Intoeing or pigeon-toed gait, occurs when a child walks with one or both feet turned inward. It is common in children under the age of 4 but if persistent can cause clumsiness and frequent tripping.

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There are three main causes for intoeing. These are metatarsus adductus- where the foot itself is in a curved shaped position, internal tibial torsion- where the tibia (lower leg bone) is turned inward relative to the knee joint, and internal femoral torsion- where the femur (thigh bone) is turned inward relative to the hip joint.

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Our podiatrists will assess your child's posture and biomechanics to determine the cause of the intoeing. Examples of treatment modalities include stretch/strengthen routines, addressing contributing factors such as tummy sleeping and "reverse W" sitting positions, and gait plates (orthotics that encourage the leg and foot to move in a better functional position).  

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Outtoeing or duck feet, is when a child walks with one or both feet turned excessively outward. It is often apparent with a laboured, apropolsive gait and accompanied by flat feet.

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There are three main causes for outtoeing. These are external tibial torsion- where the tibia (lower leg bone) is turned excessively outward relative to the knee joint, external femoral torsion- the femur (thigh bone) is turned outward relative to the hip joint, and flat feet- as the midfoot collapses this forces the forefoot to turn out (abduct).

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After a thorough assessment our podiatrists will determine the best treatment plan for your child. This can include gait plates (orthotics that encourage the leg and foot to move in a better functional position), stretching/strengthening, addressing foot posture issues.

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