Summer is the perfect time to prevent flat feet. After all, there is nothing better for shaping your foot than running barefoot. If it didn't work out with the beach or summer cottage, we offer this set of exercises
“The main thing is regularly, every day for 15 minutes. After all, flat feet occurs due to deformation of the muscles of the foot, so they need to be constantly trained, kept in good shape. It is not necessary to do the whole complex: if the child is carried away by any one exercise and begins to perform it during this time, it will also be effective. Just let him preliminarily resemble heel-toes: this will warm up the foot. Such a set of exercises is within the power already from the age of two. For younger children, the prevention of flat feet is a foot massage, walking barefoot on different surfaces, on toes and heels ”,- advises Maria.
Walking barefoot is the best prevention of flat feet / istockphoto.com
1. Tightrope walker
Have the child walk along the tightrope with an additional step: heels on the floor, toes on the rope. To make it more fun, the rope can be laid out with an eight, a snake, etc. It can be replaced with a stick or a hoop. During this exercise, the foot is massaged, blood circulation is improved in it, lymphatic drainage of the lower extremities is normalized.
2. Yogi
We take a ball with spikes "hedgehog" - and follow it in the footsteps of the baby. You can roll it together in a circle, to the sides. Thanks to this spiky massager, the muscles that hold the arch of the foot are toned.
Ball massage can be started from birth / istockphoto.com
3. Locomotive
We put two sticks parallel to each other, like rails. Mom and baby face each other, hold hands and waddle like bears. In this case, the sticks are rolled along the foot. Here, besides the fact that the feet are massaged, balancing also develops, the whole body works.
4. Masseur
Sitting on the floor, the child strokes the left leg with the big toe of his right foot, and vice versa. When the big toe works in this way, the muscles that form the arch of the foot are activated.
5. Monkey
We put handkerchiefs (markers, pencils, etc.) on the floor. The child's task is to grab them with his fingers and then wave them. This grasping movement helps form the arch of the foot, which develops over time in children. Its absence is a sign of longitudinal flat feet. Here is another version of this exercise: put a rope, and have the kid shift small objects (clothespins, toys) through this divider with his toes - even if they are handkerchiefs. An even more difficult version: spread out a towel and place a heavy toy on it. Have the child grab the edge of the towel with his toes and pull it toward him.
You can paint with your feet: both fun and useful / istockphoto.com
6. Painter
We insert felt-tip pens or pencils between the toes, and have the child draw with them on paper. This exercise also helps shape the arch of the foot.
You will also be interested to read:
"Good" and "evil" forms of flat feet in children
Gymnastics for the prevention of flat feet in a child
