Pigeon-Toed Gait In Children

Physio&SoleClinic Intoeing Gait, Podiatry June 1 2022

The first year of your child’s life is full of new beginnings – watching them crawl, pull up to stand, and finally walk! While the first steps may look different for each child, there is no denying that watching them put one foot in front of the other is both an exciting and nerve-wrecking affair. Whilst watching your child explore the world around them, it is important to pay attention to their feet to assess if they have a pigeon-toed gait. 

Read on as we share more about the causes and what to look out for in children with pigeon-toed gait, and the treatment options available in Singapore. 

What Is Pigeon-Toed Gait? 

Pigeon-toed gait or intoeing refers to a child whose feet turn inwards instead of pointing straight ahead when they walk or run. Pigeon toe is often first noticed by parents when a baby begins walking, however, children at various ages may display intoeing for different reasons. 

The most common issue in children with intoeing gait is they may trip more regularly than other children during exercise. The tendency to trip usually resolves with treatment to correct the feet alignment. Despite that, children with pigeon-toed gait can still exercise normally as the condition does not usually cause pain. 

Intoeing is more commonly seen in children than in adults, and most of them grow out of it before reaching their teenage years. 

What Causes Intoeing? 

Three conditions can cause children to suffer from a pigeon-toed gait. 

1. Metatarsus Adductus 

In metatarsus adductus, a child’s foot is bent inward to the toes from the middle part of the foot. Some cases may be mild, while others may be more obvious and rigid; in severe cases, the child’s foot may partially resemble a clubfoot deformity. 

2. Internal Tibial Torsion

Tibial torsion is usually present before birth as the legs of the foetus have to rotate to fit in the confined space of the womb. The infant’s legs should gradually rotate to align properly after birth. However, if the lower leg remains turned in, the child would be diagnosed with tibial torsion. 

3. Femoral Anteversion 

This condition refers to when a child’s thighbone turns inwards and is evident between five or six years of age. The upper end of the thighbone, near the hip, has an increased twist, causing the hip to turn more inwards than out. This causes both of the child’s knees and feet to point inwards during walking. Furthermore, children suffering from this type of pigeon-toed gait often sit with their knees bent, and their feet flared out behind them. 

When To See A Doctor

Even though having an intoeing gait does not initially cause pain to a young child, it can potentially lead to associated muscle and joint pains when they get older if left uncorrected or untreated. Pigeon-toed gait can also cause postural deformities such as scoliosis, which progressively worsens with age. While most intoeing gait cases can self-correct over time, you should consult a podiatrist or specialist for a detailed assessment, prognosis, and treatment plan. 

What If I’m An Adult With Pigeon-Toed Gait 

While most children grow out of a pigeon-toed gait stance, there are some who do not. This can be attributed to a fixed part of your body’s anatomy, such as a pelvic structure that predisposes you to a pigeon-toed gait. 

 It is best to seek the opinions of our podiatrists and physiotherapists to help you take the next step towards a better quality of life.

Let Us Help Your Child Take The Right Step Forward  

When you take your child to visit our podiatrists at WACC, we will conduct a thorough physical examination of your child’s legs and feet to identify any abnormalities. From the findings, our podiatrists will come up with an individualised and optimal treatment plan for your child’s intoeing gait. 

Some of the pigeon toe treatment plans include applying foot orthoses, footwear changes, sports taping, or exercises. If required, our podiatrists in Singapore will also refer your child to the care of other faculty, such as children or paediatric physiotherapy. 

Hence, if you suspect your child has hip, knee, leg, or foot issues, you can always highlight it to our friendly podiatrists. Children’s feet are highly mouldable, as such, early intervention can help facilitate healthy growth and development. Let us help your child take the right step forward in life, be active, and be happy. 

Make an appointment with our podiatrists today.