World Clubfoot Day

Congenital foot deformity with the foot turned inward toward the ankle occurs in 1 in 1,000 babies On average, it takes doctors 2 months to correct the clubfoot (lat Pes Eqinovarus) of a healthy child The Ponseti method is used to treat pathology in children and adults This American orthopedist of Spanish origin proposed the use of plaster casts for therapy, which are applied to the curved foot, gradually changing its shape Ignacio Ponseti was born on June 3, 1914 in the family of a watchmaker, received a medical education at the University of Barcelona and became a specialist in the field of diseases of the joints and bones The pinnacle of his professional activity is considered to be the development of a method for correcting clubfoot without surgery To do this, the doctor suggested using plaster casts, applied in the form of casts on the lower limb from the toes to the groin The effectiveness of the Ponseti method is 95% The doctor's birthday coincides with the celebration of World Clubfoot Day The technique of the famous American doctor, who studied orthopedics with Arthur Steindler at the University of Iowa, is striking not only in its effectiveness, but also in its availability and low cost World Clubfoot Day was established to promote non-surgical treatment for clubfoot, which can be used in regions where there is a shortage of medical personnel and the local population does not have the funds for expensive treatment for the pathology The Ponseti method is the “gold standard” of non-invasive procedures for correcting deformities that occur in the musculoskeletal system Surgical methods for treating clubfoot do not completely correct the defect, and in the future provoke the appearance of arthritis and other diseases Thanks to the Ponseti technique, millions of people around the world have the opportunity to lead full and productive lives without restriction of physical activity In addition to applying bandages, medications, special massage, exercise therapy and paraffin applications on the ankle to fix the joint are used to treat clubfoot World Clubfoot Day was established in 2013 by the International Association Ponseti Ignacio with the aim of disseminating information about methods of treating pathology and preventing the disease Congenital clubfoot is a consequence of disturbances in the intrauterine development of the fetus due to oligohydramnios and severe toxicosis in a pregnant woman, smoking, and her use of alcohol and drugs Acquired deformity also occurs due to curvature of the spine, against the background of flat feet and injuries to the musculoskeletal system Clumsiness and clubfoot in girls in some cultures are considered a sign of humility, a symbol of modesty, childishness and naivety, which causes affection In Japan, the shuffling gait has long been a consequence of wearing women's traditional clothing, a tight kimono, and sitting on the floor on the heels with rolled ankles since the Edo period The second reason was the insufficient content of protein and calcium in national cuisine, leading to thinning and deformation of bones, including bending of the limbs In modern Japan, walking with toes and heels pushed apart is cultivated and is an element of the aesthetic concept of “kawaii” - a woman’s special emphasis on naivety, childishness and childishness In Siberia, clubfoot among the Chukchi is considered a consequence of living in the tundra with its complex terrain Walking with heels turned inward helps local residents overcome numerous bumps and potholes more easily and quickly without spraining their feet For representatives of most ethnic groups and peoples inhabiting the Earth, clubfoot is not the norm A curvature of the ankle, in addition to not looking aesthetically pleasing, interferes with walking, creating unnecessary stress on the spine and leading to spasms of muscle tissue World Clubfoot Day calls for attention to prevention and non-surgical methods of treating this pathology