Clubfoot
Overview
Clubfoot is a condition present at birth where a baby’s foot or feet turn inward or downward because of abnormal positioning of bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The condition can affect one or both feet and varies in severity between children.
Without treatment, clubfoot may affect standing, walking, balance, footwear fitting, and long-term mobility. Early treatment usually leads to very good outcomes and helps support normal movement and development.
The focus is on early diagnosis, gradual correction of foot position, supporting healthy mobility, and helping children achieve comfortable movement and walking development.
Symptoms
Clubfoot mainly affects foot position, movement, and walking development. Symptoms and concerns may include:
- Foot turning inward or downward
- One foot appearing smaller than the other
- Tightness around the foot or ankle
- Reduced flexibility of the foot
- Difficulty placing the foot flat on the ground
- Walking difficulties if untreated
Some babies are diagnosed shortly after birth, while others may be identified during pregnancy imaging or early infancy.
Causes & Risk Factors
The exact cause of clubfoot is not always fully understood, but the condition develops during pregnancy before birth. Risk factors may include:
- Family history of clubfoot
- Congenital developmental differences
- Certain neurological or muscular conditions
- Male sex, which is more commonly affected
Clubfoot is not caused by anything parents did during pregnancy.
When to Seek Care
You should seek orthopaedic assessment if your child:
- Is born with inward-turning feet
- Has difficulty placing the foot flat
- Develops walking difficulties related to foot position
- Has foot stiffness or reduced movement
- Requires follow-up after newborn assessment
Emergency Symptoms
Clubfoot itself is usually not an emergency, but urgent assessment may be needed if your child experiences:
- Severe swelling or skin breakdown around casts or braces
- Reduced circulation or colour changes in the foot
- Severe pain or inability to move the toes
- Fever or signs of infection during treatment
Prevention
Clubfoot cannot usually be prevented because it develops before birth. However, early diagnosis and treatment may help reduce long-term mobility complications. Helpful measures may include:
- Early newborn assessment
- Following treatment and casting schedules carefully
- Attending routine orthopaedic follow-up appointments
- Supporting brace and rehabilitation plans consistently
Diagnostics Used
Assessment may involve examination of foot position, flexibility, walking development, and monitoring during treatment. Depending on your child’s needs, the care team may use:
Support Services
Children with clubfoot may benefit from additional rehabilitation and long-term mobility support. Support services may include:
- Physiotherapy and rehabilitation support
- Orthopaedic casting and brace support
- Mobility and walking assessment
- Counselling and family education
- Long-term orthopaedic follow-up support
This multidisciplinary approach helps support mobility, walking development, recovery, and long-term wellbeing.