Treatment. The foot should be massaged and, by gentle manipulation, forced into its proper position and held by a plaster-of-Paris dressing, changed at the proper intervals. A tenotomy may be required to bring the foot into its proper position.
When the child begins to walk, a well-fitting arch support should be worn.
Acquired Flat Foot. The common form of acquired flat foot is the static variety, which is an expression of a disproportion between the body weight and the sustaining power of the muscles and ligaments.
Common Causes. 1. The use of improper shoes is by all means the most frequent cause of flat foot, and frequently makes all of the following causes more pronounced.
2. Weakness and insufficiency of the muscles, resulting from poor general condition; advancing age; convalescence from acute illness; from childbirth; and from injuries of the leg, especially fractures.
3. Prolonged standing, especially on hard wood and stone floors.
4. Rapid body growth.
5. Rapid increase in body weight.
6. Excessive weight bearing.
7. Shortened condition of the gastrocnemius muscle.