Understanding In-Toeing, Out-Toeing, and Toe Walking
If you’ve ever seen a child walk on their toes, you’ve probably thought it to be normal. However, what’s less understood is why it happens or the likelihood of adults having the same gait abnormalities. From walking inward to walking out, we at New Jersey Podiatric Physicians & Surgeons Group have seen it all. Today, we’ll be explaining why people (yes, of all ages) walk a little differently than the rest of us.
In-Toeing or “Pigeon Toes”
In-toeing is when the toes point inward while walking or running. It’s a very common gait issue in young children, usually harmless, and mostly resolves on its own.
It often happens because of a slight twist in one of the leg bones, or sometimes even in the foot itself, like a gentle twist in the front part of the foot. It’s a bit like how a car’s wheels might be slightly turned. These twists usually straighten out naturally as a child grows.
While mostly a childhood phenomenon, in-toeing can persist into adulthood if the underlying twist doesn’t fully resolve, which sometimes causes knee or hip pain, or if it’s related to how the brain and muscles communicate.
Out-Toeing (Duck-Footed)
Out-toeing is the opposite of in-toeing. Like in-toeing, it’s also frequently seen in young children and often resolves over time.
It happens if there’s a slight outward twist in the shin bone or the thigh bone. Sometimes, it’s connected to how flexible a child’s hips are or if they hold their legs in a way that encourages the feet to turn out. In other cases, a child might walk with their feet turned out to make up for another foot problem, like very flat feet, to find more balance, or walk around pain.
In adults, persistent out-toeing is less likely to correct itself and might signal long-standing structural issues or a way the body tries to make up for ankle or knee discomfort.
Toe Walking
Toe walking means walking on the balls of your feet without the heels touching the ground. This is quite common when toddlers first learn to walk. But why does it happen?
- Just a Habit: In most cases (especially in children), no specific medical reason is found. It’s often just how they learned to walk or sometimes related to how they process sensations (like the feel of their heel hitting the ground).
- Tight Calf Muscles: Sometimes, the muscles in the back of the calf just get too tight, or the Achilles tendon is a bit short. This prevents the heel from easily touching the ground.
- Brain-Muscle Communication: More seriously, toe walking can occasionally be a sign of certain developmental differences or conditions that affect muscle control.
If you’re worried about your foot pain, come see the expert team at New Jersey Podiatric Physicians & Surgeons Group. With more than 30 locations, from Newark, NJ, to Cape May, NJ, we value convenience and excellent service for our patients. To schedule an appointment, first find a podiatrist in your area.
