Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-02
MANY BODILY ILLS
HAVE THEIR ORIGIN
IN ABUSED FEET
Deteriorated Condition Known
as "Pes Planus," Otherwise
Flat Foot, Responsible for
Physical Ailments
SHOES OFTEN TO BLAME
orthopoedic Expert Tells Of Causes
of Diseases Of Nervous
System

A foot Is capable of kicking up a whole
lot of trouble. This is no subtle refer
ence to the method Of sisters beau, but
~ discussion of the local and referred
pains which result from the deteriorated
condition Of the foot known as pes pianus
| (cr fiat fooD.
Women suffering with pains In the back
| under the shoulder blade. or directly over
the kidneys, possibly In the arm or the
wrist, would doubtless greet with a smile
of derision the information that this was
nothing more. .or less than the foot's
| back fire."
According to statements made by n
member of the medical fraternity re-
| Gently, pes planus has been known 10
cause intense pains in regions far re-
moved from the seat of disturbance
In fact, cases of nervous prostration ara
sometimes directly traceable to ill-fittinE
shoes. These permit the llgaments 10
become so utterly relaxed through too
much artificial support as to be unable
to support the bones of the arch. Flat
foot results. which in some instances Ia
so extremely painful as to produce a
complete upset Of the whole sympathetic
nervous system.
COMFORT FOR AFFLICTED.
1t will be comforting to the hypochon-
driac to know that the pain in her back
under the shoulder blade doesn't necea-
sarily represent a lung invaded by tuber-
cular bacilll or that the ache in the small
of the back doesn't indicate a pair OF de-
cadent kidneys.
Rather in the opinion of physicians let
IT be appreciated as one of natures high
signs that even foot will revenge itself
for neglect and mistreatment
Flat foot, or pes planus," said Dr. w
v1I,. ILL
Orthopoedic Hospital, "may or may not
cause local suffering Where II does the
pain is usually intense, amounting almost
to torture. This is due to a pinched
nerve, the friction of two of the twisted
bones or possibly a torn ligament The
constant shock of the pain has been
known to upset completely the whole
sympathetic nervous system, resulting in
loss of appetite, disturbed digestion, mall
nutrition and an anemic condition. in
which latter state the patient is suscep-
tble, of course, to almost any of the
more serious diseases.
Then there are cases of broken-down
arches where there is no pain felt in the
foot itself, but referred pains in various
parts of the body. Their presence cannot
be explained. but we do know that they
disappear when there is a correction Of
the condition existent in the foot"
POOR SHOES AND GOoD ONES.
An ill-ftting, shoe, according to Doctor
McAnally, is many times the causative
factor. Too much artificial support OF
the arch is seized upon by the ligament
as fine chance to lay down on the
job" All elasticity is lost and the bones
of the arch fall in consequence, leaving
the foot absolutely fiat.
The ideal shoe is one with a common
sense heel. broad toe and a certain
amount of spring in the part support-
ing the-arch," continued this physician.
"Flat foot is never found among races
who go barefooted, the ligaments receiv-
ing sufficient normal exercise TO keen
them In perfect condition.
Other contributory causes of pes
pla us are overstrain of these muscles
an hgaments An example of this Is
th' society woman who is on her feet
so little during the day as ito permit OF
perfect relaxation of these Iigamenta.
Then for hours in the evening she dances.
placing an unnatural strain on the legs
and feet. followed by the hours of nat
ural relaxation which occurs during
sleep"
DOCTOR Allen advises daily exercises of
these muscles and ligaments by raising
up and down on the toes.