Do You Walk Like a Duck?

It’s not common for you to look at people’s feet while they walk, but physical therapists pay close attention to this part of gait. If you do take a moment to watch people’s feet when they walk, you may find that more than a few around you walk with their toes pointed outwards to a significant degree. This is most often something that develops over time due to poor postural habits and movement patterns. Although it may seem harmless, walking with your toes pointed too far outwards can lead to problems down the road. It is a common reason that people will develop bunions, because of the way that weight is pressed through the big toe. Walking with toes out can also add stress to the tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments, etc…) on the inside of your knee.

Although it may seem like a simple fix, there is a lot that can contribute to walking with toes out.

Poor mobility or strength in the feet, knees, hips, or the pelvis and trunk can impact how you position your feet. If out-toeing while walking is a concern for you, consider a free consultation with one of our skilled physical therapists! We are able to evaluate the entire kinetic chain to help identify how best to get your feet back in line.