Kinesiological characteristics of ankle joint and rearfoot motion.

Kinesiological analysis of tarsal bones provides better understanding of foot disorders, especially in early childhood, when radiography is hindered by delayed ossification of foot bones. Children begin to walk in the age of 9-15 months, with rearfoot inversion only in initial contact phase, while inversion during terminal stance phase is delayed. Adult walking pattern is usually established at six years of age. Talocrural joint axis medial slope shifts during movements depending on the what part of talus comes in contact with maleolli. As a result, plantar flexion includes valgus, and dorsal flexion includes varus inclination. Subtalar joint axis highly varies among individuals: from 200-680 in sagittal and from 40-470 in frontal plane, with impact on coupled lower leg rotation movements around longitudinal axis. Midtarsal joint has two axes, and their position control the rigidity of forefoot and midfoot kinetic chain. Movement planes of tarsal bones strongly influence walking pattern as well as secure foot development.

Clubfoot in children.

Clubfoot, or talipes equinovarus, is a deformity consisting of equinus, varus, and adductus foot deformity. The true etiology of congenital clubfoot is unknown; several theories have been proposed. The pathology of the individual bones contributes to the clubfoot deformity and soft tissue contractures around the ankle and talocalcaneonavicular joint maintains the deformity and involve muscles, tendons, tendon sheaths, ligaments and joint capsules. Various treatment regimens have been proposed, including the use of corrective splinting, taping, and casting. Surgery in clubfoot is indicated for deformities that do not respond to conservative treatment by serial manipulation and casting. Surgery in the treatment of clubfoot must be tailored to the age of the child and to the deformity to be corrected. The main goals of treatment is the painless, functional and anatomical normal foot without need for custom made footwear, and those can be achieved after detailed, indivudial approach with great experience in pediatric orthopedics.

Flatfoot in children.

Foot arches are defined by the position of bones and stabilized by active and passive soft tissue structures. The most significant foot arches are longitudinal, medial and lateral. During lifetime they develop and change, while the most significant disorder represents the flatfoot. During the first two years of life, the flatfoot in full weight bearing position is considered a normal physiological condition, while in later age it represents a deformity requiring additional diagnostics and treatment. The flexible flatfoot is caused by ligamentous laxity, it is mostly pain-free and is treated symptomatically (prescription of adequate shoes and kinesitherapy). The rigid foot is most often caused by bone changes (tarsal coalition, vertical congenital talus) occurring idiopathically or within neuromuscular pathological conditions, with mostly present pain problems. In such cases treatment is also initiated by non-surgical methods, however, some type of surgical treatment is most frequently necessary to be used.

Hallux valgus.

Hallux valgus is a complex deformity of the forefoot. Beside the lateral deviation of the first metatarsophalangeal joint angle exceeding 15-20 degrees and intermetatarsalvarus exceeding 8-9 degrees, it is also characterized by extensive changes of the soft tissue arch, sesamoid mechanism and metatarsocuneiform joint. It occurs almost exclusively in humans wearing shoes. Although in some measure it can be treated non-operatively, by corrective separators and inserts, operative treatment is predominant. There are numerous operative procedures aimed at the correction of the deformity and inducing normal biomechanics of the forefoot. There are seven conceptually different procedures starting from simple bunionectomy, through various soft tissue procedures, metatarsal and phalangeal osteotomies, to resection arthroplasty and metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis. All have clear indications, and none of them has advantages over the others. In accordance with the etiopathogenesis of the disease prevention is easy; wearing comfortable shoes.

Physical treatment of foot deformities in childhood.

During the period of development foot deformities can occur, not only during the growth and development, but also in the later age. The most frequent foot deformity is flatfoot, congenital club foot and hallux valgus. Prior to the decision on surgical treatment of the deformity, whenever possible the patient should be referred for physical therapy that may yield acceptable results in specific treatment phases. The basis of the treatment involves kinesitherapy, application of certain agents (thermotherapy, electrotherapy, ultrasound) and orthosis for maintaining corrections. If such therapy does not yield satisfactory results, the deformity is surgically corrected. After surgical correction, physical procedures can contribute to more rapid recovery and decrease possible complications (pain, edema, complex regional pain syndrome--Mb Sudec), which can follow the surgical correction of the deformity. In addition, the obligatory form of rehabilitation also involves kinesitherapy.