Developing your Walk

So many things change as we grow up. After a summer with kids home from school, extra trips to the park, and lots of outdoor play, most parents have had a few extra hours to see how their child moves around. I know some have spent the last few months wondering if the way their child's legs and feet are developing is okay and normal.

Leg alignment changes from birth until age seven. Due to baby's crossed legs in the uterus the lower leg can have some 'bowing' outward. As they learn to walk their lower legs straighten out with the force of gravity. The child's entire leg will remain slightly bowlegged to about 18 months and straighten by two and a half years of age. Then, by age three or four most children have a slight inward angle of the knee. At age seven the legs should be straight from hip to ankle and stay that way for their adult life.

Foot position is important for us to look at as well. Up to 12 months of age, the toes should turn out about 20 degrees and then move in to about 10-15 degrees of toe out. This is the normal position for adults as well. Children generally have flat feet until about age 2, at which point the arch in the middle of the foot forms, until it is complete by age 3. Since they are our foundation, great foot development can affect all of the structures in the body.

While the described positions are normal, there are times when we need to look out for abnormal presentations. Due to something as early as malposition in the uterus, your child's leg(s) may not have developed completely even. While most children grow out of this, occasionally this can lead to leg and lower back problems as they age. Simple things to look for in the 2 to 5 year old include: how they run or walk, do they seem uncoordinated, is one foot turned out or in, do they trip and fall excessively, does my child look symmetrical, or does the bowing of one leg not match the other?

Changes in alignment can be due to misalignment of the pelvis, knee, or ankle. When the variations in the alignment of the leg are due to torsion of the leg bones, torsion or turning is usually found in the lower leg (tibia) before age 3. After age 3 it is usually found in the upper leg (femur). A well trained doctor of chiropractic will determine this easily. A properly aligned pelvis assists in the normal symmetrical development of the legs. Often the misalignment of the pelvis is painless and remains undetected until your child is checked by a chiropractor. Correction of a pelvic misalignment can not only allow for your child's legs to properly align, but can help decrease trips and falls by increasing symmetry.

There are also other orthopedic considerations and certain conditions that will change the way children walk. If you notice walking that is painful or irregular, a check-up is in order. Chiropractors evaluate the joints in the spine that surround that spinal cord to make sure the messages are being transferred correctly to and from the body and brain. We also check the joints in the rest of the body to be sure that they support the body. We keep the body moving so it can grow, develop, and age with ease. Remember that the sooner we take care of children, the more likely there will be a full and compete recovery.

Though all chiropractors are trained to care for all ages, some of us specialize in family care. Specific study in the area of pediatrics gives family chiropractors the needed skills to correct misalignments in children safely and effectively. Nothing is more important than changing a child's life for the better. I take care of children because it is the mission of the office to create a healthier next generation. Allowing children to grow up healthy and reach their full physical potential is a huge part of that.

By Dr. Jill Aardema, DC