My 15-month-old son walks with his feet turned in. My
pediatrician assured me that it's normal and that he'll outgrow it.
But I'm still worried. Won't walking this way hurt him? Will he be
able to play sports? Isn't there something that doctors can do to
straighten out his stride?
-
Allison
Many toddlers walk with their feet turned in, a tendency
sometimes referred to as "walking pigeon-toed." The
medical name for it is in-toeing, and it usually corrects itself
without any medical treatment. In most cases children go on to
walk, run, and play sports without any problems.
In the past, special shoes and braces were used to treat
in-toeing. But doctors found that these devices didn't make
in-toeing disappear any faster, so they're not typically used
anymore.
What causes in-toeing? As babies are growing in the womb, the
tibia bones (the large bones between the knees and ankles) rotate
inward to accommodate the baby's fit within the uterus.
Sometimes the femur bones (the bones between the hips and knees)
also turn inward. So when children are learning to walk, their feet
often turn in.
In-toeing usually disappears as kids develop and improve walking
skills, usually around 4 to 6 years old.
Since in-toeing usually disappears gradually, it can be
difficult for parents to notice any improvement from day to day.
Doctors often suggest that parents who are concerned about
in-toeing take a video of the child walking (from the front and the
back) and take another video 1 year later. By watching and
comparing the videos it's easier to determine whether the
in-toeing has improved. If it has not, talk with your doctor.
In some cases in-toeing is a sign of an injury or illness, and
the child needs evaluation and possible treatment. Call the doctor
if your child:
- is in-toeing and limping
- seems to have pain in the feet or legs
- is not learning to walk or talk as expected
- has in-toeing that is getting worse
- has one foot that turns in much more than the other
- is 3 years old and the in-toeing has not started to
improve
If you have any questions or concerns, call your doctor.
For more information, check out these articles:
Common Childhood Orthopedic Conditions
Bones, Muscles, and Joints
Movement, Coordination, and Your 1- to 2-Year-Old
Reviewed by:
Mihir Thacker, MD
Date reviewed: April 2008
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