IN-TOEING & OUT-TOEING
LEARNING HOW TO WALK
It takes children time to learn how to walk. They wobble and stumble as they figure out how to balance and propel themselves forward. Even when they master the mechanic, they don’t walk quite like adults.
However, some walking patterns aren’t normal, even for kids. Gait abnormalities like in-toeing and out-toeing are common issues that are usually monitored to ensure they don’t cause walking difficulties.
You don’t need to be concerned about the way your child’s toes point when he or she is learning to walk. You should have the condition monitored, though, particularly if it interferes with normal walking for your son or daughter.
Looking out for your children’s feet and their future.
Being pro-active with your children’s feet is as easy as taking the next step toward happy feet and scheduling today!
quick links:
IN-TOEING & OUT-TOEING
treatment options
WHAT TO DO FOR
MY CHILD'S FOOT
Dr. Darren Silvester and our staff at Next Step Foot & Ankle Clinic will need to evaluate your child’s lower limbs to determine the extent of the gait abnormality and how significantly it’s affecting your son or daughter’s ability to walk. We will also look for underlying issues like neuromuscular disorders that may be connected to the problem. From there we can decide what action, if any, is needed to manage the condition.
In-toeing and Out-toeing normally fix themselves on their own as your child grows and his or her muscles and bones develop. General children’s foot care should be enough to maintain healthy lower limbs.
conservative treatment options:
1
SPLINTS & SPECIAL SHOES
For many of the underlying causes for in-toing and out-toeing, active measures like splints & special shoes used to correct the toes’ position don’t make much of a difference.
2
FOR: METATARSUS ADDUCTUS
In the case of metatarsus adductus there may need to be some stretching or casting—similar to the treatment used for clubfoot—if the condition lasts longer than a few months or is particularly severe.
For rotations in the shin or thigh bones, surgery may be an option when your child is over the age of ten and the rotation makes walking difficult or otherwise bothersome.
If either condition is connected to neuromuscular diseases, the underlying problem will need its own treatment.
Take the next step
to happy feet!
Click the links to request your appointment or learn more about what Next Step Foot & Ankle Clinic can do for you.
