Kids & Unusual Walking

Understanding Intoeing in Children

• Intoeing, also known as being pigeon-toed, is a condition where children’s feet turn inward instead of pointing straight ahead when walking or running. It can be caused by one of three conditions: metatarsus adductus, tibial torsion, or femoral anteversion.
• While many cases of intoeing resolve themselves as a child grows, sometimes the condition persists. Intoeing may lead to gait changes, sometimes resulting in tripping or awkwardness.

At Doveston Health, we specialize in assessing and treating intoeing to ensure healthy foot development.

Evaluation and Treatment

When parents bring their child in for our pediatric podiatrists to evaluate the intoeing condition, there are many factors to consider. We will discuss the cause of the intoeing, which can include:

• An inward rotation of the shin bones
• The thigh bone, or
• The foot itself.

After assessing these factors, we are able to provide treatment recommendations. We may recommend:

• Physical therapy exercises to improve the strength, coordination, and range-of-motion of the lower extremity muscles.
• Orthotics to improve foot positioning.
• Boots and nighttime braces for children whose feet point inward when walking.

Guidance and Support

We offer guidance on footwear selection and work with you on activity modifications to prevent tripping and maintain your child’s gait’s respective functions.

At Doveston Health, we provide gentle, effective care that allows your child to walk confidently and comfortably. If your child has been having trouble walking and seems to regularly trip over, they may be intoeing. If you’re concerned about your child’s walking or if you’ve noticed they regularly trip over, schedule a consultation with us so that we can provide your child with personalized guidance.