Club Foot

Clubfoot is a common type of birth defect that affects muscles and bones in the feet. Instead of being straight, a clubfoot points down and turns in. This twisting causes the toes to point toward the opposite leg. A baby can be born with the defect in one or both feet.

Clubfoot won't get better on its own. It used to be fixed with surgery. But now, doctors use a series of casts, gentle movements and stretches of the foot, and a brace to slowly move the foot into the right position— this is called the Ponseti method.

A baby with clubfoot will be treated by an orthopaedic surgeon who has been trained in the Ponseti method. The Ponseti method is done in two phases: the casting phase and the bracing phase.