Flat Foot- Physiotherapy Management

Dr. Dibyendunarayan Bid [PT]The Sarvajanik College of

Physiotherapy,Rampura, Surat.

dnbid@yahoo.com

Pes Planus

Pes planus (PP) is the loss of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot.

There are various types and causes of flat feet.

Usually, treatment is only needed if PP is new, painful or progressing, or when there is a fixed deformity or other associated problem.

The flat arch does not occur in isolation, but affects the dynamics of the foot. So, patients standing on a flat foot will usually have:› Valgus position of the heel (turned outwards).› Pronation of the midfoot, usually referred to as

'hyperpronation' (the midfoot turns inwards).› Valgus (turned out) position of the forefoot.

Note: the definition refers to the foot bones, not the soft tissues. People with hypertrophied plantar foot muscles (e.g. lifelong barefoot walkers) might appear to have flat feet, when their bony arches are normal.2

Types of PP PP may be: Developmental or acquired Flexible or fixed

Aetiology

Children Pes planus (PP) can be part of normal development:

› Infants typically have a minimal arch.› Many toddlers have flattening of the long arch, with forefoot

pronation and heel valgus on weight-bearing.› There may be ligamentous laxity, which is probably determined

genetically.› Most of these children spontaneously develop a strong normal

arch by around age 10. Abnormal development of the foot, producing PP, may be

due to: › Neurological problems, e.g. cerebral palsy, polio.› Bony or ligamentous abnormalities, e.g. tarsal coalition (fusion of

tarsal bones), accessory navicular bone.› A small proportion of flexible flat feet do not correct with growth.

Some of these may become rigid if the PP leads to bony changes.

Adults Physiological PP:

› There is a lack of normal arch development, probably due to inherent ligamentous laxity.

› Around 20% of adults have PP. The majority have a flexible flat foot and no symptoms. However, if there is also heel cord contracture, there may be symptoms (see 'Contributing factors', below).3

Adult-acquired PP - causes:4 › Loss of support for the arch:

Dysfunction of the tibialis posterior tendon - a common and important cause.

Tear of the spring ligament (rare). Tibialis anterior rupture (rare).

› A neuropathic foot, e.g from diabetes, polio, or other neuropathies.› Degenerative changes in foot and ankle joints:

Inflammatory arthropathy, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis. Fractures. Bony abnormalities, e.g. tarsal coalition.

Contributing factors Footwear: shoes which limit toe movement; high heels.

Barefoot walking may be protective. A tight Achilles tendon or calf muscles (heel cord

contracture). This may help to cause PP, or may contribute to symptoms such as foot pain when there is existing PP.

Obesity Other bony abnormalities, e.g. rotational deformities, tibial

abnormalities, coalition (fusion) of tarsal bones, equinus deformity.

Ligamentous laxity, e.g. familial, Marfan's syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Down's syndrome.

Other factors causing foot pronation, e.g. hip abductor weakness and genu valgum.

Presentation and assessment

History Patients may present with noticeable pes

planus (PP), parental concerns, or foot pain.

Children: History of the PP and any changes. Symptoms: walking/running ability and

any foot pain. Past medical history: other diseases,

developmental delay.

Adults: Is the PP new? Is it symmetrical? Is there foot pain or interference with walking? Are there any other lower limb symptoms, e.g. knee pain? Past medical history: injuries, other related disease

(neurological, rheumatological, musculoskeletal). Occupation and hobbies. If PP is new, asymmetrical or painful, ask about symptoms

of tibialis posterior dysfunction, which are: › Pain or swelling behind the medial malleolus and along the

instep.› Change in foot shape.› Decreasing walking ability and balance.› Ache on walking long distances.

Examination1

Observe the PP. › With the patient standing, look at his or her feet from above

and behind. Loss of the arch is visible, with the medial side of the foot close to the ground. Look at the feet from behind - with PP the heel moves outwards (valgus) and the toes may also be pointed outwards.

Is the PP flexible? › Ask the patient to stand on tiptoe. With flexible PP, this will

reveal the arch, and the heel will move inwards (varus position). Look for signs of tibialis posterior dysfunction4 (if history is

suggestive of this): › Ask the patient to do 10 unsupported heel raises (stand on one

foot on tiptoe, unsupported). Patients with tibialis posterior dysfunction will be unable to do this.

› Further assessment of tibialis posterior dysfunction is detailed in the reference below.4

Assess related problems, if relevant, e.g. neuropathy or arthritis.

Investigations In some cases, standing foot X-rays may

be used to show the degree of deformity: Standing lateral view shows the

longitudinal arch and talonavicular joint. Standing AP view shows the degree of

heel valgus (talocalcaneal angle).

Management Is treatment necessary? In many cases, pes planus (PP) does not require

treatment: The arch may develop spontaneously in children under 10

years with flexible PP and no other relevant condition. In adults, a 'good' PP is one which has has been present a

long time, is flexible, bilateral, painless, and not progressing.

Consider referral or treatment for PP if: PP is fixed, new, asymmetrical, progressing, there is foot

pain, or if the patient has another disease which may be contributing (e.g. neuropathy or inflammatory arthritis).

There is tibialis posterior dysfunction. This should be treated in its own right: treatment may involve rest, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), orthotics or surgery.4

Non-surgical treatment Heel cord stretching is an important part of treatment, as a

tight Achilles tendon tends to pronate the foot.3 See box for details.

Orthotics (inserts or insoles, often custom-made) may be used. These usually contain a heel wedge to correct calcaneovalgus deformity, and an arch support. › This is the usual treatment for flexible PP (if treatment is needed).› A suitable insole can help to correct the deformity while it is worn.

Possibly it may prevent progression of PP, or may reduce symptoms.1 However, the effectiveness of arch support insoles is uncertain.6,7

› Note: arch supports used without correcting heel cord contracture can make symptoms worse.3

› In patients with fixed PP or arthropathy, customised insoles may relieve symptoms.

Reduce contributing factors:2 › Wear shoes with low heels and wide toes.› Lose weight if appropriate.› Do exercises to strengthen foot muscles - walking barefoot (if

appropriate), toe curls (flexing toes) and heel raises (standing on tiptoe).

Tendo-achilles [Heel cord] stretching exercises› These stretch and lengthen the Achilles tendon and

posterior calf muscles.

Instructions: Stand facing a wall with your hands on the wall at about

eye level. Put the leg you want to stretch about a step behind your other leg.

Keeping your back heel on the floor, bend your front knee until you feel a stretch in the back leg.

Hold the stretch for 15-30 seconds. Repeat 2-4 times. Do this exercise 3-4 times a day.

Surgery Common indications for surgery are:

› Cerebral palsy with an equinovalgus foot, to prevent progression and breakdown of the midfoot.

› Rigid and painful PP.› To prevent progression, e.g. with a Charcot joint.› Tibialis posterior dysfunction, where non-surgical

treatment is unsuccessful.

Possible surgical procedures include:› Achilles tendon lengthening.› Calcaneal osteotomy, to re-align the hindfoot.› Reconstruction of the tibialis posterior tendon.› For severe midfoot collapse of the arch, triple

arthrodesis may be indicated.

Complications and prognosis Physiological pes planus (PP)

› It is generally stated that physiological PP is unlikely to cause significant foot problems.1,3 However, some authors suggest that excessive foot pronation (which usually occurs with PP) may contribute to the development of foot pain and foot problems such as:2

› Tibialis posterior dysfunction (because hyperpronation stretches this tendon).

› Hallux valgus (because more weight is borne by the medial metatarsals when the foot hyperpronates).

› Metatarsalgia (for the same reason).› Plantar fasciitis.› Knee pain: one study found that off-the-shelf foot orthoses

were beneficial for patellofemoral pain.8 Another study suggested that foot deformity may be linked to greater disability from knee osteoarthritis.9

› PP may reduce the shock-absorbing features of the foot, potentially contributing to low back pain.3

Other types of PP Depending on the cause, PP can deteriorate, with loss

of the longitudinal arch leading to collapse of the midfoot. With deterioration, a flexible PP can become rigid and/or painful. This can cause significant difficulties with walking and may require surgery.

Situations where deterioration is likely without treatment include:

Neuropathy, e.g. with a Charcot joint there may be rapid and progressive loss of the arch.1

Tibialis posterior dysfunction.4

Cerebral palsy.3

The  Exercises for the treatment of Flat Feet are divided into two main groups:

Non-Weight Bearing (Sitting) and

Weight Bearing (Standing).

Non-Weight Bearing Exercises. Sitting: active foot rolling.

The patient tries to draw an 'O' with his/her big toe. For the right foot clockwise; for the left foot anti-clockwise.

Sitting: trying to pick up a duster. A duster is placed under the foot, and the patient tries by using both feet to screw the duster into a ball, then inverting (raising the internal arch of) both feet, he/she tries to throw the duster into the air and catch it. Similarly the patient can be encouraged to pick up balls, match boxes, etc., with the feet.

Sitting with strong extension of the knees: dorsi-flexion, holding them in position.

Sitting: alternative toe clawing. The toes of one foot are actively flexed as far as possible, gripping the floor and pulling the heel of the foot two or three inches forwards. The toes are extended, and the opposite foot is similarly exercised. In other words, the toes pull the foot a short distance along the ground. Care must be taken to ensure that the patient does not push the foot along using the leg muscles.

Sitting: sliding the sole of one foot up the leg of the other.

Sitting: foot shortening. The foot is slightly inverted (the internal arch is raised), but the sole is not turned upwards. That is to say, the height of the arch is increased, whilst the toes are still gripping the ground.

Sitting: foot-closing. An attempt should be made to close

the foot, like a fist. Sitting: toe adduction and abduction.

This means the toes are pulled away from then towards one-another.

Sitting with both feet crossed and inverted. Holding them in position.

Weight Bearing Exercises. Walking on the outer borders of the foot.

Each foot should be lifted over the other one at each step.

Standing: heel raising and lowering to the outer borders. The patient starts with the feet inverted, raises the heels, and lowers the outer borders.

Standing with the feet inverted. Holding this position.

Standing on a book: the edge of which is placed immediately under the metatarso-phalangeal joints. The toes are then flexed and extended.

Standing: foot shortening.

Walking along a straight line.

Correct heel and toe walking:

The patient is taught to walk with the feet along parallel lines.

Any tendency towards slaying must be immediately corrected. The heels should first be placed on the ground, the outer border next, the toes finally..

The weight should not at any time in this procedure be taken on the inner border.

The heel is then cleanly raised from the ground, the five metatarsals used as the fulcrum, and the big toe for a concluding propulsion to a straight leverage.

The heel and toe walk brings all the muscles into equal action, and ensures normal balance.

All the above exercises should only be undertaken when the patient is rested and not tired.

The amount and frequency of the exercises would be decided by the patient's Physiotherapist.

Thanks for your attention………..