No, I don’t mean that your child’s foot comprised of claws designed to hang on branches. I am talking about toes that point inward, commonly referred to as in-toeing. This is a common concern of parents especially when a child is having frequent falls when learning to walk.
In-toeing is more common than you think and is often a normal part of your child’s development.
There are three common causes of in-toeing, which almost always resolve on their own with time.
1) The femur bone of the child’s upper leg is rotated inward
2) An inwardly rotated tibia or shinbone in the lower leg
3) A foot which is bent inward likes a kidney bean
All Children are born with their legs turned in slightly inward. With time the bones begin to derotate to the normal slightly outturned foot position that you see in adults.
Intoeing that is severe enough for treatment in newborns it should be recognized by your pediatrician and sent to a qualified physician for evaluation.
When in-toeing starts in the foot it is known as Metatarsus Adductus (Metadductus). The foot will look kidney bean shaped if this is the cause. Gentle stretching and in some cases plaster casts or braces are used to reduce deformity when treated as an infant, usually before 12 months of age. In the rare cases where casting is not successful, surgery may be indicated to release contracted ligaments allowing movement of misaligned bones.
As the child grows parents often diagnose condition after they notice their child continually tripping over their feet. I remember when I was a child? I used to trip and fall all the time. I always had a scratch or two on my knees or elbows. Most children do not develop good coordination until about 8 or nine years old, so falling and tripping is a normal part of being active and young.
While in-toeing in most cases resolves before the age of 8 years old, some children continue to have toes that turn slightly inward. Orthotics can be helpful in stabilizing feet and helping kids to turn the foot outward slightly to reduce tripping, as well as reduce the risk of future foot problems. A podiatrist can have an orthotic made that addresses in-toeing specifically and help your child walk more normally.
In-toeing is more common than you think and is often a normal part of your child’s development.
There are three common causes of in-toeing, which almost always resolve on their own with time.
1) The femur bone of the child’s upper leg is rotated inward
2) An inwardly rotated tibia or shinbone in the lower leg
3) A foot which is bent inward likes a kidney bean
All Children are born with their legs turned in slightly inward. With time the bones begin to derotate to the normal slightly outturned foot position that you see in adults.
Intoeing that is severe enough for treatment in newborns it should be recognized by your pediatrician and sent to a qualified physician for evaluation.
When in-toeing starts in the foot it is known as Metatarsus Adductus (Metadductus). The foot will look kidney bean shaped if this is the cause. Gentle stretching and in some cases plaster casts or braces are used to reduce deformity when treated as an infant, usually before 12 months of age. In the rare cases where casting is not successful, surgery may be indicated to release contracted ligaments allowing movement of misaligned bones.
As the child grows parents often diagnose condition after they notice their child continually tripping over their feet. I remember when I was a child? I used to trip and fall all the time. I always had a scratch or two on my knees or elbows. Most children do not develop good coordination until about 8 or nine years old, so falling and tripping is a normal part of being active and young.
While in-toeing in most cases resolves before the age of 8 years old, some children continue to have toes that turn slightly inward. Orthotics can be helpful in stabilizing feet and helping kids to turn the foot outward slightly to reduce tripping, as well as reduce the risk of future foot problems. A podiatrist can have an orthotic made that addresses in-toeing specifically and help your child walk more normally.
