What is Clubfoot?
Clubfoot is a congenital condition in which one or both feet are twisted inward and downward, making it difficult to walk normally.
In severe cases, the foot is turned so far that the bottom faces sideways or up rather than down. The condition, also known as talipes equinovarus, is fairly common. About one to four of every 1,000 babies are born with clubfoot. The condition affects boys twice as often as it does girls.
What are the symptoms of clubfoot?
Clubfoot is readily visible when a baby is born.
- The front half of the foot turns inward and the heel points downward.
If only one foot is affected:
- The calf muscle on the affected leg is smaller than on the other leg.
- The leg on the affected side is often shorter than on the other side.
- The affected foot may be short and wide.
Complications
Clubfoot typically doesn’t cause any problems until your child starts to stand and walk. If the clubfoot is treated, your child will most likely walk fairly normally. He or she may have some difficulty with:
- Movement. The affected foot may be slightly less flexible.
- Leg length. The affected leg may be slightly shorter, but generally does not cause significant problems with mobility.
- Shoe size. The affected foot may be up to 1 1/2 shoe sizes smaller than the unaffected foot.
- Calf size. The muscles of the calf on the affected side may always be smaller than those on the other side.
Are you suffering from any foot condition? At The Chelsea Clinic, we can help. One of our podiatrist can assist and then recommend what treatments are best to get you back on track. Podiatrist South Kensington
Schedule an appointment here or you may call us at +44 (0) 207 101 4000.
We hope you have a feetastic day!
-The Chelsea Clinic and Team
