Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-02-13
CHILDREN
HAVE FLAT FEET
GREAT FALLS HEALTH OFFICER
FINDS VICTIMS IN PUBLIC
SCHOOLS OF THAT CITY

SCHOOLS OF THAT CITY
Condition Can BE Corrected BY Series
Of Exercises, He Asserts; Gives Symp-
toms Of Af1ictiOn; Says 1t Is Due to
Misuse, Lack of Exercise or Bad Shoes
DIR. T. F. Walker, health officer of
Great Falls and Cascade county, says
that fiat feet is one Of the most COM
mon physical defects among adults
and apparently among children. A
recent survey showed that 10 per cent
of the school children in Great Falls
have fallen arches"
THE foot is constructed of &c bones
bound together by more than 100 diff
ferent ligaments in such a way as to
permit q certain amount Of move
ment between the bones, thus insur-
ing the flexibility Of the foot" DIR.
Walker says. Numerous muscles,
nerves and blood vessels also enter into
the structure of the foot. There are
four arches, two long and two short
ones, in the foot. The inner long arch
extends from the heel to the base of
the large toe. and the outer arch from
the heel to the base of the small toe.
These short arches extend across the
foot, one across the ball of the foot
and the other across the middle of the
foot under the inStep, and often are
spoken of as the transverse arches.
These arches are maintained in part
by muscles. This especially is true of
the inner arch which is supported by
Q fiat strap-hke tendon of muscles
which originate in the leg and pass
under the bones forming the inner
arch to be inserted in the outer side
of the foot.
Through misuse Of the foot, lack Of
exercise Of the leg muscles or the wear
ing Of badly designed or i'll fitting
shoes, the arches may begin to sag
and the bones slip out of place. Dis
comfort or even severe pain sooner
or later occurs. Such distress or pain
may extend beyond the feet to the
legs or ever other parts of the body.
The feet are the foundation of the
house of the body and a faulty forma-
ton may lead to other structural de-
fectS.
Ordinary fiat foot consists of a
f1attening of the long arch extending
from the heel to the base of the large
toe. One of the first symptoms of fall
en- arches is a pain under the arch,
often extending up the back of the
leg. The pain is brought on by walk
ing or standing. The shape of the
print made by the wet foot differs
from that made by a normal foot.
The normal footprint is narrow in the
middle and wide at the heel and at the
toes. The print made by the flat foot
is wider in the middle than is the
normal, often being the same width
throughout.
Bullying of the inside of the foot
when the weight is thrown upon it is
another sign of flat foot or at least
Of weak arches, as is the wearing out
of the inside of the heel and inner
edge of the sole of the shoe. This
condition is brought about by a number
of factors which include lack of exer-
else, leading to flabby muscles which
do not properly support the arch,
faulty position of the feet in walking,
or toeing out, thus throwing undue
weight and strain upon the inner
arches.
I'm walking the toes should be kept
straight ahead SO that the weight falls
along the outside and on the ball of
the foot. The outer side Of the heel
should first touch the ground, TO be
followed by the outer side of the foot
to the small toe and finally the ball
of the foot to the large toe. In stand
ing one should stand with the toes
straight ahead rather than with the
toes turned out.
Faulty constructed shoes often are
responsible for the tendency to toe out
rather than straight ahead in walk
ing and standing. Shoes should be
constructed so that the inner edge of
the sole is straight. They should not
be 20 stiff, tight or short that they
limit. the action Of the muscles, espe-
cially those of the toes, as this causes
them to lose their elasticity.
"Flattening of the anterior arch
which extends across the ball of the
foot, causing a pinching of the nerves
of the foot between the bones often
is a painful condition. The pain,
which is located in the three outer
toes and directly under the ball of
the foot, often may persist for hours
after the shoes have been removed. A
painful callus in the middle Of the ball
of the foot often accompanies a fall
ing Of the anterior arch.
Failing of the anterior arch usually
is brought about by wearing a shoe
with q cOncave sole, a sole which
rounds down under the ball of the
foot and bends up at the sides, thus
permitting the short front arch to drop.
Proper use of the feet and the proper
kind of shoe will prevent the develop
ment of fiat foot and do much to cure
the condition after it has developed.
The tendency for those whose feet
bother them is to secure various arch
supports, which in the majority of
cases are unneeded or even harmful.
Shoes for Children
Children should not be forced OF
even encouraged to walk too early.
When a child begins to walk he should
be provided with broad-toed, flexible
shoes with a straight inner edge, shoes
that follow the formation of the foot.
AS the children grow older they should
be taught to walk softly.
1.-The following exercises tend to
strengthen the muscles Of the feet,
thus preventing flatfoot and often cor
recting the defect If the condition has
not progressed too far:
First exercise: Remove shoes and
stockings. Stand with weight on both
feet, feet about six inches apart, roll
tho feet nlltuard 70 to % times so that