Scientifically identify clubfoot, rehabilitation can help you!

In daily rehabilitation work, we always see parents confused by various problems of their children. Parents always observe their children with a magnifying glass. In the face of parents' tension and anxiety, it is crucial to popularize health science rehabilitation knowledge. So today, let's popularize some things about "pointed feet".

The foot is usually referred to as the ankle joint, also known as the talar joint.

Its main muscles:

Triceps surae: gastrocnemius, soleus --- plantar flexion of the ankle

Tibialis anterior muscle - dorsiflexes the ankle

The role of feet

Connecting the upper and lower parts: absorbing various vibrations, providing stability during body movement, and pushing the body forward when standing and walking.

Pointed feet

I. Definition

Pointed toeing means standing with the heel raised, toes touching the ground, legs crossed, and ankle joint in plantar flexion, which is caused by increased tension in the triceps surae.

2. Classification

1. Physiological pointed feet

Normal infants under 1 year old will have transient pointed feet during their growth and development. Infants aged 4-5 months can already bear weight on their feet, but due to the traces left in the brain by the high tension of the flexor muscles in the womb, they can show pointed feet bearing weight when standing with support, and pointed feet will disappear after 8 months as they grow and develop.

2. Pathological pointed feet

It often indicates that there may be a certain degree of brain damage or abnormal brain development.

(1) Increased muscle tone of the triceps calf

A. Postural and motor abnormalities and developmental delay

B. Touching the triceps surae proves high muscle tone

C. Increased muscle tone as measured by passive range of motion

(2) Pointed feet with inversion of the foot

The tension of the triceps surae increases, the strength of the tibialis anterior is poor, and the muscles controlling the ankle joint lose balance, so it is often accompanied by inversion of the foot.

(3) The duration of cusps is long (usually it has not disappeared after 8 months) and the degree of cusps is obvious.

3. Habitual pointed feet

Children with ADHD and other behavioral abnormalities often walk on tiptoe due to immature vestibular development, but their ankle muscle tone and passive joint range of motion are normal.

Strategy: Generally, changes are made through behavioral correction, sensory integration training, etc.

Treatment strategies

1. Physiological pointed feet

① Close follow-up and guidance training.

② If the resistance to passive range of motion of the ankle joint increases and the stiffness of the triceps surae increases, rehabilitation intervention is required as soon as possible

2. Pathological pointed feet

(1) Muscle stretching

A. Passive stretching: stretching the triceps surae in the extended and flexed knee positions, standing on an ankle-foot orthotic board, and forced continuous range of motion (CPM).

B. Active traction: Children should practice squatting and standing, and curling their insteps.

(2) Sensational stimulation of the soles of the feet

Tactile balls, tactile brushes, and tapping on the medial and lateral sides of the sole increase proprioceptive input.

(3) Kinesio taping

A. Relaxation of the posterior calf muscle taping method: Y-shaped taping

B. Tape method to promote tibialis anterior muscle contraction: Type I tape method

C. Correction of ankle position taping: Type I taping

(4) Medication and assistive device intervention

A. Botulinum toxin type A injection

B. Polymer bandage correction

C. Ankle-foot support (AFO)

Spinal foot is not scary. We need to have a scientific understanding of the ankle joint and a correct understanding of scalp foot so that we can achieve early detection, early diagnosis, and early intervention.