A progressive deteriorating of a flat foot or fallen arch in an adult is oftentimes known as posterior tibial tendon dysfunction or perhaps adult acquired flatfoot and can have problematic consequences if not noticed early and taken care of. This is more prevalent in older along with overweight adults. The main concern is that the posterior tibial muscles that are responsible for holding up the arch of the feet are no longer effective at undertaking this, consequently a progressing flattening of the feet happens. As well as a falling of the arch of the feet there is generally increasing discomfort and pain in the arch of the foot and also the ankle joint. As the posterior tibial tendon dysfunction gets worse, further walking gets significantly tougher and it is extremely fatiguing.
There are typically 4 stages involving posterior tibial tendon dysfunction that the condition progresses through with one being the early stage and 4 being the final stage that only surgical treatment can fix. There is certainly some difference of opinion of the staging of this as their is variability among health care professionals and some reliability issues. With that in mind, stage 1 is typically managed with foot supports in addition to exercises plus some medication for the pain and discomfort. Stage two characteristically needs much more aggressive and supportive foot orthoses, carrying on with the exercise routines and increasing amounts of pain relief drugs are usually necessary. Both stages 1 and 2 will benefit with high top supportive footwear. Long term weight loss plans can also be going to be very helpful. When this doesn't prevent the progression and the feet are moving in the direction of a stage 3, then there is growing likelihood that reconstructive foot surgical treatment is probably going to be needed. This is why it's very important that there be more intense conservative management of the foot when it is still in stage two to stop the development.
An extremely common treatment for adult acquired flat foot given it progresses to stage two is the Richie Brace. This Richie Brace has been commonly used and has been shown to be very successful at halting the development of this disorder and staying away from the necessity of surgical treatment. Surgical interventions are frequently effective, but there is usually a left over level of impairment remaining because the surgical procedures commonly will need the fusing of some important joints and also the transfer of muscles attachments with other areas of the foot. The Richie brace is a combination of an aggressively made bespoke foot orthoses as well as an ankle foot orthoses with struts to aid each side of the ankle joint. The bespoke foot orthotic is crafted off a plaster cast or optical scan on the feet with the foot kept in a ideal position. The goal of the foot orthoses section of the Richie Brace would be to try to support the foot in this corrected posture. The struts which get added up the outside of the ankle joint are articulated at the ankle joint to allow for movement to occur at this joint. Those struts will be held on by Velcro on the lower calf to further aid and boost the impact of the foot orthotic. When the progress of adult acquired flat foot is usually ended making use of this, then surgery is frequently averted.