It is common from childhood to notice that the feet are twisted inward or outward, and this is a problem that persists over time. This condition has several known names throughout history as clubfoot or clubfoot; on some other occasions, crooked feet are known as inversion or eversion of the foot. The severity can range from mild to severe, and the causes are varied, ranging from medical problems to muscle and bone problems.
Most people do not know why this happens and what to do; however, at FastlyHealwe will explain why you have crooked feet and how to improve this condition.
Table of Contents
Feet twisted outward or inward: causes
Crooked feet are a birth condition; that is since the baby is born. This condition exists and prevails until adulthood; one or both feet can be affected, and the bones, tendons, muscles, and blood vessels.
The causes of outward twisted feet are as follows:
- In the case of clubfoot, the tendon that joins the muscle with the bone in the leg and the foot is much shorter than usual, which causes the foot to be twisted or in an abnormal position.
- On the other hand, the inversion of the foot happens because the calcaneus bone is brought to the inside of the foot, and the anterior and posterior tibial muscles invert the foot.
- Lastly, eversion occurs because the calcaneus bone moves away from the body’s midline.
Crooked feet: risk factors
According to those studied by the March of Dimes Foundation for Children with Birth Defects [1], several factors predispose to an increased risk of suffering from crooked feet. We will explain them to you below:
- Little amniotic fluid during pregnancy that is, oligohydramnios.
- Use of drugs and cigarettes during pregnancy.
- Family history of crooked feet.
- The male sex prevails as those who mostly tend to suffer from clubfoot.
Treatment for crooked feet
The doctor can diagnose any health condition, in the case of clubfoot or clubfoot; the diagnosis can be even during pregnancy through an ultrasound or X-rays after birth to determine the presence of problems with the bones themselves.
- According to the Ponseti Method [2], the ideal way to treat crooked feet in childhood is stretching and casting; this consists of trying the foot to the correct position and radiating from the foot to the thigh. This cast will be removed 1 or 2 times a week to move the foot in the most accurate way possible; this process will be continuous for approximately eight weeks. This is considered the most effective method for clubfoot.
- The surgery is used in extreme cases to lengthen the Achilles tendon. This improves walking ability.
In the case of adults, to improve the inversion and eversion of the foot and thus considerably improve the position of the crooked feet, it is essential to:
- First, observe your feet and the way you walk.
- Using a treadmill improves and straightens walking; this allows you to place your feet straight in front of the other; this should be practiced every day to strengthen the legs and feet and thus improve the way you walk.
How long does it take to correct crooked feet?
The correction time to improve crooked feet will depend on the severity and other factors, so an exact or approximate date cannot be given. Next, we are going to explain which are the most important and how they affect the time of lengthening or shortening the treatment times:
- The severity of the deformity, if there are abnormal bones, is much more challenging to correct. The more bones involved and the more bizarre their anatomy, the longer it will take.
- If it is 2 feet that have the condition, it is much more challenging to improve; with only one affected foot, the correction will be easier.
- The sooner the treatment begins, the easier it will be to correct it, and the older, the more difficult it will be to restore crooked feet.
Clubfoot: complications
Crooked feet, if left untreated, can cause a wide variety of complications on all levels, some more serious and others that make everyday life uncomfortable. In this last section, for example, we find problems such as the difficulty of finding a suitable shoe size and aesthetic problems such as the variation in calf size from one leg to the other. However, the most important complications are:
- Limitation in mobility.
- Inability to walk normally.
- Back pain problems and pain in other joints.
- Arthritis.
- Low self-esteem.
A proper medical diagnosis can prevent this clubfoot condition from prevailing into adulthood. The earlier it is diagnosed and treated, the better it is to avoid complications and for treatment to be beneficial. If you or your child have this condition, it is essential to put yourself in the hands of a doctor as soon as possible.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Why do I have crooked feet, we recommend that you enter our Bones, Joints and Muscles category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.