Welcome to the Podiatry Arena forums, for communication between foot health professionals about podiatry and related topics.
You are currently viewing our podiatry forum as a guest which gives you limited access to view all podiatry discussions and access our other features. By joining our free global community of Podiatrists and other interested foot health care professionals you will have access to post podiatry topics (answer and ask questions), communicate privately with other members (PM), upload content, view attachments, receive a weekly email update of new discussions, earn CPD points and access many other special features. Registered users do not get displayed the advertisments in posted messages. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our global Podiatry community today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact contact us.
Rehabilitative treatment in flexible flatfoot: a perspective cohort study.
Riccio I, Gimigliano F, Gimigliano R, Porpora G, Iolascon G. Musculoskelet Surg. 2009 Sep 24
Quote:
Paediatric valgus flexible flatfoot is a common childhood paramorphism. Its treatment options consist of rehabilitation, corrective footwear and, if necessary, surgical intervention. The aim of our study was to compare a group of children who followed a rehabilitative programme versus a historical group of children who had been treated with insoles and orthopaedic footwear. Over a 2 year period (1995-1997), 300 children (mean age was 3.4-184 male, 116 female) with bilateral flexible flatfoot (600 feet) were recruited and underwent a rehabilitative programme for a mean period of 2.75 years. The feet were classified according to Viladot's method: 386 feet presented a type III degree deformity and 214 feet presented a type II degree deformity. The rehabilitative programme consisted of simple therapeutic exercises, which could be easily learnt by both patients and their caregivers. These children were compared to a historical group of children (674 feet) who had been treated in our department for infantile flexible flatfoot with the use of orthosis. In these groups, 396 feet presented a type III degree deformity and 278 feet presented a type II degree deformity. In the group of children who underwent the rehabilitative protocol, during follow-up at the age of eight, 352 of the 386 type III degree feet could be classified as normal and 210 of the 214 type II degree cases became normal. In the historical cohort of children treated with orthosis, at the age of eight, 214 of the 396 type III degree feet could be classified as normal; and 248 of the 278 type II degree cases became normal. Our results show that comparing the percentage of success (changing from type III or II degree to type I or N) in the two groups (children treated with rehabilitation and children treated with orthosis), the rehabilitative approach seems to be more effective. Probably it has a marginal influence on the natural history of paediatric valgus flexible flatfoot even though it plays a role in maintaining good flexibility of the flatfoot thus limiting functional impairment.