Show T i Daily fc aily Hea Health th Service I Operations eldom Seldom H Help lp in Cor Correcting Flat Feet et J By DR D MORRIS MORRIS' FISHBEIN In addition to the use of exercises rn mentioned as especially helpful in flatfeet the circulation may I be benefited bene b by the use of contrast baths I Occasionally operations are necessary necessary sary in order to lengthen heel tendons ten dons doru in muscle bound t feet t but in inmost most cases of flat feet a surgical o operation op is seldom Indicated A few special exercises have be been n developed for stretching the Achilles tendon of the heel I l' l v 1 Simply walking on the heels across the room f five fe e times 2 2 From the standing position with the feet parallel the patient down to the p position o of sitting on the heels maintaining the heels and toes on the ground This is done In in two 1 counts 3 i. The patient st stands facing acing the wll with the toes 28 inches from It The t toes toe e. e are placed pIeced together and the heels heel as s far tar apart as S possible Willith With Willi th the hands placed the wall and arid the maintained heels on the floor tie the entire er rigid body is allowed to fa fall forward as far as possible b by bending sending the elbows and to remain i in inthis inthis this position a a few seconds before r returning turning to the starting position This is is' done in two counts counts' ab about ut 1 10 times 4 The apparatus for this exercise cO consists is of two handles fastened t to the wall and ana a 1 heavy wooden bl block bloc ck three and ana one half half Inches high 3 12 inches wide Inches wide and seven inches 1 in depth fastened to the floor Th The patient faces the wall standing with the forward parts of b both th feet on th the block and holding on on to the handl handles handlesOn s. s On the cou count t of one one the heels ar arc allowed to touch the floor the bod body being kept kep parallel with the walOn wail wal wall On the count of ot two the return is made to the starting position The Th exercise Is carried out from II 10 to 2 20 times this number being attained gradually 5 5 The patient stands with the fo foward for tor ward half halt of each foot on a chair chal facing upward and holding the hams balus allow the h heel l to dr drop p. p 1 He then returns to the starting position |