When the foot expands

Flat feet and splay feet

What is that?

Splayfoot refers to the toes spreading apart due to a lack of stability on the bottom of the foot. The metatarsal bones spread apart because they are not adequately supported by muscles and ligaments. The toes deviate, the foot becomes unbalanced and a hallux valgus and / or also Claw toes.

How does this manifest itself?

In the case of a flat foot, the symptoms develop over a longer period of time. Due to the muscular imbalance, a hallux valgus.Patients often describe a stabbing pain in the ball of the foot between the second and fifth toes. The pain described is also medically known as Metatarsalgia described. Signs of inflammation such as redness and swelling are also frequently observed. Calluses and increased callus production often develop in the painful areas. Patients with forefoot pain often experience increasing wear and tear on the outer edges of their shoes. The patient tries to "avoid" the pain when walking, and therefore uses the outside of the foot more. 

Where does it come from?

The foot often shows atrophy of tendons and muscles in the ball of the foot. This usually affects older people or people who run, but a congenital weakness in the connective tissue can also cause the misalignment. Unfortunately, this type of atrophy is rarely reversible and requires lengthy treatment. 

Frequent wearing of high-heeled shoes can also lead to this symptom. The entire weight rests on the ball of the foot, causing the muscles and tendons to become crushed and to degenerate as a protective reaction. The degenerated tendons and muscles can no longer provide stability to the foot and can no longer hold the toes together. The toes are automatically pushed outwards by the body's own weight. 
Finally, the connective tissue on the ball of the foot can also break down prematurely due to metabolic diseases such as diabetes and cause corresponding problems. Our genes also play an important role because they determine how stable our tendons and muscles are; weakness can be present from birth.

What happens if I don’t act here?

Due to the imbalance of the stabilizing muscles, the foot loses its natural function, meaning that the gait changes from the norm. Walking quickly becomes tiring and thus general performance is reduced.
The hallux valgus and Claw toes These deformities mean that normal or fashionable footwear can only be worn with restrictions. Walking is painful, which in turn can lead to the adjacent joints being affected.  

How do I find out if I have something like this?

Pain in the area of the inner edge of the foot and in the forefoot is a symptom of flat feet. The diagnosis of flat feet by a doctor is a visual diagnosis. In addition to the standing foot, the gait pattern is also analyzed. Gait analysis works best with the help of a video recording, because then it can be distinguished whether the patient has a static flat foot or a dynamic flat foot. A scan of the underside of the foot can tell exactly how much of the surface is under pressure when standing.

How do you treat this?

Flat feet can be treated very well using conservative methods. kokochii® insoles help with flat feet by supporting the longitudinal and transverse arches. The 3D insoles are extremely thin, but still retain their shape. They provide the necessary elasticity for twisting and support where it is needed. In addition, professionally coordinated padding can provide targeted relief for pain points.

In order to actively straighten the foot again, the foot muscles should be trained – there are special three-dimensional exercises for this.