Pigeon toes are a very common walking abnormality in small children. Whether or not stretching will help your child’s feet depends entirely on why the toes are turned in. If the intoeing is caused by a mild twist in the shin or thigh, there are no stretches that will help. Most children simply outgrow the condition. If your child’s pigeon toes are from metatarsus adductus, however, there are exercises that could help.
Typically this involves therapies similar to clubfoot treatments. Your son or daughter will go through a careful process of stretching and casting the feet to help the bones grow properly aligned. Braces or special shoes may be enough for some small children. You may need to play with your child’s feet to help strengthen the muscles and stretch them out as well. The vast majority of children’s feet respond to conservative measures. Very rarely is surgery ever needed for this condition. If you’re concerned about your child’s intoeing, let us know at Podiatry Associates, P.C. We’ll help you straighten things out. Make an appointment online, or call (303) 805-5156 to reach our Castle Pines, Parker, Denver, and Cherry Creek offices.
