In-toeing and Out-toeing

In-toeing commonly presents itself as a congenital problem and may also develop in the early years of life. A cramped position in the uterus usually leads to this problem once the child is born and his/her feet are turned inwards. Gradually, when the child starts to explore the wonders of walking, he/she may walk with his/her feet turned in instead of pointing straight ahead.

It is not a painful experience for children but if it is not taken care of soon, daily activities in adulthood are compromised and the condition may not even be easily treated since the bones are fully developed by then.

Treatment

The exact causes of in-toeing are not certain, but medical experts commonly associate this and similar leg problems with genes/family history and unusual position in the womb.

As far as the treatment is concerned, in-toeing normally corrects itself without surgery or casts in almost all kids as they age. However, in some cases, corrective shoes, braces, and casts help to rearrange the feet's position for children aged 6 to 9 months.

If the problem is severe and the feet are deformed to a high degree, the child may require surgery after the age of 9. It is noteworthy that this is seldom required and you do not have to worry about getting to this stage. Pediatric podiatrists and other medical experts reassure that this condition treats itself as children grow and surgery or braces are rarely required.

Furthermore, encouraging children with inward feet to perform simple exercises like walking and running can be quite helpful. They may trip and fall initially but their toes will gradually get corrected and the problem will be resolved soon.

Out-toeing, like in-toeing, is normally present by birth due to a cramped position in the uterus. When the baby is in the womb, some of its bones have to twist slightly in order to fit in the small space. These bones get untwisted over the initial years of the child's life but for some children, this untwisting process takes longer. In out-toeing, the feet are turned outward and your child may appear to be limping or have an unusual standing manner.

Treatment

Treatment of out-toeing generally depends on its cause. Sometimes the problem disappears itself with time, and in some cases permitting the condition to resolve on its own can be a bad idea. For example, when the cause of out-toeing is Tibial Torsion, the condition worsens with time and your child can get distressed. In such a case, an immediate visit to the pediatric podiatrist is required so that the problem can be addressed soon.

Regularly walking and running help straighten your kid's feet and the affected bones start reassembling at a steady pace. Most healthcare professionals encourage parents to track their child's progress by recording videos. Videos taken a few months apart should be compared to make sure your child's gait is getting better with time or not.

Braces and corrective shoes do not help most of the time; therefore, children with this condition are normally advised to perform simple physical activities as treatment.