impaired development of bones and joints of the lower extremities, as well as improperly selected shoes.

There are effective modern methods clubfoot treatment in children.

Treatment of clubfoot according to the method of Ignacio Ponseti begins from the first days of a child's life. The earlier treatment is started, the more malleable is the deformity of the foot in congenital clubfoot. You need 6-7 changes of plaster casts with a gradual correction of the deformity. Staged treatment using plaster takes several weeks, depending on the severity of the clubfoot. Plaster bandages are always applied with fixation of the knee joint up to the upper third of the thigh. The cast toes are released to control the blood supply to the child's legs. Ponseti brace was invented, which is used for preschool children to treat clubfoot.

Plaster fixation of feet.

Plaster fixation according to Ponseti.

Ponseti brace

Ponseti brace.

Orthopedic shoes for children with clubfoot

Detailed information about treatment of clubfoot you can get on the site "Yaroslavl branch of the Russian Society for Surgery of the Foot and Ankle".

Clubfoot acquired may be a complication of previous poliomyelitis, peroneal nerve injury, improper treatment of talus fractures, inflammation of the ankle joint. On examination, the skin of the outer surface of the foot is thickened, while on the inside, on the contrary, it is tender and soft.

Gait disturbance in clubfoot entails changes in all joints of the lower extremities and in the spine. The sooner you start clubfoot treatment the easier and faster recovery will come.

Requires qualified treatment by a doctor - orthopedist, surgeon, neurologist.

As a rule, in addition to the main treatment, massage and physiotherapy exercises for clubfoot.

Features of massage for clubfoot:

Relaxing massage muscles located on the anterior-inner surface of the lower leg, the anterior and posterior tibial muscles, the triceps muscle of the lower leg, which ends with the Achilles tendon, the long flexor of the fingers.

Toning massage muscles located on the anterior surface of the lower leg: anterior tibial, long extensor of the fingers, long extensor of the thumb; muscles located on the lateral surface of the lower leg (both peroneal).

It is advisable to start clubfoot exercises after a massage procedure with passive corrective gymnastics for the feet, Achilles tendons and lower legs with stretching of the muscles that are in good shape.

Therapeutic exercises for clubfoot It also aims to strengthen and activate relaxed muscles and, conversely, to relax muscles that are in increased tone.

We fundamentally try

1 - put the foot on the inner arch,

2 - take the foot towards the fifth finger (little finger)

3 - and do the back extension of the foot.

Stop pronation. We put on the inner vault.

Taking the feet to the sides.

Stop extension.

Feet in the extension position (fingers "on themselves").

A set of exercises for clubfoot.

Feet "on yourself", socks to the sides, heels together.

1. "Rubber". Sitting on the floor, emphasis with hands behind, straightened legs together, put on a wide elastic band on the front sections of the feet. Take the feet to the sides, stretching the elastic band; heels remain closed; try to point your fingers "at yourself" (extension of the feet). Hold this voltage from 10 seconds to 1 minute 1 time. (If at first it is not possible to stretch the elastic band longer, then perform the exercise several times until muscle fatigue).

2. "Bar". Standing with the front sections of the feet on a bar 10 - 15 cm high, the heels hang from the bar, with your hands hold on to the crossbar of the Swedish wall (or to the back of the chair).

1, 2, 3 - springy movements with the heels to the floor, stretching the back surfaces of the legs and the Achilles tendons. 4 - return to the starting position. 8 times.

Once! Sit down, put your feet on the inner arch.

Two!Ex. position. Legs shoulder width apart.

3. "Squats". Standing in front of the Swedish wall, hold on to the crossbar in front of you with your hands, feet shoulder-width apart. 1- Sit as deep as possible, connecting the knees, feet turn on the inner arches. 2- Straighten up. 10 times.

"Yolochka".

"Yolochka".

"Yolochka".

4. "Herringbone". On the rug, create an image of a straight strip, from which “branches” go to the sides at approximately an angle of 80 0 at a distance of a small step. Attach the feet to the "branches" so that the heels are facing the middle (towards the central strip), and the front sections of the feet are set aside. Here you need to look down to correctly place the feet according to the figure. Therefore, to prevent stoop, you need to perform the isotonic exercise “Airplane” or “Boat”.

5. "Airplane" or "Boat". Lying on the stomach, the legs are straightened and tightly pressed to each other, the feet are in the extension position (toes towards you), hands in front of you.

1- Raise your head, upper shoulder girdle and arms to the sides so that the shoulder blades are connected. At the same time, raise tightly closed legs, stretch the heels back, stretching the spine. Hold this position for 1 minute.

1 time.

"Boat". 1 minute.

6. Standing in front of a chair, hands on the belt, legs together.

1- Raise the right leg, bending at the knee, and put it on the chair seat with the foot abducted to the right.

2- Return to starting position.

3- Raise the left leg, bending at the knee, and put it on the chair seat with the foot abducted to the left.

4- Return to starting position. Run 6 times.

Abduction of the right foot to the right.

Ref. position.

Abduction of the left foot to the left.

Ref. position.

7. "Walking goose step" in the squat position with the feet abducted to the sides. Hands free or on the belt. To exhaustion.

Attention to the feet: step on the inside of the feet with the abduction of the feet to the sides.

8. "Walking on heels" 20 sec.

9. "Bird". Sitting on a chair, legs together, hands on the belt.

1- raise the front sections of the feet with abduction to the sides.

2- return to ref. position. To exhaustion.

Once! Socks stop up and apart!

Two! Feet together.

Fix the knee with your hands for "honesty".

10. "Rotation of the foot."

Sitting on a chair, put the right leg on the left knee on the knee, put the hands in the “lock” on the right knee to fix the right leg.

1- With the right foot, “draw” circles clockwise (until slight fatigue).

2- With the left foot, “draw” circles counterclockwise (until slight fatigue).

11. Dance movement. Standing feet together, hands on the belt.

1- Put the right leg to the right side on the heel with the foot abducted to the right, light squat on the left leg.

2- Return to ref. position.

3- Put the left leg to the side on the heel with the abduction of the foot to the left, light squat on the right leg.

4- Return to ref. position. 8 times.

When moving the leg to the side, bend the leg at the knee so that there is a dance movement.

Starting position.

And-and-and...

Once! Stop on the heel, toes to the side!

And-and-and ... Two!

The same with the other leg.

12. Stretching the back surfaces of the legs. Sitting on the floor, legs are straightened and closed, hands on the belt.

Stretch your hands to the feet, feet in the extension position (toward yourself), do not bend your legs:

1, 2, 3 - perform springy slopes.

4- Return to ref. position.

6 times.

Clubfoot is a common anomaly in the development of the musculoskeletal system in young children. The disease is expressed in a persistent violation of the physiological location of the bones of the talonavicular joint, which is responsible for flexion and extension of the foot. The lack of timely therapy can lead to the development of muscle atrophy, curvature of the spine, impaired mobility of the lower extremities. Complex treatment of clubfoot in children with exercises is the preferred method for correcting congenital and acquired deformities.

Purpose of training for clubfoot

Almost 12% of infants are diagnosed with clubfoot of varying severity. It has been established that congenital pathology may be the result of a genetic predisposition or excessive mechanical impact on the lower limbs of the fetus during fetal development with oligohydramnios or malpresentation. Acquired clubfoot in children at an early age occurs in about 3-5% of cases and most often develops after injuries or some infectious and inflammatory diseases. As a result of anatomical disorders, a persistent deformity of the feet is formed: the soles turn inward, an inflection is formed in the center of the feet, and the volume of the legs is significantly reduced.

Pathology does not cause any pain to the baby, but is accompanied by limited mobility of the talonavicular joint and a change in gait. In severe cases, if left untreated, clubfoot can cause disability. As the main method of therapy, therapeutic exercises are used, the main goals of which are:

  • Restoration of mobility and physiological structure of the foot;
  • Normalization of muscle tone of the lower extremities;
  • Prevention of atrophy of the muscles of the lower leg and thighs;
  • Activation of local blood flow and tissue nutrition.

Attention!

When diagnosing congenital clubfoot, it is necessary to start therapy from the first days of life. The older the child, the less elastic and supple becomes his muscular-ligamentous apparatus, and it takes much more time to restore the natural position of the foot.

Rules for exercise therapy

When performing clubfoot exercises in children of all ages, the following rules must be followed:

  • Training is required at least 5-6 times a week. The duration of work with each foot in newborns is 5-7 minutes, in school-age children - at least 15-20 minutes;
  • All movements should be smooth and painless. If discomfort or fatigue occurs, you need to take a break;
  • Classes for children of all ages are carried out without shoes. It is allowed to wear thin socks;
  • Exercises with clubfoot should be done after thermal procedures (taking a bath or shower, a warm compress). It is recommended to complete each complex with an intensive foot massage using oil or a special cream. After the end of the workout, it is necessary to avoid hypothermia, and warm the legs with woolen socks or tights;
  • To increase the effectiveness of treatment, exercise should be combined with physical therapy, swimming, sports and wearing orthopedic shoes as prescribed by a doctor.

Gymnastics for newborns

Before the start of the lesson, the baby must be undressed and put on his stomach on a changing table or other flat, hard surface. As a warm-up, it is recommended to bend each leg at the knee several times and warm up the muscles with stroking and rubbing movements in the direction from the foot to the thigh. The complex includes:

  • Stretching the heel tendon. In the supine position, bend one leg at the knee, holding the lower leg with your left hand. With the palm of the right hand, with soft springy movements, press on the sole of the baby, directing it to the back;
  • Elimination of plantar flexion. Turn the baby on his back, pressing his lower leg firmly against the surface of the changing table. Grasp the foot with the other hand and press on its outer edge towards the back;
  • Elimination of adduction of the forefoot. In the supine position, fix the baby's shin with one hand, and make smooth straightening movements with the other, moving the front arch of the foot to its outer side;
  • Relaxation of contracture. Grasping the baby's foot, carefully rotate it with a small amplitude in both directions.

Performing exercises for bilateral clubfoot must be repeated for the other leg. Classes should be postponed if the baby is hungry, naughty or does not feel well.

Exercises for children from 2 years

When the child begins to walk, the training becomes more complex and includes exercises aimed at strengthening the muscular corset, improving blood circulation and correcting the gait. Classes are recommended to be carried out in a playful way. Each movement should be repeated 6-8 times:

  • Free warm-up (running, marching, jumping);
  • Ballet step. Walk in a straight line with the toe outward, trying to push the heel as far inward and forward as possible;
  • Soldier step. Walk, raising your knees high and rolling from heel to toe;
  • Development of the lateral surfaces of the foot. Stand for 20-40 seconds on the outer, and then on the inner arches of the foot. It is allowed to hold hands on any fixed support;
  • Development of the anterior part of the foot. Stand straight, legs together, feet parallel to each other. Holding on to the back of a chair, raise your toes as high as possible, lingering at the top point for 15-20 seconds;
  • In the same position, press your fingers without lifting your heels from the floor;
  • In a sitting position on a chair, rotate your feet in different directions, roll balls of different diameters, grab with your fingers and move small objects (pencils, shreds, crumpled paper, toys);
  • Squat deeply without lifting the sole from the floor surface.

Experts recommend that children with clubfoot walk barefoot on uneven surfaces as often as possible, practice on the Swedish wall, swim in the pool, and ride a bike. If you have free time, you should take a corrective pose "sitting between the heels." To do this, you need to kneel on the floor, spreading your feet with your toes out, then sit between your heels, keeping the position of your legs.

Activities for teenagers

Therapeutic gymnastics for clubfoot in older children includes the performance of all of the listed exercises in random order. Classes should be supplemented with an easy run lasting at least 20-30 minutes. When running and walking, special attention must be paid to the correct positioning of the foot.

In adolescence, it is required to additionally strengthen the muscles of the lower back and shoulder girdle. To do this, it is recommended to train with a heavy gymnastic ball with a diameter of 45-60 cm:

  • Squat with a straight back, holding the fitball in front of you with outstretched arms;
  • Push up from the floor with your feet on the ball;
  • Swing the press, resting your lower back on the surface of the fitball and turning your feet with your toes out;
  • Do lunges, placing the knee and shin of one foot on the ball.

The exercise therapy complex for clubfoot is also recommended to be supplemented with exercises with elastic gymnastic ribbons (can be replaced with a dense wide linen elastic band). The most effective exercise is stretching. To perform it, you need to sit on the floor, stretching straight legs forward, and wrap both feet with tape just below the level of the fingers. Try to spread the feet as wide as possible, lingering in this position for 20-30 seconds. Repeat at least 12 times.

Exercise effectiveness and prognosis

The younger the child and the earlier classes to correct the defect are started, the more favorable the prognosis for the patient. With a mild form of pathology, visible improvements are noticeable after 1-2 months. Experts recommend regularly performing exercise therapy exercises for clubfoot in children for at least 2-3 years, even with a complete cure.

Therapeutic gymnastics is effective only for mild to moderate clubfoot, when the angle of inclination of the foot does not exceed 45 °, and joint mobility is preserved. In the case of a severe violation, small patients are shown the imposition of plaster casts or surgery.

In almost 90% of cases, clubfoot in children of all ages is completely cured with exercise. To achieve a quick and lasting result, complex therapy is required, taking into account the doctor's prescriptions.

Clubfoot. Therapeutic gymnastics and massage

Treatment of clubfoot in children Treatment of clubfoot in children

Exercise therapy complex for clubfoot in children:
Important: exercises for clubfoot in children are done without shoes.

1) Walking (done every day):
1. "Step of the ballerina". Put the toe of one leg forward and slightly to the side, then push the heel of the same leg forward as much as possible, take a step, then repeat everything with the other leg. In this case, you need to ensure that the legs are straightened at the knees to the end.
2. "We walk like a clown." Stand up - heels together, toes as far as possible to the sides. Thus, start walking, while trying to maintain the original position.
3. "Toe walking". The toes must be to the sides.
4. "Walking on heels" The same.
5. "Walking X" (for those who do not suffer from X-shaped legs). Try to stand on the inside of the foot. To do this, you need to sit down a little, push your knees forward, raise the outer edge of the foot (toes to the sides). It should be noted that this exercise is difficult, it immediately becomes very difficult for the child.
6. "Walking like soldiers." Raising the knees high (they should be directed only forward parallel to each other), spread the toes to the sides.

2) Exercises for clubfoot in children with a gymnastic stick, you can use any longer stick with a diameter of about 1.5 - 2.0 cm (done every day):
1. Walking across the stick. In this case, the heels must necessarily touch the ground.
2. Walking along the stick like a circus performer.
3. Walking in the same way as in the "Step of the Ballerina", only the toe must be placed on a stick, and the heel must be left on the ground.

3) Squats (can be combined):
1. Regular squats. It is necessary to strive to ensure that the child does them on his own. Arms forward, feet fully on the ground. At first, you can hold the child by the hands. Run 10-15 times.
2. Cross-legged squats. The same thing, but here the child needs the help of a parent. You have to hold his hands.
3. Exercise - "Pussy". The child stands in front of the sofa (chair), makes a tilt, reaches the floor with his hands, and begins to move forward with one hand to the sofa, reaches the sofa. At the same time, the legs are straightened. The parent at this time sits behind and holds the child by the legs (you should try to pull the child's heels as low as possible to the floor). Having reached the sofa, the child does push-ups, then again returns to the starting position with his hands on the floor.

4) Exercises with a gymnastic wall (can be combined with squats):
1. In addition to the wall, either a small wooden slide is purchased or made. The child stands on the hill completely with the whole foot, and moves, holding on to the parent, up. The knees should be fully extended. It is necessary to ensure that the toes are directed to the sides, and the foot is completely touching the slide.
2. Standing on a hill and holding on to one of the steps of the wall, the child can do squats on their own. It is necessary to ensure that the knees are directed only parallel to the front, and not to the sides.
3. Just climbing the ladders of the slide. At the same time, it is good if the child will climb without shoes.
4. Sailor climbing. Imitating a sailor, you need to wrap your hips around one of the supports of the gymnastic wall, put your foot on the lower step so that the foot is turned to the side, then push off, put the other foot as well, etc.

At night, before putting on splints:
1. Lying down, lift the foot up to the stop, then to the side until it stops. Repeat 20 times with each leg.
2. Lying down, the parent raises the leg up and to the side and asks the child to hold the leg in this position for a count of 10. Repeat 3 times with each leg.

Also, parents can develop a set of exercises for clubfoot in children and gradually increase the load. An exercise therapist can suggest some useful exercises.
The following may be advised:
The first lesson must begin with a run - preferably in a circle. This will help the child warm up the muscles. I must say that when running speed is not required. The main thing is that the child correctly put the legs. At the next lesson, you need to introduce additional exercises, and then do a "psychological" exercise so that it deliberately distracts the baby from the correct setting of the legs. It is necessary to raise your hands to your chest, clench your fists and twist them in front of you while running. To begin with, you can twist your fists only in one direction, for example, towards yourself, and after a while, after several classes - 10 times in each direction. Parents should pay attention to how the child will put the legs during this exercise.
Walking, running around the hall should be diluted with jumping on toes. In this case, the setting of the legs should be like that of Charlie Chaplin, in other words, heels together and socks apart. In this position, the legs should come off the floor, and then land. Such a gait is good to climb the stairs, best of all, constantly. It is also necessary to include walking "goose step" in the classes. An excellent corrective posture is sitting between the heels on the floor, turning the legs like a frog.
It is also necessary to include exercises for stretching the spine. Thanks to these exercises, the back is unloaded.
I must say that regardless of the cause of clubfoot, children should have a strict daily routine, in which an obligatory place should be given to exercise therapy - Therapeutic exercise for clubfoot in children and swimming. It is also a good prevention of clubfoot in children. If the approach to treatment is correct, all the recommendations of the orthopedist are fulfilled, then the pathological deformity of the foot can be completely eliminated.

Exercise therapy for clubfoot in children http://lfk-gimnastika.com/lfk-dlya-detej/141-lfk-pri-kosolaposti-u-detej
Massage for clubfoot in children is one of the most effective methods of treatment.
Massage is used to relax the internal and posterior muscle groups of the lower leg, where there is an increased tone, you need to stroke, shake the muscles, followed by stretching them with vibrating movements.
To strengthen the stretched or weakened anterior and outer muscle groups of the lower leg, other, more active techniques are used - rubbing and kneading, as well as light tapping with the fingers.
Children's massage for clubfoot is most effectively carried out with a general tonic massage of the whole body, without working with the hands. The same is true for massage for clubfoot in adults.
First you need to stroke the entire length of the leg, then the thigh, lower leg, Achilles tendon and sole are massaged in turn.
The thigh is stroked from the bottom up, from the popliteal fossa along the posterior outer surface to the subgluteal fold. Vigorously rubbed and kneaded with a little shaking - for better muscle relaxation.
When massaging the lower leg on the back surface, a differentiated massage is performed.
After stroking from the heel to the popliteal fossa, it is necessary to influence the calf muscle.
Achilles tendon - stroking by pinching, strokes, stretching with vibration.
The position of the foot during the massage is light pronation, that is, the rise of the outer edge. When massaging, you need to stretch the inner edge of the foot and tone the outer edge.
The front surface of the legs is also massaged, after stroking along the entire length, then alternately. Then they move to the back surface of the foot - during the massage, the foot is at a right angle to the lower leg, with the normal position of the anterior section.
Vigorous rubbing along the edge of a rake, hatching, forceps, kneading along the edge - shifting, pressing, forceps, light percussion techniques.
The ankle is rubbed well, the ankles are rubbed in a circular motion. It is important to keep the foot in the correct position of easy pronation.
When massaging the front surface of the lower leg, you need to vigorously rub, tonic pressure and light blows - chopping and tapping with your fingers.
The knee joint is stroked in a circular motion and rubbed.
The front surface of the thigh is massaged vigorously with the help of certain movements, which are called passive.
With one hand, you need to fix the lower part of the lower leg, and with the other you need to grab the foot so that the palm rests on the sole. Carefully bend at the same time to the back and pressing on the outer edge, slightly turning the foot to the outside. Then you need to fix the ankle joint, gently pressing on the forefoot, moving it outward.
Rotations of the foot outward along the longitudinal axis should be done gently, gradually lowering the inner and raising the outer edge of the foot.
However, it must be remembered that one massage for congenital clubfoot is not enough, therefore, to improve and consolidate the result obtained, regular therapeutic exercises are needed.
Yandex.Direct

In recent years, many parents are faced with such a disease in children as clubfoot. The disease is pathological. There are visible anatomical abnormalities of the foot. This disease is most often a congenital defect and is formed in the womb.

This is mainly due to the fact that during pregnancy the woman did not consume the necessary vitamins in full. Also, the disease can be acquired. Sometimes it is associated with severe trauma after a neurological disease.

According to statistics, boys are the most affected by this disease. Good efficiency shows exercise therapy for clubfoot in children. Exercises to correct the problem get good reviews from parents.

The child is diagnosed with clubfoot already in the hospital, as it can be determined with the naked eye. With the equinovarus form, the baby's heel is turned inward, and with the valgus form - outward. Until now, doctors have not exactly established the cause of the disease.

In medicine, there are several factors:

  • mechanical - a defect may form under pressure on the embryo in the womb;
  • during pregnancy, the mother did not comply with the requirements of the doctor, drank alcohol, smoked, and took illegal drugs. Also, the violation of proper development could be affected by a lack of vitamins and microelements during pregnancy or a stressful situation experienced by the mother;
  • if one parent has this pathology, then, with a high probability, this disease will be inherited;
  • wrong shoes - this factor is underestimated by many parents. After all, a lot depends on the quality of this item. You can not wear already worn shoes, as well as those that do not match the size of the child's feet. This can cause problems with the baby's legs;
  • the baby should not be allowed to get up early on its legs, because the bones have not grown stronger, and the feet cannot hold a lot of weight for them.

Features of therapeutic measures

It is important that any form of clubfoot must be treated, because with age, the deformity can only intensify. If the disease is congenital, then most often a special plaster is applied to the baby, with which he walks for several months. As a rule, after such a procedure, the disease should be completely eliminated. However, in the event that a defect remains noticeable, then the feet are re-cast.

For small children, such a bandage is applied for a period of 5-7 days, for older children they are put on for 2-4 weeks, depending on the degree of clubfoot development. When wearing this bandage rules must be followed:

  • it should fit snugly to the leg;
  • it cannot be dirty;
  • it is forbidden to wet it.

It is impossible to wet a plaster cast, because if water gets on it, it will lose its hardness property. It will become loose, and just fall apart into pieces. Before taking water procedures, it is enough to wrap the leg with a plastic bag. It is best to keep it above water throughout the bath. During sleep, it is necessary to lay a diaper or towel so that the bandages do not rub against each other.

Parents need to know that it is impossible to leave a child without a cast for a long time - delay may result in the fact that all previously made efforts will come to naught. The clubfoot will return to its previous stage. Occasionally, there are cases when, due to the characteristics of the skin, it is impossible for a child to apply a plaster cast. Then the doctors apply a splint.

In rare cases, a rug boot is used. Such an item a child needs to wear for several years. Even after a full recovery, the child needs to sleep in it as a preventive measure.

Important! A child with such a disease can wear ordinary shoes only after eight years. Before this age, it is necessary to purchase a special orthopedic model.

Each parent can independently determine the violations, for this there are several simple ways:

  • using a role-playing game, you can paint the child’s legs with paint and ask them to walk on a white piece of paper;
  • Also, while playing in the sandbox, you can watch the footprints that the baby leaves.

Important nuances

A complex of physical exercises and therapeutic exercises for a child helps to align the gait with clubfoot. When examining traces, it is necessary to pay attention to their location. In healthy legs, the traces are clear and parallel. But with clubfoot, there are no even traces left. Treatment of the disease should be carried out under the supervision of a pediatrician. He prescribes the correct treatment.

Attention! A child who undergoes special physical education has a better chance of successfully correcting the foot.

With this disease, exercise therapy occupies the main place, since recreational activities help strengthen the muscles of the organ, normalize their tone. If parents begin to engage in treatment in the early stages of the onset of the disease, then it is possible to completely eliminate the deformity of the foot. It is worth noting that, in addition to recreational activities, it is necessary to give the child a special massage. Before starting complex measures, you should consult with your doctor.

Correction exercises

Each child is individual, and each development of the disease proceeds differently. However, there are general exercises that are performed with any form of illness.

It is important that at the beginning of the lesson it is necessary to carry out a warm-up, as it will prepare the body for further loads:

  • the parent must fix the baby's lower leg in one position. With the second hand, you need to rotate the foot clockwise. Then you need to change the legs and repeat all the steps;
  • an adult holds the lower leg, while performing reduction. It is important that the upper part of the limb is retracted to the side;
  • the baby must be placed on a hard surface, the adult holds the baby by the ankle. The foot should rest against the palm of the parent. Then gently bend it up. Also, when performing the exercise, you need to press on the edge of the limb. This lesson is aimed at stretching the internal tendons, and with regular performance, it allows you to eliminate the defect in the bend of the sole;
  • you need to sit on the floor, stretch your legs in front of you and bend at the knees. Feet should be moved to the side. Parents must help the child during the exercise, since he simply cannot cope on his own;
  • The baby must be placed on a hard surface. The exercise is performed first on one, then on the other leg. The left one remains in its original position, while the right one rises a little higher. The task of parents is to carry out circular movements of the foot clockwise;
  • the child needs to stand in a pose of legs shoulder-width apart, place his hands on his belt. Raise the leg and straighten it forward, the toes on the feet should also be extended. Then the baby should start moving in a circle. The parent should ensure that during the exercise the back remains flat and the leg is straight;
  • the baby also continues to walk in a circle, but already on tiptoes. Then you can change the exercises to walking on your heels;
  • also, the child can be offered walking like a soldier. When performing, the knees must be raised high, and the feet should be taken to the side;
  • you can perform the exercise with a gymnastic stick. The diameter of sports equipment should be about 2 centimeters. The child must walk through it from beginning to end. The movements of the baby should resemble the walking of a circus artist on a tightrope. You can also perform gentle movements in which you need to stretch the toe of the foot slightly forward. The gait should imitate the movements of a ballerina;
  • the child must be placed on a hard surface, the lower leg should be fixed in one position. With a free hand, flex and extend the foot, while it is necessary to perform acupressure of the foot;
  • it is imperative to include squat exercises in the complex of classes. They strengthen not only the muscles of the legs, but also the back;
  • in the complex of classes, you can include exercises to strengthen the muscles of the back and spine.

When performing all types of exercises, parents should monitor their correctness. In the event that some activity brings the child significant discomfort, then it can be replaced with another. Also, dads and moms can independently come up with similar exercises.

It is important to remember that the child must be presented with all activities in the form of a game. Then he will be interested and curious. When practicing with a baby, parents should support the emotional and mental state of the child. To do this, you can turn on the music.

Also, classes can be carried out using the Swedish wall. Experts strongly recommend to purchase this sports simulator. It allows you to work out all muscle groups.

However, in addition to the basic pieces of sports equipment, a slide needs to be added. You can make it yourself or buy it in a store. It can be made of wood or plastic. On it, the child learns to walk correctly with the help of parents. It is important that all classes should take place without shoes, because this has a positive effect on the course of treatment, and also does not cause any pain to the baby.

As the child performs the exercises, the intensity of the approaches and physical activity should increase. Swimming in the pool also has a positive effect. In the water, the child can completely relax, and any exercise will not cause discomfort. Water procedures always have a positive effect on recovery. However, all water activities must be supervised by a qualified professional.

Massage

Relaxing and toning massage should be performed daily. With this diagnosis, it is very necessary. Massage procedures are aimed at relaxing all muscle groups of the knee joint, because it is in it that an increased tone is formed.

Massage is performed using the following steps:

  • trituration;
  • vibrating actions;
  • stretching;
  • stroking;
  • shaking.

In the event that the disease has a more complex form, then kneading is used. A light tap is also used. Massage should be directed not only to the legs, but it is necessary to massage the entire body of the child - this will help relax all muscle groups, and also allow the adult to establish tactile contact with the baby. Therefore, each procedure should begin with simple strokes over the entire torso.

It can be done both in the morning and before bedtime for the baby to relax and tone the muscles. This allows you to relieve tension after a long walk or a complex of physical activities.

Conclusion

Parents should also observe the daily routine of the child. This affects his emotional and mental state. The number of lessons can be unlimited. Most importantly, they must be systematic. It depends only on the parents how quickly and effectively the child will get rid of this disease. Clubfoot is a disease that can be cured, subject to all the recommendations of a specialist.

It is impossible to cure the disease using only massage or physiotherapy exercises. Here it is necessary to combine all these measures. It is also recommended to attend physiotherapy procedures prescribed by the doctor. With proper and competent treatment, you can completely get rid of the foot defect. The sooner treatment begins for the baby, the better. All actions must be agreed with the attending physician.

Exercise therapy is an excellent way not only to cure clubfoot, but also to strengthen the child's immunity, develop willpower and endurance, and normalize muscle tone, since with this pathology it can be greatly increased. Physical exercises will help strengthen and properly shape the spine. After all, children who suffer from this disease have problems with posture. With improper walking, the spine begins to bend, and the load on it increases. Parents can, together with the baby, do exercises every morning, because it is adults who are an example for him.

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