What is inversion of the foot? Causes of clubfoot

Nowadays, the means of gynecological examination are very comprehensive. Developmental deformities such as clubfoot can be detected in advance during prenatal examinations through four-dimensional examinations and other means. Many pregnant women do not understand clubfoot. When their fetus is diagnosed with clubfoot, they become very worried and at a loss as to what to do. So what is clubfoot, and is it serious if the fetus has this condition?

1. What is inversion of the foot

Foot varus is a developmental deformity that can be found at birth and is caused by spasm of the tibialis posterior muscle. Foot inversion can occur in one or both feet. During the development process, the tendons and ligaments (posterior and deep) of the foot fail to develop in sync with the development of other tendons and ligaments in the foot. As a result, these tendons and ligaments pull the posterior and medial side of the foot downward, causing the foot to twist downward and inward. As a result, the bones of the foot are in abnormal positions, causing the foot to turn inward and become stiff and unable to return to its normal position.

2. Treatment of inversion of the foot

Treatment of clubfoot (Ponseti method)

This treatment works best when it is started before 9 months of age, preferably soon after birth.

For children between 9 and 28 months of age, this treatment is still effective and can correct all or most of the deformity.

After 28 months, the Ponseti method is still effective, but most children will need surgery in the meantime.

1. Manual therapy - After several weeks of manual therapy, the bones of the foot are restored to a nearly normal position and the foot deformity is gradually corrected.

2. Plaster Casting - After each manipulation, the foot and calf are casted for 5-7 days to maintain the position of the foot.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until the foot is corrected to the correct position.

4. To completely correct the foot, doctors usually cut the Achilles tendon. This minor surgery is performed under local anesthesia and takes only 10 minutes.

5. Brace - As soon as the last cast is removed, your child will be fitted with a brace to wear:

a. Wear it for 3 months, 23 hours a day.

b. Wear it every time you sleep for the next 2 to 4 years.

Bracing is a key part of treatment. Even if your child's foot appears to have returned to normal, if they don't wear it at every bedtime, their foot may turn back around, even after more than two and a half years of orthotics.

3. Foot inversion rehabilitation training method

3-6 months is the rolling over development period. The process of turning over generally includes the following four steps:

A. The neck erection reflex is mainly seen in newborns. It is caused by the difference in muscle tension distribution under the control of the Moro reflex and the neck erection reflex.

B. Dorsiflexion and opisthotonos: The turning over movement starts with rotating the shoulder to one side, extending the spine, and flexing the head dorsiflexion to opisthotonos. Most people can only turn over to the side-lying position.

C. Automatic turning over: It is under subcortical control and is mostly purposeless. It starts with raising the pelvic girdle and flexing the trunk, and the entire turning over movement can be completed.

D. Purposeful turning over: Turning over purposefully under the control of the cortex. The shoulders and pelvis can rotate to one side at the same time, and can be in a crawling position or a sitting position. The movements can be flexibly adjusted.

The baby cannot roll over and his development mostly stops at item A or item B, which means that he is under the control of primitive reflexes and his upright and balance reactions at the midbrain and cortical levels are not mature.