Night braces to correct pigeon toed walking?

[Anonymous]

My child wears night braces for a different reason.

A few things I have observed:
1. When they say that children's knock knees are most pronounced at between ages 2 and 3 and it will probably correct it self by age 3 1/2, they are right.

2. Physical Therapy with a good PT makes a huge difference.

3. Starting night braces on an older child can be really difficult. My DS started his at 2 YOs and his dr cautioned that it might be really challenging. It was a bit difficult at 1st - but we stayed focused and made it work as the alternative for us was surgery. My DS is now almost 4 YO and is scheduled to wear his night braces for another year. It gets harder as he now has the ability to undo the buckles and will occasionally take them off.

[Anonymous]

My son is almost 17 months and is very pigeon toed. Our ped told us this was normal and would correct itself by 2-2 1/2 in most kids.

[Anonymous]

I had this problem when I was little -- I recall none of it. My parents took me to see the doctor for the Cleveland Browns at the time (I'm from Cleveland) who prescribed the night brace (I was born in 1973, so it was a while ago...). It seems like experiences vary widely here from the many posts, but for me -- I don't recall any of it and it corrected the problem. I know I was younger than 5, but I'm not sure how old I was or how long I had to wear it. My parents never said anything about me hating it or taking it off or anything.

Incidentally, I can still sit comfortably in the "WW position" as one person called it

Good luck with your decision!

[Anonymous]

Hi! Im 15 and im pigeon-toed and it sucks. Honestly i dont think theres anythin you can do for it (and yeah, i found this blog cuz im trying 2 find a way 2 fix it) My parents put me in ballet when i was little but i hated it so they let me quit. But thats the only thing you can really do. I wish my parents encouraged me 2 do sports when i was little since it wouldve paid off by the time it really started to affect me (now!) Track RLLY helps (i was in it in middle school and my dad noticed i always walked better in-season). So push sports (she might hate it now, but she'll thank you later!) And no matter wat, just teach her 2 b able 2 laugh about it. Thats the most important thing. Haha email me if u find a cure? [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

My DH and his identical twin wore night braces as babies and toddlers because their left legs/hips rotated inward much more severely than is normal. This was ~1970. Neither boy had physical therapy, just the braces.

As adults, they are both still pigeon-toed on the left.

(here comes the reason why I'm posting ....) As adults, they both trip over their own foot and fall more than you would expect from a sober 40 yo. Like, during tennis or walking up stairs. Each one has tripped and broken a leg at some point in his life. A pigeon-toed PP said she was clumsy and I guess this is how I'd describe DH and his twin.

There is an excellent chance that loads of PT and maybe even surgery would not have helped, no one can say. But, if OP has a chance to do ongoing PT through the years, I'd say, take that opportunity.

[Anonymous]

My pt said that gymnastics was probably even better than ballet, so we have our two year old in gymnastics for that reason. One exercise she recommended was standing on tip toes, but she said to not over do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH and his identical twin wore night braces as babies and toddlers because their left legs/hips rotated inward much more severely than is normal. This was ~1970. Neither boy had physical therapy, just the braces.

As adults, they are both still pigeon-toed on the left.

(here comes the reason why I'm posting ....) As adults, they both trip over their own foot and fall more than you would expect from a sober 40 yo. Like, during tennis or walking up stairs. Each one has tripped and broken a leg at some point in his life. A pigeon-toed PP said she was clumsy and I guess this is how I'd describe DH and his twin.

There is an excellent chance that loads of PT and maybe even surgery would not have helped, no one can say. But, if OP has a chance to do ongoing PT through the years, I'd say, take that opportunity.

I'm the clumsy, pigeon-toed 40 something mom of two equally pigeon-toed and clumsy children. Both of my children started walking early (8 - 8.5 months) so did I, and several family members. Knock on wood, no broken legs, but we're all very athletic. My children and I have been seen for years by orthopedic surgeons and physical therapists. The three of us are both pigeon-toed and hyper mobile (double jointed). None of us had braces during the early years, the orthopedic surgeon whose opinion I found most valuable told me that braces really would not have helped in our case. Ballet and yoga have been quite beneficial. I've spent several thousand dollars on custom-made orthotics. They've helped quite a bit. The kids tend to remove them when participating in sports (sprinting & jumping activities).

[Anonymous]

I had to wear the night braces, but like another poster, I don't remember it at all. It did correct the problem, but every once in a while, I have been told by a few people that when I am deep in thought or focused, my feet still turn in.

[Anonymous]

I also wore night braces and remember none of it. My mom told me I would rattle the brace against the crib and raise hell about it. I am not pigeon toed now.

[Anonymous]

My DD is 22 mos, and was born with bilateral club feet - both feet turned severely inward, 90 degrees from normal. Our situation is extreme, but given our experience with surgery, PT and various shoes and braces, I'd like to provide some perspective.

A PP mentioned an older, old-school Ortho surgeon - sounds like Dr. Delahay to me. A truly gifted surgeon (DD has full range of motion with both feet, which is extraordinary) and tops for peds, but he's not that supportive of PT or any orthotics or braces. When I pushed for PT, he said "it couldn't hurt". During her first year she had 2 surgeries and spent about 6 months in casts, so in addition to having abnormal feet she had very underdeveloped leg muscles because of all the time in casts. In my mind, PT was not just a "nice to have" but a necessity.

When she started PT at 17 mos, she could pull up and cruise along furniture. Within 3 months she was walking - running, actually. When we started PT, her feet still turned in, much like someone who is pigeon toed. PT recommended night braces, in addition to all the other exercises and stretching and within a week the difference from the braces was striking. Her feet DO NOT turn in any more. She walks with straight feet, and near perfect form.

I'm sure DD would have eventually learned to walk on her own, but it would have taken longer, and she wouldn't have had proper form, which could cause major problems down the road. Having the PT point out things wrong with her stride, which I never would have noticed, and how to correct it was invaluable. My point is that surgeons, and even pediatricians, don't always notice these things.

DD was 18 months when we started the night braces. They are her "special" or "magic" shoes. We put them on while reading stories. We did a couple nights with just the shoes and then added the bar. She has no problem moving around or standing up in the crib with them, but she's always been resourceful about not letting anything slow her down We don't hesitate to skip the shoes on nights that she's been up late, or teething, but she wears them 90% of the time with no problem.

As I said, DD's case is extreme, but I have seen what a difference good PT and the night braces, along with gifted doctors, can make.

[Anonymous]

I was very pidgened toed as a child and would trip and stumble- I did play little league but was always ackward. My ortho (Chicago suburb) offered a suggestion before surgery that would break both of my legs. The night brace that I wore was just a pair of high top b-ball shoes screwed facing outward on a board. I rember it was uncomfortable and hard to sleep with- I am now only slightly pidgeoned toed w/ my left foot today. This treatment was probably 1972 and I was 10.

[Anonymous]

17:53 here with an update since January. DD is now 2.8 and just had her follow-up with x-rays. Shoes have done the trick. She is 15% over-rotated now and has moved into braces/orthotics she wears in her shoes. She is to wear these every day for the next 5 months and then will likely be done.

[Anonymous]

OP here with an update. We opted against the braces. We saw orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tuck, who adamently rejected the use of night braces. He felt that DD's feet were in-toeing at about 25 degrees and would self-correct after lots of experience walking at the rate of 1-2 degrees a month. It's now four months later and sure enough, her feet and walking are much, much better. She's just wearing regular running shoes. So relieved that we didn't use the braces! Thanks again for everyone's input.

[Anonymous]

I wore the shoes on a brace for the first 4 years of my life. It made it hard to get out of bed in the mornings to go to the bathroom. My parents also didn't get them larger just cut out the toes when I started out growing them. They did not help corret my feet. Now I have a fifth toe that curls on top of my other toes. My muscle in my calf is more to the outside of my legs. They were going to correct the muscle issue when I stopped growing. They caused more problems than helped. Not to mention the arthritis in my hips and knees. My daughter was born with the pigeon toes the doctors showed me excersises to help her. They helped her but she still has one foot that is a little lazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm pigeon toed and my mother put me in night braces from age 2-4. I hated them. I still remember crying each night. I couldn't get out of bed on my own while wearing them (although I'm in my 30s and maybe braces are better.) When the studies came out that there is NO CLINICAL EVIDENCE in support of braces, I really wanted to send my mother a "told you so" note. But of course I didn't.

I would only say to you: why make your poor child suffer for no gain? I'm still pigeon toed to this day. I took yoga and ballet when I was older and this did more than any stupid braces for me, in terms of just keeping me flexible, so I can reposition my feet when I want to.

shame on you ungrateful bitch. she was doing what she thought way was best for you!!!!



shame on you also unless you had to wear the dumb things you wouldn't know how barberic they really are. Good on the person for trying other alternatives the sretching of the muscles seems to help me also.