Toddlers and children – Feet or legs that turn in.

Feet or legs that turn out or in are a common concerns parents have and a common presentation to a children’s chiropractic practice.

In-toeing is a presentation where a child feet or legs appear to turn inwards when they stand or walk. There are many cases where this presentation is normal for age, however assessment by a skilled practitioner to determine areas of concerns should be considered.

Turning in of the lower limb that may occur due to hip, knee or foot problems, and are also present in certain situations such as with people with cerebral Palsy, developmental dysplasia of the hips (DDH) and neuromuscular conditions.

When you present with this type of condition your practitioner will run through a number of standard questions, followed by an examination.

This examination will begin with a gait (walking) assessment (also known as a rotational profile). The aim of this assessment is to determine where the turning is occurring i.e. the feet, ankle, leg bones, thigh bones, hip, or pelvis.

There are a number of conditions which can causing in-toing. Some of these are developmental, meaning they will change over time, but care must be taken to measure to determine if the degree is within normal limits.

The Chiropractor’s role is not to treat any particular condition, but to look at function – how things work. In this example, we would look at the function of the ankle, knee, hip, and pelvis. Any concerns about pathology, or structure require referral to a medical expert. Issues with gait are often co-managed between different practitioners, such as a podiatrist, medical practitioner, or chiropractor.

References

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