You have flat feet, can you touch your forearm with your thumb?

You have flat feet, can you touch your forearm with your thumb? Check if you don’t have benign hypermobility joint syndrome by accident.

What is that? Is this dangeroign jointus to health? Find out now!

 

You have flat feet, can you touch your forearm with your thumb?

Characteristic for benign hypermobility joint syndrome (BHJS) is the increased range of motion in the joints relative to the accepted norm. The standard takes into account race, age, gender and the absence of systemic diseases

Symptoms that accompany BHJS include:

• back pain,
• chronic joint pain
• flat feet,
• crooked toe,
• joint dislocations or subluxations,
• mild tissue damage,
• thin skin.

The most commonly reported symptom is arthralgia, especially in the knee or ankle pain, during intense physical activity.

What is flatfoot?

For flatfoot, the arching of the vaults is characteristic. The medial longitudinal, lateral longitudinal and transverse front arches are necessary for the correct function of the foot – they act as a shock absorber and counteract micro-injuries. When the foot arches are lowered, we are dealing with flatfoot. The physiological foot is based on three points – these are the head of the first and fifth metatarsal bones and the heel

Flatfoot associated with joint hypermobility has two types – transverse flatfoot and flaccid flatfoot, which arises as a result of weakening of the ligament apparatus. In the flaccid foot even flattening and heel valgus independent of the toe are visible. The talus and the scaphoid bone are displaced. The result is a bulge on the medial side of the foot. The pain experienced by the patient in the area of ​​the plantar aponeurosis and the ankle-boat joint is also characteristic.

In contrast, the flatfoot is transversely formed as a result of abnormal work of the anterior and posterior tibial muscles, peroneal fibula and plantar muscles of the foot.

Hypermobility may also manifest as hallux valgus. The causes are seen in the collapse of the arch of the foot, which in turn leads to subluxation of the metatarsal bone with respect to the wedge bone.

How to diagnose BHJS?

Diagnosis is based on guidelines and the patient performs a characteristic BHJS test. The modified Beighnton Scale is the basis in the diagnosis of excessive joint mobility, and a positive result indicates the presence of BHJS. The following are evaluated:

• hyperextension at the elbow >10 °;
• passive thumb pull to the forearm;
• hyperextension in MCP (metacarpophalangeal) joints >90 °;
• hyperextension in the knee joint >10 °;
• placing your hand flat on the floor when bending forward with your knees straight.

How can physiotherapy be a golden mean to reduce excessive mobility in the joints?

Of course, physiotherapy will not “stiffen” stretched ligaments or tendons. However, it will help strengthen muscle strength and deep feeling (proprioception). It is important to restore joint stability, which should begin with static exercises, passing through dynamic exercises, and ultimately resistance exercises. Work with the patient should focus on the proper performance of functional tasks and lead to the reduction of pain.

If after reading the post you notice an analogy in your body 
to the problems presented, go to a physiotherapist for help!