The Best Children’s Foot Doctor Near You

Board Certified Pediatric Foot and Ankle Specialist

Intoeing is also known as walking "pigeon toed." Young children, when learning to walk, will always broaden their stance and point feet outward to gain stability. Toes or feet pointing inward is never normal. A thorough evaluation by a pediatric podiatrist such as Dr. Davis can provide diagnosis and effective treatment.

Intoeing can be caused by:

• Internal femoral torsion: An inward twist of the leg bone.
• Femoral antetorsion or internal femoral torsion: An inward twist of the thigh bone.
• Femoral anteversion: An inward rotation of the thigh bone (positional) which may originate at the hip joint.
• Metatarsus adductus: inward bowing of the foot, a "C-shaped" foot.

Metatarsus adductus can be treated effectively by the following techniques:

• Manipulation: Most effective from birth through about 10 months of age.
• Serial casting: The pediatric podiatrist places a series of casts, each one with foot held straighter than the prior cast until the deformity is resolved.  Effective from about 6 weeks of age through about 14 months. 
• Wheaton brace: This commercial brace can be used to treat metatarsus adductus and internal tibial torsion. It is effective from about 6 months of age through age 2.

Surgical treatment may be required for severe cases or if correction is not achieved by the non-surgical treatments listed. The conservative treatments are generally effective if utilized early when the joints of the foot are developing and "malleable."

Internal tibial torsion can be treated effectively by the same techniques as metatarsus adductus, as well as the Dennis Browne splint. This is the old fashion bar affixed between shoes that infants sleep with at night.