What Is It? The dictionary defines pigeon-toed as "having the
toes turned inward." No such colorful term can be found for feet
that point outward. Both of these foot problems can be caused by
a problem that doctors call torsional deformities. This is when
the long bones of the leg are turned to the inside or outside so
that the toes of the feet do not point straight ahead. Either of
the two main bones in the leg can be affected -- the femur
(between the hip and the knee) or the tibia (the larger of the
two bones between the knee and the ankle). One or both legs can
be affected. Torsional deformities can lead to toes that point
inward (in-toeing) or toes that point outward (out-toeing).
Parents often worry that in-toeing or out-toeing will
permanently interfere with their child's ability to walk and run
normally. However, in most young children, in-toeing or out-
toeing is caused by a torsional deformity that appears for a
short period, and then disappears during the normal stages of
leg development. Most torsi