Anyone duck footed?
Author
Discussion

ti2yum

Original Poster:

9 posts

157 months

Monday 7th October 2013
quotequote all
Hi All,

So i walk like a duck ... ( feet point outwards) people always comment on this and I wanna try and sort it !!

Any ideas ?

Regards

Tony

Blib

48,019 posts

226 months

Monday 7th October 2013
quotequote all
Walk backwards. That way people will think that your feet are pointing inwards.

You're welcome. smile

mu0n

2,348 posts

162 months

Monday 7th October 2013
quotequote all
lol pics ?

ti2yum

Original Poster:

9 posts

157 months

Monday 7th October 2013
quotequote all
haha if only it was that easy !

Erm no pics, but basically my feet point around 20 degrees, rather than dead straight

I was under the impression this is common, (opposite to pigeon feet)

Hoofy

79,993 posts

311 months

Monday 7th October 2013
quotequote all
You'll have to train yourself to walk with your feet straight. It's not good for your knees, I understand?

ti2yum

Original Poster:

9 posts

157 months

Monday 7th October 2013
quotequote all
I have read somewhere that it could cause issues when im older with my knees,people have always mentioned it just never took notice

How do you train to walk straight after 27 years of walking like it is the question frown

Hoofy

79,993 posts

311 months

Monday 7th October 2013
quotequote all
How? Consciously.

dave_s13

14,026 posts

298 months

Monday 7th October 2013
quotequote all
Pretty sure you're stuck with em like that. As long as you can walk, run and do everything you want to do physically then just get on with it.

If you are genuinely concerned then it might be worth a visit to the gp and see if there's anywhere you could be referred to for specialist advice.

To be honest though I'd be very surprised if you can get anything done surgically but it'd be interesting to find out.

Hoofy

79,993 posts

311 months

Monday 7th October 2013
quotequote all
Feck. If it was down to surgery, I'd put up with the pisstaking. (Unless it's causing you physical rather than emotional pain. wink )

My sister had the inward foot thing when she was born. Regular twisting has her having normally aligned feet - whether it's something that needs to be nailed within the first few months of birth I'm not sure but if this is the case, judging by your typing ability, I'd suggest it's too late. Still worth a try, though?

In any case, I would also practice walking with your feet straight (unless this causes pain).

IANAD but that's what I'd do if I had the problem.

Edited by Hoofy on Monday 7th October 15:48

HereBeMonsters

14,180 posts

211 months

Monday 7th October 2013
quotequote all
I do too. And yes, I have bad knees.

Found I can combat it by shaving a bit off the inside of the heel of the shoe - OP do you find you wear the outside of the heel more?

ti2yum

Original Poster:

9 posts

157 months

Tuesday 8th October 2013
quotequote all
Some good advice thanks guys! Not sure I would want to have an operation though, the p1ss taking isnt causing me any emotional pain lol (people just think I have a bowl / swagger)!

If you look at my soles the outside is always worn far more than the inner, so yep we walk the same! My knees are fine with no pain, and I also run a fair bit

The worry is as i get older will the knees become an issue!

BlackVanDyke

9,932 posts

240 months

Tuesday 8th October 2013
quotequote all
I have feet that turn out a bit. Spent 14 years being nagged to hold them straight, then an x-ray revealed that the tibias are very, very slightly twisted - if I make my feet point forward, my knees look like proper cartoon knock-knees. Although I've got pretty major issues with mobility and joints and stuff this is apparently not connected at all and would normally be pretty much ignorable. So - yeah. You might just be built that way.

chrisp84

409 posts

242 months

Tuesday 8th October 2013
quotequote all
BlackVanDyke said:
I have feet that turn out a bit. Spent 14 years being nagged to hold them straight, then an x-ray revealed that the tibias are very, very slightly twisted - if I make my feet point forward, my knees look like proper cartoon knock-knees. Although I've got pretty major issues with mobility and joints and stuff this is apparently not connected at all and would normally be pretty much ignorable. So - yeah. You might just be built that way.
interesting....my nearly two year old daughter has feet that turn in, the right more than the left, but it seems to be getting better. It doesn't stop her doing anything so not that bothered.

dave_s13

14,026 posts

298 months

Tuesday 8th October 2013
quotequote all
From the dark recesses of my memory when doing anatomy at uni you want to be googling for

Tibial Torsion
Femoral Antiversion/Retroversion

A bit of reading around those terms should give you an idea of why your feet are where they are. Basically when you are born your legs/feet are wound up so you can fit in the womb. As you grown they wind back out in opposing direction to give you, hopefully, a nice straight, neutral stance. Very common though for one part of the chain to not quite get there...just the way you're built though.

I reckon that if you can run, walk and do your thing without pain then just crack on with life and don't panic.

I watched a bit of the great north run on telly this year and did anyone see the elite womans winner? To run at that pace for that long is incredible, the fact she has the gait pattern of an injured duck is also amazing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg3RV7icrLI

Priscah Jeptoo - big respect btw - that's me or you at a full tilt sprint trying to keep up with that lass.

Anyway, she's a perfect example of how your body adapts to the way it's built.

The only thing I'd recommend is that you try to adopt, and maintain a good stretching regime to keep everything working as you get older. As a minimum make sure everything from the hip down gets stretched out a few times a week. I never used to be arsed with stretching but as I'm nearing 40 (37 soon) I'm getting some real problems associated with a lifetime of being tight as a drum....you've not mentioned your age though.

A good site for stretching stuff id www.mobilitywod.com some content costs but the free stuff is also very useful. Aim to get bendy enough to be able to adopt a good quality squat position - if you can do that comfortably you've cracked it I reckon. I can't - working on it.

mattikake

5,110 posts

228 months

Tuesday 8th October 2013
quotequote all
ti2yum said:
Hi All,

So i walk like a duck ... ( feet point outwards) people always comment on this and I wanna try and sort it !!

Any ideas ?

Regards

Tony
I thought walking like a duck was feet pointing inwards, sort of crossing over each other as you walk, er, like a duck?

Feet pointing outwards while walking are usually tight Hamstrings. Cure = stop sitting.

STANDING like a duck, with ass pointing outward and excessive curvature of the lumbar spine, is Lordosis. Cure = stop sitting.

Read this recent thread (and linked threads): http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

TheJimi

27,660 posts

272 months

Wednesday 9th October 2013
quotequote all
I've honestly never heard of one being "duck footed" before.

I can see how it would drive you quackers though.





( paperbag sorry - in seriousness, I hope you find a solution)

The Beaver King

6,095 posts

224 months

Wednesday 9th October 2013
quotequote all
I'm the same OP.

A few people have commented on it over the years, but it's never caused me any issues. I do consciously try to walk with my feet pointing forward and over the years they have pretty much pulled themselves straight. I'd say at 16-17 years old they were at about 20 degrees, now I'm 27 they're about 5-10 degrees.

I've only really noticed any hindrance now I do kickboxing. Certain kicks that require you to strike with the heel of your foot I can find quite difficult as my foot tries to pull up when I spin resulting in me striking with the outside of my foot (a crescent).

Other than that, it's not a problem. I wouldn't worry about it OP, but you could try to force you feet straight when you walk. It'll be difficult initally, but should become easier over time.

kingstondc5

8,018 posts

233 months

Wednesday 9th October 2013
quotequote all
chrisp84 said:
interesting....my nearly two year old daughter has feet that turn in, the right more than the left, but it seems to be getting better. It doesn't stop her doing anything so not that bothered.
Ive got that, think its called pigeon feet. Though, apparently, alot of top sprinters are pidgeon feet

mattikake

5,110 posts

228 months

Wednesday 9th October 2013
quotequote all
The Beaver King said:
I'm the same OP.

A few people have commented on it over the years, but it's never caused me any issues. ... now I'm 27 ...
Oh you will. You're young yet. Keep sitting and making it worse, as sure as the sun rises every morning, you'll end up with, literally, crippling back pain and problems.

The Beaver King said:
I've only really noticed any hindrance now I do kickboxing. Certain kicks that require you to strike with the heel of your foot I can find quite difficult as my foot tries to pull up when I spin resulting in me striking with the outside of my foot (a crescent).
Oh that's just the beginning. Eventually most of your daily activities will be affected - walking, getting up out of bed, standing up, bending over to tie your laces, wiping your own rse etc...

Kickboxing exercise, mobility, stretching and strength training will help you out, but it can't compete with hours of sitting.

The Beaver King said:
Other than that, it's not a problem. I wouldn't worry about it OP, but you could try to force you feet straight when you walk. It'll be difficult initally, but should become easier over time.
Oh how the young and uneducated manage to be comfortable speaking with authority...

No-one worries about it, until it's too late, then they wish they did.

Edited by mattikake on Wednesday 9th October 12:16

extraT

1,876 posts

179 months

Wednesday 9th October 2013
quotequote all
yes, I do. Wife always comments on it! I just make a concerted effort to walk with my feet pointing forward