Inward-facing Feet: How Does It Affect Children’s Gait?
On many occasions, we may notice children walking with introverted feet. This is a condition known as in-toeing. Do you know what the cause of this condition is?
Bone rotation begins during pregnancy while the baby is still in the womb. The first step happens when the baby can begin to place his big toes in line with their legs.
This development is not completely completed until the children are 8 years old, when they reach the final angle.
For this reason, before the age of 8, you may notice that your child walks with his feet facing inwards. In that case, there is no need for an alarm. The problem is likely to correct itself without the need for treatment.
The most common reasons for walking with introverted feet
Internal tibiatorsion
As the name suggests, one of the main reasons children walk with their feet inward is a deformity of the tibia.
This deformation causes ed inward twisting. This condition usually corrects itself over time, and does not require any treatment.
Forefoot adduction
Another possible cause of in-toeing is forefoot adduction, a condition in which the inner foot rotates inward. This generally occurs as a result of the baby’s position in the womb and a lack of space when he or she begins to grow.
Even with this deformation, a child’s feet can be flexible or stiff. The level of flexibility will indicate whether treatment is needed or not. If treatment is needed, it is important to take into account the age of the child.
For babies under 1 year of age, treatment usually involves a cast cast. The purpose of this treatment is to correct the angle of the foot before the baby starts to walk.
Anteversion of collum
Anteversion of the collum occurs when the femur twists inward, causing the knees and feet to do the same. It is quite simple to detect this problem when the children are sitting because they tend to make a W with their legs.
At the same time, they have difficulty sitting with their legs in the tailoring position, which is a normal position for children.
This takes more time to correct, as the twisting of the femur can cause children to walk with inward-facing feet until they are more than 10 years old. As for treatment, it is best to wait until the problem corrects itself.
If children continue to walk inward when they reach prepuberty, they may need surgery to correct the problem.
How to solve the problem of inward-facing feet
The first thing you need to do is observe your child for several days. If during this time you notice that your child is walking with inverted feet, take him or her to a specialist.
Usually the doctor first takes an X-ray and can also perform a scan to confirm that the rotation is not severe.
As we explained above, most cases are not serious because the bone rotation is only completed around the age of 8- or 10 years. If your child continues to walk with inverted feet after that time, a simple surgery can correct the problem.
A surgeon will place small metal plates in the cartilage area, or make a cast of the feet to straighten the rotation.
