The state of the feet in younger schoolchildren in the conditions of an innovative form of education

Abstract

Introduction. The foot is the foundation of health, performing essential functions for ensuring human life. The foot’s disorders and deformities significantly limit the body’s capabilities and reduce the quality of life, starting from childhood. A necessary condition for prevention is the assessment and control of the feet, including educational activities. The importance of such studies increases with hygienic studies of innovative forms of education. Materials and methods. The study involved 220 7-9 year children (104 boys and 116 girls), studying in an innovative form of education that implements the mode of dynamic postures sitting at a table and standing at a desk. Plantographic studies were carried out using a copy print of the trace “Bauerfiend” (Germany). For the analysis of plantograms, the Striter method was used. Various symmetrical (two-sided) and asymmetric (one-sided) combinations of right and left foot states were evaluated (11 variants in total). Results. The features of the prevalence of symmetrical and asymmetric forms of states of the longitudinal arch of the foot in students aged 7-9 years are determined. Symmetrical forms of foot conditions were found in 64.1% of children, asymmetric-in 35.9 %. The prevalence of normal bilateral arch of the foot was observed in only 28.6 % of children, flat feet-in 13.2 %, flattening-in 17.3%, elevated arch-in 4.1 %, hollow foot-in 0.9 % of children. In the course of training from the 1st to the 3rd grade in dynamic poses, positive dynamics of the feet states was noted 1.8 times more often than unfavourable. The features of the dynamics of the state of the feet were revealed: the frequency of flat feet did not change, the increased arch of the right foot decreased by 3.5 times, the left - by 11 times; the flattening of the right foot increased by 1.6 times, the left foot - by 1.8 times. It is pointed out that it is necessary to identify asymmetric states of the feet that have a prognostic value in the formation of disorders of the musculoskeletal system in children, including in educational activities. Limitations. The criteria for inclusion of children in the study were the age from 7 to 9 years and the absence of acute diseases at the examination. Conclusion. The obtained data should be considered when conducting and analyzing the results of foot examinations in the process of preventive medical examinations of the child population.