The reason why pigeon-toed people are more athletic is because of increased stiffness in their foot and ankle joints which reduces energy absorption, which also leads to greater propulsive force and efficiency.
The pigeon toed persons foot strike can also generate a more direct line of forward thrust and allow for quicker take offs and even more efficient movement in sports such as basketball, soccer and sprinting.
Being pigeon-toed is not a birth defect, but instead being pigeon-toed is a common condition in children called in-toeing and is a normal part of development in most cases.
Sometimes the pigeon-toed or in-toeing is also present from birth as a result of womb positioning or family tendency and most cases of in-toeing or pigeon-toed resolves on it's own as the child grows.
Although a congenital condition like metatarsus adductus can cause pigeon-toeing, many cases of pigeon-toeing are a result of internal tibial torsion or femoral anteversion, which often improve on their own naturally.
Some underlying medical conditions and even injuries can cause pigeon-toeing and those require medical attention.
The age that pigeon-toed should be corrected is by 8 to 10 years old.
Most cases of pigeon-toed or intoeing in children resolve on their own without any treatment by the time the child reaches age 8 to 10.
If the pigeon-toed or intoeing continues past 8 to 10 years old or if it's causing any difficulty walking or pain then it may need to be corrected.
Pigeon toed which is also called intoeing is a common condition in children where the child's feet turn inward when walking or running instead of pointing straight like they normally should.
Pigeon toed or intoeing can be caused by misaligned bones in the child's foot, lower leg, "tibial torsion", or thigh "femoral anteversion".
Most cases of pigeon toed or intoeing resolve on their own as the child grows, although if it causes any pain and or stiffness or the child has difficulty walking or it continues past age 10, then the child should be evaluated medically by a pediatrician or an orthopedic specialist.
The difference between internal and external tibial torsion is that internal tibial torsion is the inward twisting of the shinbone also called the tibia, which causes in-toeing and external tibial torsion is the outward twisting, which causes out-toeing and a more outward-rotated foot posture.
The internal torsion is most common and often resolves on it's own by age 5 and external torsion is less common and can manifest with out-toeing symptoms around ages 4 to 7 and can even sometimes result in problems with knee stability and mechanics.
Internal tibial torsion does not cause pain in children.
internal tibial torsion is a common cause of intoeing or pigeon toed appearance and pain may occur in rare and severe cases which persist into adulthood or if the intoeing is also accompanied by a limp, swelling or increase in falls.
But most cases of internal tibial torsion are pain free and resolve on their own as the child grows.
To assess internal tibial torsion a doctor will position the person on their stomach with their knees bent to 90 degrees and then the doctor will measure the thigh-foot angle, between the axis of the thigh and the axis of the foot.
Having a negative thigh-foot angle value or when the foot points inward, indicates that the person has internal tibial torsion.
A doctor can also determine if the torsion is excessive, as it often resolves on it's own with growth.
Internal tibial torsion is where the shinbone also called the tibia is twisted inward, which causes your feet to turn inward which is also called intoeing.
Internal tibial torsion is a common developmental issue in children and is often noticed when a child begins walking.
Most cases of internal tibial torsion resolve on their own as the child grows, but it can sometimes persist and cause problems with gait and may lead to potential injuries in adulthood.
A baby's position in the mothers uterus is what causes internal tibial torsion and tight ligaments and tendons in the upper leg leads to external torsion and causes the lower leg to twist as the child grows.
As the baby grows in the mothers uterus and space becomes tighter one or both of the baby's shinbones can twist inward which leads to tibial torsion.
Tibial torsion tends to run in families and external tibial torsion also runs in families.
It also that adult tibial torsion is not just a hangover from developmental abnormality and is likely influenced by local biomechanical factors, genetics and a range of pathologies
Tibial torsion can occur due to the position of the baby in the uterus. It also has a tendency to run in families.
Typically, a child's walking style looks like that of his or her parents.
When the child is first learning how to walk, tibial torsion can create an intoeing appearance.
Tibial torsion is the twisting of a child's shinbone, also known as the tibia.
In most cases, tibial torsion causes a toddler's legs and feet to turn inward (internal tibial torsion), giving them a pigeon-toed appearance.
Less often, the legs turn outward (external tibial torsion).
Bracing, casting and physical therapy are not usually needed for tibial torsion.
A child's growth is closely monitored to ensure the internal tibial torsion resolves on its own.
If the tibia is still significantly twisted by age 9 or 10, then a surgery may be recommended to correct it.
Many cases of tibial torsion correct themselves as the child grows.
On rare occasions the tibial torsion can be severe enough to require surgery to straighten the shin bones.
It is important to know that tibial torsion does not lead to arthritis or any other future health problems.