Clubfoot is a congenital condition that affects the foot, causing the heel to be pulled in, toes pointed down, and feet arched high. It affects about 1 in 1,000 births in the US and UK and is more common in males. If left untreated, it can impair walking and cause discomfort. Treatment options include casting, surgery, and physical therapy.
Clubfoot, known medically as clubfoot, is a congenital condition that affects the foot. Babies born with clubfoot have heels pulled in, toes pointed down, and feet arched high. The affected toe or foot may also have a crease along the sole. Also, the heel of a person with clubfoot is usually pointed away from the body, causing it to rotate towards the other foot.
In addition to a difference in the appearance of the foot or feet, a child born with clubfoot may have other physical symptoms. For example, his leg and foot may be smaller than other children of the same size. The calf muscle may also be small, and the foot may feel stiff and somewhat immobile.
About one in 1,000 births in the US and UK results in a baby with clubfoot. Additionally, the condition affects twice as many males as females. About 50% of clubfoot cases affect both feet, and the condition can be subtle or quite severe.
Other clubfoot-like conditions include metatarsus adductus and calcaneus valgus. Each of these conditions, however, is caused by the position of the fetus in the uterus and are usually fairly easy to correct. Clubfoot, on the other hand, requires intense intervention and affects tendons, joints and ligaments.
If clubfoot is not treated, the child’s walking may be impaired. He or she will walk on the outer surface of the foot and experience an increased amount of hard skin, calluses, and ingrown toenails. Clubfoot also causes an abnormal gait pattern and makes it difficult to purchase comfortable shoes. For these reasons, clubfoot should never be ignored in hopes that it will reverse itself. Rather, a doctor should be consulted immediately and the child should be placed on a treatment plan.
A common treatment for clubfoot is to place a cast on the feet and legs. This is most effective when done on the baby’s first day of life or within a few weeks of birth. This method twists and pushes the baby’s feet into the correct position. Therefore, it can be quite uncomfortable for the baby. Also, the cast has to be changed about every two weeks.
Surgery is another option for clubfoot. This course of action is usually recommended for babies around six months old. Physical therapy, which involves frequent visits to a therapist to manipulate and fix the foot in the correct position, is sometimes used for three-month-old babies.
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