CURING FLAT-FOOT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16847, 11 May 1918, Page 2 (Supplement)

CURING FLAT-FOOT.

90 PER CENT. RECOVER. j That flat feet can in many cases be cured ; so that, fewer candidates for the army- | will be rejected is evidenced by the results j of a cure tried out at Fort Ethan Allen, i Vermont, America, according to the: Medical Record. Out of four hundred men put under treatment, about 90 per. cent, were returned to the ranks cured. ; The treatment recommended is as follows : — " The feet and legs should be free. Shoes and stockings should be removed. Under-drawers and breeches loosened so as in no way to restrict or limit muscular' action of the legs. The toe exercises are : the first ones taken up. The men stand on a raised platform—a two-inch plank is sufficient; they are then directed to flex the toes to the extreme point of flexion j with a hard pull of the flexor muscles of •the sole of the foot at the extreme paint of flexion. This is followed by extension without effort. This exercise is repeated continuously from five to ten minutes, the shorter period at the ! beginning, gradually lengthening the time of this particular exercise until the full time is possible without fatigue. The second exercise is a ■continuation of this flexion of the toes on the sole of the foot, plus inversion of the foot to the extreme, bringing into' action the tibialus anticus muscle. At the extreme point of inversion a strong,, hard pull is made, then the foot is allowed to resume its usual position without any muscular effort. "At the beginning, fifteen or twenty minutes is sufficient for the entire routine of exercise. Later, after the muscles become stronger, a full half-hour may be devoted to this without marked fatigue. The plan as outlined above should be carried out each morning tinder the supervision of a man trained along this line. The patients should be instructed to repeat this performance each night on retiring, devoting one-half the time consumed in the morning. Many of the cases with marked eversion of the foot walk with the toes turned out. The men are instructed to walk with the toes turned in at all exercises and at all other times during the day. We believe that this latter advice relative to walking is vitally important, in the general handling and treatment of these cases."