How to Prevent Clubfoot

Clubfoot is more formally known as talipes equinovarus and is a deformity of the foot that was described by Hippocrates. The term talipes is a contraction of the Latin words for ankle and foot, referring to the tendency of severely affected patients to walk on their ankles.

Instructions

• 1

  Research your family history. The general rate of clubfoot in the United States is 1 to 4 cases of every 1,000 live births. Polynesian ethnic groups have the highest risk and Asian ethnic groups have the lowest risk. A first-degree relative with the condition increases a child's risk by 30 times, indicating a significant genetic component.

• 2

  Assess the chances of children having clubfoot once one child is born with the disorder. This rate is 4 percent overall, although males are two to three times more likely than females to have clubfoot.

• 3

  Identify risk factors for clubfoot during pregnancy. These specifically include an abnormal position of the fetus in the uterus and an amniotic fluid level that is below normal. Avoid general risk factors such as alcohol and smoking.

• 4

  Diagnose neuromuscular disorders such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida that are associated with clubfoot. Additional contributing factors may include defective cartilage with lax ligaments, muscle imbalances and central nervous system anomalies.

• 5

  Wear braces after treatment to prevent a recurrence of clubfoot after treatment. Braces are typically worn for 23 hours a day for the first three months and then at night for the next two to four years.