Xom legs in children: causes, symptoms, photos, treatment, massage and prevention

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Feet "X" in a child (what to do in the presence of such an ailment, described below) is a valgus deformity of the foot. Pediatricians often refer to this condition as borderline or transitional. With sufficient physical activity, massages and special exercises, the child's legs straighten by two to three years. In some cases (only 7%), surgery may be required.

Valgus deformity symptoms

"X"-shaped legs in children who have just learned to walk can be seen quite often. Valgus deformity of the foot is diagnosed when, with tight compression and straightening of the knee joints, the distance between the ankles is more than four to five centimeters. The toes usually deviate towards the outside, and the inner arches of the feet turn inward. In this case, there is pain in the joints, the child quickly gets tired when walking, there are difficulties with the selection of the first shoes. Similar symptoms occur with arthritis, deforming osteoarthritis,gout. Valgus deformity can be not only X-shaped, but also O-shaped. If the pathology is accompanied by a decrease in the height of the arches, then we are talking about plano-valgus deformity. This form of pathology is most often found in pediatric orthopedics.

How to determine the curvature yourself

Does a child have "X" legs a year? This should not cause concern for parents if the baby has just begun to walk confidently. As soon as the child learns to move independently, you need to monitor his posture and gait. It is at this time that you can begin the prevention of scoliosis and flat feet. Often young children walk with their knees together. In this case, the baby steps only on the inner edge of the foot. To check if there is a pathology, you can ask the baby to stand straight and put his legs together. Knees converged, but below the legs diverge by five centimeters or more? In this case, we can talk about valgus deformity. It is advisable to consult a doctor in order to correct the deviation in time.

Valgus deformity develops gradually. At an older age, a child may complain that it is uncomfortable for him to wear shoes. At the end of the day, pain in the feet may appear, the first toe is bent, the bone significantly deforms the anterior section. The sole usually protrudes in the center, flattens. Often in this place there are quite painful calluses that make it difficult to move. The second finger can rise a little up, over time it ceases to unbend, a callus forms. Deformationdisrupts the blood supply, which contributes to the development of arthrosis.

Causes of hallux valgus

Why do children have "X" legs? It can be a congenital or acquired pathology. With unfavorable heredity, the curvature of the legs is most often caused by structural features of the child's body, which are laid down at the genetic level. The trait is passed on from parents to children. Often this curvature can only be corrected with surgery. In this case, the legs will be "X" in a child of 2 years of age, although the pathology should already be gone by this age (with appropriate treatment). O-shaped curvature due to unfavorable heredity does not occur in medical practice.

As Dr. Komarovsky notes, the "X" legs in a child at 2 years old are often the result of rickets. This disease is associated with a lack of vitamin D in the body of a child and is characterized by impaired bone formation, mineral metabolism in bone tissue. Rickets is accompanied by multiple changes in the musculoskeletal system: not only the legs are bent, but also the flat bones of the skull are softened, the chest is deformed, the tubular bones and the spine are bent.

The prevalence of rickets in Russia is 80% among premature babies and 54-66% among full-term babies. Unfavorable factors that provoke diseases are gestosis of pregnant women, rapid childbirth, physical inactivity during pregnancy, a large body weight of the child at birth, excessive weight gain,restrictions on the motor mode (tight swaddling, ignoring massage). Two to three signs of rickets are usually detected at an early age (three to four months) on examination by a pediatrician or pediatric surgeon. Due to the fact that the symptoms are not pronounced, pediatricians suggest considering this condition as borderline. Doctors assure parents that the pathology is eliminated on its own as the body matures.

Causes of hallux valgus may be weakness due to muscle hypotension, imperfection of the ligament-tendon apparatus due to prematurity or intrauterine malnutrition. Possible congenital weakness of the connective tissue. Often legs "X" in children who suffer from acute respiratory viral infections, pneumonia, bronchitis. Violations develop in babies against the background of cerebral palsy, poliomyelitis, obesity, polyneuropathy, myodystrophy.

In some cases, the pathology occurs after injuries of the muscles, ligaments or bones of the lower leg and foot, prolonged stay of the limb in a limited state (gypsum, tight swaddling). Rarely, the deformity is noted along with dysplasia or congenital dislocation of the hip. Legs "X" in children who were put on legs early can be seen quite often. Previous use of walkers, driving by the handles or the wrong choice of shoes can play a negative role (it is undesirable to buy used shoes for children that are too soft or poorly fixing the foot).

Diagnostic measures

Deformed "X" legs in children - (see photo in the review) at the age of ten to twelve monthsparents usually notice, after which they turn to the pediatrician with a problem. To finally judge the presence of hallux valgus and the degree of its development, you need to consult with a pediatric traumatologist, orthopedist or surgeon. How to fix legs with "X" in a child? A specialist doctor will prescribe examinations to confirm the diagnosis, and then select an adequate treatment. On visual inspection, attention is drawn to the deviation of the heel and toes outward, the displacement of the inside of the foot and the smoothing of the arches inward.

To accurately determine the diagnosis, X-rays of the feet, podometry and computer plantography are performed. Foot radiographs are performed in three projections. So you can see the change in the position of the feet in relation to each other. Plantography using computer methods allows you to calculate the morphological parameters of the foot. According to the results of podometry, it is determined how the load is distributed on different parts of the foot. Clinical studies allow you to determine the pathology, when it is still impossible to visually notice the changes. In some cases, ultrasound of the joints is performed.

If a child has X-shaped legs, what should parents do? It is necessary to exclude pathologies of the central nervous system and PNS in connection with valgus deformity of the foot, so the neurologist should examine the baby. For example, poliomyelitis can provoke developmental disorders of the musculoskeletal system. If a concomitant diagnosis is detected, treatment should be started immediately.

Treatments used

How to fix the feet "X" in a child? To restore normal form and functionfeet, strengthening the ligamentous apparatus, physiotherapy exercises, massage courses, foot baths, mud applications, electrical muscle stimulation, paraffin therapy, limb immobilization and other methods of treatment are used. Children with deformity need the selection of individual insoles or special shoes with rigid fixation, arch support.

If children have X-shaped legs, treatment should be started as soon as possible. Such a pathology, detected in the early stages, is much easier to correct. Vitamin D is prescribed. It is advisable to give the baby vitamin D in the first year of life to prevent problems with the musculoskeletal system in the future. Parents are advised to purchase orthopedic shoes for the baby, take massage courses every three months and not give up physiotherapy, spend more time in the sun and do physical therapy with the child.

Massage for foot deformity is carried out together with a complex tonic. Specialists pay a lot of attention to the lumbar part of the spine, from where the nerve endings go to the muscles of the legs and buttocks. First, a lumbar massage is performed, then the masseur moves to the gluteal and sacral zone. The back side of the leg is massaged (shin, thigh, sole, Achilles tendon), and then the front. This helps to correct the shape of the foot to the correct position and strengthen the muscles. Strengthening the effect of massage contributes to exercise therapy.

Physiotherapy: calcium electrophoresis

Electrophoresis is a sought-after procedure that is indicated for paralysis,diseases of the upper respiratory tract, muscle dystrophy, neuritis, orthopedic problems, myositis, hip dysplasia. During the procedure, electrodes are fixed in a certain area. Under them, a paper or fabric pad impregnated with a calcium solution is preliminarily placed. In medical institutions, impregnation is usually done with a 0.9% solution of calcium chloride. The cost of physiotherapy depends on the duration of the course and the cost of consumable drugs.

Balanced diet

Valgus deformity is a pathology of the development of the musculoskeletal system, so the body especially needs calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D. It is necessary to saturate the child's diet with dairy products, sea fish, eggs (yolk is especially useful), nuts, legumes. These products contain a sufficient amount of essential vitamins. It is desirable that these products are present on the menu regularly, and not occasionally. More accurate recommendations on the diet will be given by the attending physician, who is familiar not only with the course of this disease, but also with the general he alth of the child. For example, if you are allergic to dairy products, you will need to introduce special synthetic preparations and vitamin-mineral complexes instead of dairy dishes.

Exercises to correct legs

The X-shaped legs of a child at 2 years old already need to be actively corrected, because the degree of curvature increases. It may soon be necessary to apply a plaster cast or otherwise immobilize the limbs. This limits the activity of the child and in no waypromotes timely development. So the exercises to correct the curvature must be approached with responsibility.

The simplest set of therapeutic exercises will help to cope with the wrong shape of children's legs. You need to alternate walking on toes and heels. For convenience, you can mark the child with a strip of the required length, for example, from wall to wall in the room. The path in one direction must be overcome on toes, in the other - on the heels. Another exercise is walking, leaning on the inside or outside of the foot alternately.

For the next exercise, you need to take the starting position while sitting on a chair. The child's feet should reach the floor. Alternately, you should pull your fingers up, and then bend down. Also, the feet should be placed in turn on the inside and outside. Duration - about two minutes. You can also perform wiping your legs with your legs (six to eight times), grabbing various small objects with your foot (pebbles, pencils, small soft toys). It is useful to sit on the floor in Turkish style, roll a ball and a stick with your legs, walk on a log. There are also exercises with the Swedish wall: the child must lift and lower the sports equipment barefoot. Adults should be nearby for safety net.

Sports loads and physical education

If a child has "X" legs, what should I do? The best medicine for hallux valgus is physical activity, high mobility and sports loads. The child should run, jump, play outdoor games as much as possible. Canbuy a Swedish wall. It is useful to jump on a big ball, walk along a ladder lying on the floor. If the child has “X” legs, the treatment is necessarily supplemented by swimming and active games in the water. It is necessary to exclude a long-term load on the ankle joints and knees, but at the same time ensure the strengthening of muscles and ligaments.

X-shaped legs in a child at 3 years old

A child's leg deformity should improve at three years of age. If (despite active therapy) the condition does not improve by the age of three, then plaster bandages are applied. This will help stretch the lateral ligaments, straighten the legs and relieve pressure on the bone tissue, minimizing pressure on the bones, which will allow the knee to form properly. Wearing a plaster cast can be delayed for a long time. The duration of immobilization depends on the severity of the curvature.

Need for surgery

How to fix the feet "X" in a child? According to Komarovsky, surgical intervention for such a pathology is required very rarely (in approximately 7% of cases). Surgery is usually reserved for severe cases. The method of correction is determined individually. The severity of the pathology and features are taken into account. At the moment, the most widely used methods are transplanting a muscle to the inner edge of the foot, lengthening the Achilles tendon, applying an external fixation device for permanent wear.

Surgery to correct deformity of the legs in children ("X" in the photo below is only one of the formsdeformity requiring correction) is a complex bone reconstruction that involves intervention on several bones. Walking, fully leaning on the leg, is possible only in the third week after the operation. Usually, the treatment is considered completed at the sixth week after the operation, when the little patient can return to his normal life. In general, the recovery period takes two or three months.

Possible complications of deformity

In the absence of adequate therapy, the feet constantly continue to deform, resulting in chronic bursitis. Symptoms of pathology include pain in the joints, swelling and redness, limited mobility and local temperature increase. Bursitis is accompanied by the accumulation of fluid in the cavity of the articular bag. In this case, during an exacerbation, the joint must be immobilized and kept elevated, from time to time apply cold to the sore spot. Reduces pain compression with elastic bandages. Chronic bursitis can be treated in a hospital.

Deichlander's disease (recruit disease) can become a complication of the deformity. This is a pathological change in the structure of bones caused by excessive loads. The patient begins to limp, the gait is unsteady, the child may stop walking due to pain and discomfort. In the problem area, there is swelling, increased skin sensitivity, redness. The disease is not accompanied by general symptoms: fever, changes in blood structure, and so on, but the pain can persist up to several months. Usually diseaseends in full recovery.

Forecast and prevention

Legs "X" in children can be bent to severe degrees. In this case, the pathology will not only be a pronounced cosmetic defect, but will also cause serious dysfunction of the limb. A severe consequence of hallux valgus is disability at working age. Compulsory treatment should be carried out in childhood, because after ten years it is almost impossible to correct the legs. In the case of a slight deformity of the foot and subject to timely therapy, it is possible to restore the functions of the foot.

As for prevention, it begins during the mother's pregnancy. The nutrition of a pregnant woman should be varied and useful, it is imperative to take all the vitamins prescribed by the doctor in the exact dosage and according to the scheme. Very useful for all organs and systems are long walks in the fresh air. After the birth of a child, it is advisable to make every effort to establish breastfeeding and keep it up to a year, but only under the condition of optimal nutrition of the nursing mother.

In order to avoid the development of deformation, it is necessary to exclude the load on the feet in children under seven to eight months old, adhere to the daily routine, including preventive massage, hardening, gymnastics, sufficient sleep and long walks, good nutrition. Taking vitamin D is important. You need to visit a pediatrician regularly and undergo preventive examinations with narrow specialists.

It is often recommended to select forbaby shoes made from high quality natural materials. But today, many doctors have a different opinion. So that the child’s legs are not “X” (Komarovsky fully supports this opinion), you do not need to buy orthopedic shoes as a preventive measure. Moreover, learning to walk is better without shoes at all. The human foot is adapted for walking barefoot. Shoes in the current sense, people wear only the last 500 years, no more, and all of Russia, until relatively recently, walked in bast shoes, in which there were no backs. Most Western orthopedists even say that it makes no sense to use special shoes as a method for correcting hallux valgus.