I always thought this was "just a thing" but I've been seen a deep tissue masseuse whose teaching me all types of things about my body and how they're results of things like this. Thanks for the help
When i broke my ankle in college and wore a boot to walk my foot angled outwards to compensate. It was the first thing my physical therapist corrected when they saw it. I always notice when peoples feet point outwards cause they said it causes hip and knee issues. Great video
I know a little something about anatomy (because I'm interested in athletics and human origins! -- lumbar lordosis an important feature!), and this video is an excellent explanation: clear, thorough, and it really emphasizes how everything in your body (and mind) is RELATED. The barefoot demonstrations are really effective, too : )
I had the exact oppoiste when i was a toddler. I walked pidgeon footed but i corrected it wearing a foot brace instead of shoes and i would do foot strengthening exercises like picking up jacks with my toes and walking on the sand at the beach often.
Great insight, so many people are losing the ability to just walk normally. I see it all the time. Thanks for explaining the palm shoulder relationship. I never could work out why people that walk slow also have their palms back.
Must of been what the kids in elementary school meant when they said I walked weird, I think I still do it, It feels more normal for standing, this video just makes me feel like I have a lot more problems that haven’t been diagnosed
If its the way you have been standing and walking since you were a kid, it will feel normal because your muscles and tissues have adapted to the position.
My flat feet disappeared once my duck feet was corrected. Luckily for me it required conscious effort and not much stretching and PT work. I do have slight toe out while walking still though but I think that's because of my femoral retroversion. I think that should be taken into account. Walking with middle of foot completely straight forward is uncomfortable to me. I have to toe out when doing weighted squats too because my feet eventually twist slightly out if I force it forward.
@@ToddMartinMD i put a lot of effort in correcting my posture a couple years ago. Also your videos helped me realize the significance of my bad walking habits.
I noticed I have duck foot on my left and straight on the right. I used to think I have leg length discrepancy on my left, and I use a fabric thin heel insert which seems to work for height adjustment but it doesn't correct the duck foot and the entire improper grounding of the left heel, which leads to balance issues. (The insert partially improves heel grounding because I can feel the great difference it makes than without. That means the rest of balance issues are caused by the duck foot outer rotation) . I instinctively switched to walking on the outer edges of my feet (to relieve my knees) and it seems to correct the duck foot right away as well as the imbalance and alignment of the spine. You are so correct - feet pointing forward is for quick walk and feet pointing outwards is for a slow leisurely pace. I also have to add that the major part of walking comfortably is psychological if you had no physical issues or injuries in the past. Maintenance and consistency is a struggle (because the brain needs rewiring to unlearn old habits). I would love to hear your thoughts.
My knees bend inwards when I force my feet to be straight. I've been aware of my duck feet for a while now I think I've been doing it for at least six years and since I'm fourteen I've been growing with duck feet so I think it has messed up my knees. When i take my foot off the ground and straighten it the inward side of my foot gets raised a lot compared to the outer side(I don't know if thats helpfull info but I'll take all the help I can get).
I would not try to force your feet straight. You may want to get it checked out by your doctor if you are young because there may be things you can do. You also want to see it it is a structural twist in the tibia vs a walking pattern.
You are SO good at explaining, sir. I’m 60 year old woman. I’ve always walked duckfooted, left one worse than right, since birth. I just had total hip replacement, right, and I’m so upset seeing myself on security camera. It seems the hip surgery has corrected my right foot to stay forward(!!!) but my left one looks even worse. Like I’m dragging it almost. When I try to pull it forward, it wears me out…. Feels like I’m walking that foot pigeon toed( but not) . I’m going to religiously wear my orthotics after seeing the video ( and my video) and I’m going to try putting a knee support on to help me as I try to improve that left foot. It’s so severe that I just feel worn out and every joint muscle I own gets jacked up trying to make it right. It makes me sad.
I'm naturally duck footed. When my knees are pointing straight forward, my feet are at 10 and 2 o clock. When I try walking normally, my knees are moving inward. Is there anything to be done about this? Been born with it, as well as my dad. One leg is slightly shorter than the other as well.
That could indicate you have external tibial torsion, where your lower leg is rotated out relative to the femur. If that is the case, there may not be anything practical you can do about it. But, check to see if this is true when your legs are dangling, not with your weight on them, because your body positioning could distort things.
absolutely the best explanation of the etiology of duck feet, and its consequences.... I all starts in the head, as a bad habit, I love it. Habits, aka laziness. In this case not actiivating the lower leg, clve muscles, tibialis, foot muscles, but simply letting the leg somehow swing forward... Yet, i would add that the bad habits start with an overall disconnection of mind and muscles, losing the sense for balance. without the capacity to want balance, you lose it and all the muscles around the hips and down the leg. nex setp then is to widen the gait, to increase lateral distance between feet, supported by or triggering duck feet walking. For me, the main exercise would be to walk on a line ... feet before feet ... with stable hips. The second exercise would be the crane stance from kung fu, tai qi or whatsoever :)
Thanks. I think Tai chi and other exercises can be very helpful. Anything that brings more body awareness can help.I think the issue is more lack of awareness than laziness.
Only my right foot does this. If I stand or try to walk with my feet pointing straight, my right knee points inward quite a lot. What should I do to correct this on my right foot/leg only?
I would practice standing with very good posture with the feet forward, not walking at first. I would practice glute bridges and planks with your feet aligned to get your core working correctly.
Weird, I been watching few videos on the subject. Most say that duck walking is caused / results / is helped by anterior pelvic tilt (and causes low back pains ontop of duck feet). But you seem to say that duck feet and posterior pelvic tilt go hand in hand.. At least in my case I know I have anterior pelic tilt with lower back pains and duck foot walking. I also have very very poor internal rotation which is making the problem worse. But as I'm testing duck walking with anterior / posterior pelvic tilt I feel like they are totally 2 different walks. Both have the same position, but with posterior you're kinda casually walking like a cowboy in a western, but with anterior pelvic tilt you're can walk normally/fast but feels more like dragging yourself forward instead of pushing off.
I think the primary problem with people that leads to duck feet is that the are powering the swing through of the step with their swing leg instead of their standing leg. Most people I see with this don’t have an anterior pelvic tilt, and have the more lazy appearing walk. Most people with an anterior tilt and excessive lordosis have more of a driving, pushing, type of walk which is powered by the standing leg, but in the wrong way.
If you are having pain, then I would have to suggest going to see a doctor or getting a referral to a physical therapist so you can get individually assessed.
I have a severe duck/flat feet I was born with it and didn’t get treatment unfortunately, and now I am 20 years old and can’t walk or even stand too long, like even the shower is something really hard for me and I went to a doctor last year he gave me a custom shoes for my feet but it didn’t work it’s been a year since I started wearing them and nothing happened like even the pain is getting worse, I am writing this because I desperately need help like if you have any advice or anything to do at least reduces pain a little bit so I can live my life
I am so sorry to hear your situation. I would start by checking if your feet are lined up with your knees and thigh, so whether or not you have tibial torsion. If you do, that is a bigger issue. I would check out the Best Exercise for Balance and Walking that I just posted. If you can do that exercise then there is hope to fix it.
❤hello dr Todd ive noticed when i stand up to attention or turn to the side i land in a duck foot position but when i walk normal like a long walk on the street no duck walk. But i notice every time i stand over my sink to wash dishes i have duck foot
I would practice placing one foot forward of your body, placed on the heel, with the foot facing directly forward. Then rise up to a standing position on that leg, place the other foot directly next to it and center your weight over both feet, facing forward. Practice getting used to that posture.
I had one duck foot and one straight. This caused so many problems. These were knee foot misalignment, whole body rotated to one side. After 3 months of walking straight there is a big difference!
OMG - I am right there with you. But I am not walking straight yet. I have walked with one foot, my left foot very duck footed and over the last 15 to 20 years of walking this way, it has caused problems with the entire kinetic chain from my left foot all the way up to my mid back on the left side. Bad sciatica down my left leg and ankle, stiffness and tightness, etc., did you have the same sort of problems and how did you finally start walking with a straight foot? What did you do to get that foot and leg to go straight? Would love to hear if you have time. Thank you very much.
@@jonathanwilliams4149 force the ducked foot to walk straight, and correct its arch if needed with some support. Then try foot balance exercises. Then correct your entire posture and spine alignment .
@@jonathanwilliams4149walk straight, fix foot arches, do foot balance exercises. Fix your entire posture alignment, and finally correct your spine alignment.
Hello Doctor. I coach my son's soccer team, and I noticed one of the kids was running really slow. After looking at his running, I noticed he was what I know now is duck foot walking. Having had my own aches and pains throughout the years, I'd like to help out anyone else before things get out of hand. Is this something you would say I need to mention to his parents to get looked at with their doctor?
For kids, I would recommend the parents have a pediatrician evaluate and possible physical therapist. It can lead to health issues for one, but also performance issues in athletics.
@ToddMartinMD thanks for the reply. I'll definitely mention it to the parents. I am hoping that with him only being 9 years old hopefully it will be an easier fix and not as much damage has been done
I had spine surgery in 2001 and was in a back brace for 6 months. No one showed me how to walk with it on. After it came off, I went through rehab for another 6 months which extended out to one year because progress was so slow. I think that's when I had started to duck walk and might be one reason for the slow progress. I was shown how to do a lot of things but not walking. I had to do rehab over again 2 years later and it was another year of rehab. I know I duck walk because I used to look at my tracks in the snow and think how funny it looked. I had no idea it was a serious problem. I don't think I have the abdominal strength to do this. I have a Total Gym. What exercise could help be build the muscles I need to make this correction work for me? Thank you!
I believe practicing the correct movement patterns is more important than individual strengthening exercise. I don't believe the issue primarily comes from weakness. It it was, actors like Idris Elba and Jason Statham, both known for their fitness, wouldn't be walking with duck feet.
Near everyone I see has duck feet. For a long time I thought it was the normal alignment of the feet and tried to 'correct' my already correctly aligned legs into being duck-footed 🤦
You are right. Sometimes when I am trying to get footage of people walking with duck feet vs normal walking, I can’t find anyone to film with a normal gait.
I love your videos-especially on proper walking form, slopes and stairs! They really alleviate a lot of the confusion out there and I’ve been sharing links to your videos! THANK YOU!!! I am a very active long distance backpacker, hiking 5-20 miles on any given day (with future thru hikes on the horizon). The hiking & backpacking community would really like to know more about proper form and weight distribution when it comes to climbing up and down hills & mountains (gradient slopes to full fledge climbs) while balancing a full 5 day supply backpack (mine is a pretty efficient 28 lbs). Many of us spend tons of time (and $$$) researching proper footwear, but need help when it comes to actual foot placement AND toe placement (Relax the toes? Grip the floor? Flex them upwards? What’s the answer? Toe injuries are rampant…). When should backpackers stand vertical? When should we lean forward to balance are packs? We are out there, every day, just sort of trusting our instincts about what “feels right,” but as you know, that doesn’t mean we are doing what’s best for our bodies! Can you post any videos that might help us?
Try this for a start. th-cam.com/video/iXZ7Jzhi-qk/w-d-xo.html. I didn't do any follow up because there wasn't much viewership interest, but if that changes I could certainly follow up.
@@ToddMartinMD Thank you! A great start! I copied the link and shared with other hikers. Especially interested in remaining vertical on uphill climbs because I think we all tend to lean into the ascent… Uht oh! If you ever wanted to do a video just on steep uphill/downhill climbs for backpacking with more detail about feet and toe placement (don’t forget those toes), the backpackers would definitely love it and I could do a bunch of shares to groups I’m in. Thank you!!!
My mum used to duck walk .From a young age I made sure my feet were staright forward ..I used to call it 10 to 2 feet.Of course awareness but people are not aware .So they will continue to waddle .LOL .Love the video and proves what I thought about people walking like this is not just me being critical but an observation of life.Could never go out with a guy that walked liked that I would be miles ahead mainly because of feeling
always had knee pain one day my friend pointed out that i walked odd and i looked it up and it was duck feet and fixed it by fixing my ankle mobility, stretching my calves, stretching my glutes and strengthening my abductors
I try to walk normal but when I try standing straight.. the lower leg tib fib area bellow the knee still point outwards they look broken 😂😂😂😂. My legs are shaped insanely weird. I have big quads but bellow the knee they are so skinny so out of proportion to my body
I only noticed I had problems with my walk when walking in heels became unbearable (very recently at 26 yrs old). Someone pointed out I have duck feet, and that’s why it’s painful to walk in heels. I had never even noticed I did it. I love that you mentioned the heels in the video! So I’m guessing when you have heels on you cannot walk with duck feet, making it painful to use the muscles that you are actually supposed to be using all the time. I am trying to correct it now, I wish I would’ve known sooner in life. Thank you for sharing such great information! I was looking for a more detailed explanation and you definitely nailed it!
Glad you liked it. I definitely think it would be really difficult walking duck footed in heels. Heel create other problems, like anterior pelvic tilt.
As I say in my other videos, anyone walking in flip flops is going to end up duck footed. Those continents have large percentages of people who where flip flops as their regular footwear. Although I think you are overstating it that all of them are out-toeing. But it is probably a lot.
Also can walking like this cause hip problems bc I have a tear in my hip and it hurts to walk and it hurts even more when I try to fix the walk to walk straight
Yes, I believe it can cause problems. The first step is understanding what is causing it and then the proper technique to correct it. If you are trying to fix it, using the technique I describe in most of my videos should help, unless you have a fixed deformity turning the feet out.
There are just so many people that do this, and many are athletes or very fit actors .I was just watching Fast and Furious X, and there is some serious duck-footedness going on in that movie.
It is hard to find video of this. They do heel strike. One of the challenges judging this is that people who walk in flip flops almost invariably duck foot walk, and many very poor cultures live in flip flop flops.
If you have been walking that your whole life, I imagine the bones have conformed to that type of position, so it would be difficult. You should not try to force your feet straight. You can practice the movement exercises I provide and see if it has any effect on the foot position, but you do not want to force your feet to do something the core isn't telling them to do naturally.
Yes, it can be related to peroneal pain. I would focus first on making sure your feet are aligned when walking, but your shouldn't force it. The position of your feet should be determined by how your core moves. You should not try to force the placement of your feet. Likewise, if you are doing sports, the feet will be placed correctly if you are using the correct technique. This varies by sport so having coaching in the individual sport is recommended.
There are a ton of male actors that are duck footed. I have pointed that out in other videos. Jason Stathem is another actor that is seriously duck footed. This is one of the reasons I believe health articles blaming sedentary lifestyle and muscle weakness for duck feet are very wrong.
@@ToddMartinMD it's the same issue with being pigeon footed like Keanu Reeves etc. The most noticeable duck footed actress is Nicole Kidman like her ex husband Tom Cruise who is also duck footed. That's Hollywood.
@@agxec2932 I checked out a few videos. She manages to straighten the feet position out when walking in heels during the Balenciaga show, but walks duck footed in flats.
@@ToddMartinMD she's duck footed. No doubt about it. Have you done a video on pigeon footed? Many soccer, cricket, badminton, and tennis athletes are duck footed. Whereas many track and field and swimming athletes are often not.
I try to be a little sly about it. I don't walk behind people for any long period of time and I use a gimbal so I don't have the camera up to my face, so it just looks like I am walking normally.
Since birth I have had duck foot problems, I was told I have flat feet and as a result i walk on a bone in the middle of my foot, doctors told me growing up they had no idea how i could walk with the issues my feet have. My parents before this would get mad cause i would always complain about foot pain after 10 mins of walking. Doctors were able to take my feet and twist them 180 degrees, with no pain, I can to this day twist my leg like this. I've been told I'm most likely gonna need a wheel chair later in life, if i don't get reconstruction on both legs. All my life i have had this issue, doctors tried to give me braces to help, as a kid i couldn't bear to wear them, so I didn't. I wish I did, because they gave me braces a few years ago and I could barely go up stairs. I have grown accustomed to this style of walking due to the 23 years I have been doing this. Like you said in the video, it is extremely hard to walk with the legs forward as it feels like my knees are inward and towards the other. Thanks for making a informative video like this, its weird hearing that alot of people walk like this because i have been self conscious about this my whole life. I am still to this day considering reconstruction of my legs but the prospect scares me. Thanks for the video, it really is accurate to the things i experience as a result. Remember people if this is a result of habit and not congenital like mine, please try to correct it, it is no fun having these issues. have a great day
Thanks for your comment. Your case is on the extreme side and I wish you the best. Your last statement is very important, that people who are doing this out of habit should really try and correct it as soon as possible.
I was fortunate to have a track coach in 9th grade who noticed that I ran with my right foot toed-out. He drew a line in the sand at the end of my right toe, then had me turn my foot forward and marked it again. I was easily losing an inch or more in every stride. And being 14, I also didn't want to run or walk "funny"! lol This helped to shape how I would walk going forward and probably saved me a lot of pain in my younger years. However...years of high heels, followed by years of carrying babies and toddlers, followed by years of being hunched over at a computer all day took their toll in other ways...and by the age of 50 I felt like I was 90. I've spent the last six years working through various issues (and I now feel more like 40!) and now I've circled back to walking. I've somehow stopped engaging my glutes, so your videos are helping me re-learn what to do with 'em! Thank you Dr. Todd...I am a subscriber now and look forward to learning more!
I’m happy you found the channel. It would be great if we all had coaches somewhere along the way that could point out little things in our gait and posture that are much easier to correct when we are young and our bone structures are still more pliable. It sounds like you have been able to make some food improvements lately. I hope my videos can assist you further.
I'm 29f and my hips, knees and ankles pop and it feels like they're not where they should be. I just realized I've been walking wrong my entire life. It feels like my knees are turned inward but everything is straight now?! I have a pelvis tilt too and no core stability so this is almost life changing stuff lol
You probably are not using your lower abs correctly. Your lower abs would be working to keep your pelvis in a neutral tilt and at the same time winding your knees out so they aren’t turned inward.
It all depends. Some people can change it quickly just by being more aware and a little practice. Assuming you are otherwise in decent shape and don't have actual bone deformity, it can take a few months of practice. Its hard to say for each individual. Some people can pick up a new dance very quickly. Others never can. This is similar. But awareness is the first step.
True. It isn't really possible to duck-foot if there is a heel on the shoe, which most boots have. This is why you never see women in heels walking with duck-feet.
Thank you for the information, someone mentioned I ran a bit weird so I started doing research; the origin of my habit was when I was learning to walk, my head threw off my horizontal balance.
Also, it seems like duck feet walking would lead to tailor bunions? Does overpronation lead to duck foot walking or does duck foot walking lead to over pronation (are these issues related either way?) thank you so much for your expertise!!
Absolutely will contribute to bunions. I think it causes over probation rather than the probation causing the duck feet. Although it can by a cycle where once you start duck feet, the pronation can the make it worse
Thanks Todd. Just what I needed to get back into alignment. It will take some time but this will certainly help. My duck foot walking has caused issues with my feet particularly my right one. It’s caused top of foot pain and bunion development from rolling off the side of my foot along with a sore collapsed arch. Thanks again for all your videos.
I am 17, and today I noticed that I am actually duck footed. So I decided to search up TH-cam and found your video. I tried fixing this, but when I sit in the chair my buttocks pain. It seems the pointed bones are in contact with the chair therefore causing pain. How long will it take to correct this habit?
You have to be careful. You do not want to try to force you feet straight. If you are having issues, you may want to see a doctor. You can study my walking technique that I describe in my other videos. This is based on how to use your core properly. If your bones are not deviated, using the core should help your feet get into position naturally.
I was glad when I found your video thinking that I will find an answer for my problems but I’m even more confused now: I walk with the right foot externally rotated since I was a toddler, my parents tried to correct me but I was never able to do it, as soon as I forget to actively point my foot forward it automatically goes external. Now what is weird is that I don’t have the walking pattern that you describe in peoples who walk with their toes externally rotated, i don’t have a flat back, I actually have hyperlordosis, my hands swing while walking and the palms are not turned to the back. I never wore flip flops as a child and very rarely as an adult. I have an impingement at the hip rotator muscles on the right side that I can’t seem to correct no matter how much I stretch them and I actually stopped stretching them because every time I get a flare up of lower back pain and și joint pain on the same side. I am very confused now and if you could point me to another video of yours that might explain this I would be grateful, or maybe some literature on this subject. My fiziotherapist is clueless and she wasn’t able to help me at all.
There are different issues that lead to duck fee, although the anterior pelvic tilt with arched back is less common. You may want to begin working on your posture because it may relate to why your foot is turning out. Top 5 Posture Tips That Will Also Help Your Walking Technique with Todd Martin MD th-cam.com/video/p4MitwbsXmc/w-d-xo.html
1) i have duck feet but i dont have flat foot but ive had issue of planteer fisciitis 2) how should i do my squats then coz doing them with my foot pointing straight is IMPOSSIBLE 3) whenever i walk for a longer time,i have extreme pain in my shin bone and sometimes my heel. HAVE TALKED TO OVER SEVEN DOCTORS IN MY CITY AND NOBODY HAS AN IDEA WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON (crying emoji) plss help me
You have to be careful with squats because it is easy to injure yourself. You should not try to force the feet forward when doing a squat. It sounds like the duck feet are causing issues with your walking, so it would be worth trying to fix. I think the best approach is to work through the many videos on walking mechanics that I have on the channel. Try to practice the techniques because over time this should gradually help your corer muscles connect with your leg muscles in a way that they begin to move in better alignment.
As a teen I made myself walk this way (duck feet) to avoid Knee Valgus/knees rubbing together to avoid being made fun of. It did cause foot, back, and leg pains over time! Sciatica city! Now stretching and exercise alleviates most pain. But long walks cause foot and lower back pain. Can proper training or shoes correct this too? Great video! Thanks
@@PlunderRoad If you had to walk duck-footed to prevent the knee valgus, you could have external tibial torsion. If that is the case, I am not sure it is fixable with exercises. There are surgeries, but I am not sure how often that is done.
After this and other videos I've bought thicker resistance bands and with other exercise and stretching too. It's already begun correcting. I guess if it's not a severe case strangling and stretching outer thighs, hips and other core muscles pull the knees apart and hips forward. :-) @@ToddMartinMD
I tried walking normally and the front part of my foot is restricting my pace which is opposite to what you have just said and the outer part of my Achilles feels very uncomfortable while walking normally. My thighs are rubbing against each other with more intensity. This "keeping your foot straight" feels more bad than good. I had normal feet when I was 14 and my PE teacher forced me to keep my feet outward during marching practice and I'm used to it now. I'm 20 years old, used to duck feet for 6 years now.
If your pace is restricted, it means you are not moving with the correct pattern. I didn't say that changing would be easy. It is not just changing the foot position. It means changing the entire pattern of your core movement. Doing that takes significant practice and possibly retraining of your connective tissues.
@@hmm7808 I'm not a doc but what you're saying makes sense. IME it takes time to feel right after years of doing it wrong. You probably have tight muscles opposing your efforts, too. I'm so glad you found this info earlier in your life than i did! You have time to retrain yourself. It will be well worth it when you are my age lol :)
I think the best way is practice, like you are learning a dance. I have plenty of video content to help guide you. Problems are generally from using the wrong pattern of movement and not from having a problem with the muscles.
@@dwaynejohnson4048 I would start with this video. th-cam.com/video/ZoLwvQOK5CA/w-d-xo.html. It is more an issue of coordination than strength. If you are talking about strengthening exercises you want to try, planks and bridges would do the trick.
Exactly i once got so mad i attacked a man that walked like a duck but he could fight so i ended up in the hospital and unfortunately i fell when he beat my ass and it fucked with my leg and they cant do anything so now i walk like a duck too..
@@ToddMartinMD the duck foot is extreme though to the extent where my right foot is visibly at a right angle to my left foot when I have my heels together. It used to be unnoticeable unless you paid a lot of attention but over the last couple of years it's just gotten out of hand to the point people are pointing it out to me
@@ingavarh Wow. If it is really at a full 90 degree angle, That indicates some major issue going on that probably can't be fixed with some simple exercises. If it is causing issues, I think it would be a good idea to see a doctor and or physical therapist to get to the bottom of the issue.
@@ToddMartinMD but it it isnt causing immediate pain what damage could it be causing in the long term. I have been walking like this for a good few years now and would like to know a decent estimate of the damage I've let happen by not going to a healthcare professional about it
The first ever video about the side effects of 🦆 foot 🦶 walking. Highly appreciate your efforts in detailed and Anatomical explanation
My pleasure.
excellent, especially the note on the shoulders position. small detail but extremely important
Thanks Luca
I always thought this was "just a thing" but I've been seen a deep tissue masseuse whose teaching me all types of things about my body and how they're results of things like this. Thanks for the help
My pleasure
When i broke my ankle in college and wore a boot to walk my foot angled outwards to compensate. It was the first thing my physical therapist corrected when they saw it. I always notice when peoples feet point outwards cause they said it causes hip and knee issues. Great video
Thanks. And I am glad to hear you had a therapist that noticed it and helped correct it.
The same thing happened to me when I broke my leg but no one noticed. Its been 10 years now and my mum only just pointed it out to me.
I know a little something about anatomy (because I'm interested in athletics and human origins! -- lumbar lordosis an important feature!), and this video is an excellent explanation: clear, thorough, and it really emphasizes how everything in your body (and mind) is RELATED. The barefoot demonstrations are really effective, too : )
Thank you so much.
I had the exact oppoiste when i was a toddler. I walked pidgeon footed but i corrected it wearing a foot brace instead of shoes and i would do foot strengthening exercises like picking up jacks with my toes and walking on the sand at the beach often.
Both in-toeing and out-toeing are very common in toddlers. Most grow out of it eventually.
I have this issue and been focusing on keeping my feet straight hopefully I can walk right again
You can do it. Awareness is the first step.
I’ve been walking like this for years. Never really thought it was a problem. Unit I met my wife she would always say something. Great video
My pleasure. Glad you liked it.
Great insight, so many people are losing the ability to just walk normally. I see it all the time. Thanks for explaining the palm shoulder relationship. I never could work out why people that walk slow also have their palms back.
My pleasure.
Must of been what the kids in elementary school meant when they said I walked weird, I think I still do it, It feels more normal for standing, this video just makes me feel like I have a lot more problems that haven’t been diagnosed
If its the way you have been standing and walking since you were a kid, it will feel normal because your muscles and tissues have adapted to the position.
My flat feet disappeared once my duck feet was corrected. Luckily for me it required conscious effort and not much stretching and PT work. I do have slight toe out while walking still though but I think that's because of my femoral retroversion. I think that should be taken into account. Walking with middle of foot completely straight forward is uncomfortable to me. I have to toe out when doing weighted squats too because my feet eventually twist slightly out if I force it forward.
I'm glad to hear you were able to correct it. I am interested to hear what made you figure out it was a problem.
@@ToddMartinMD i put a lot of effort in correcting my posture a couple years ago. Also your videos helped me realize the significance of my bad walking habits.
this is by far the best video about duck feet, thank you very much!!
You're very welcome!
I noticed I have duck foot on my left and straight on the right. I used to think I have leg length discrepancy on my left, and I use a fabric thin heel insert which seems to work for height adjustment but it doesn't correct the duck foot and the entire improper grounding of the left heel, which leads to balance issues. (The insert partially improves heel grounding because I can feel the great difference it makes than without. That means the rest of balance issues are caused by the duck foot outer rotation) . I instinctively switched to walking on the outer edges of my feet (to relieve my knees) and it seems to correct the duck foot right away as well as the imbalance and alignment of the spine. You are so correct - feet pointing forward is for quick walk and feet pointing outwards is for a slow leisurely pace. I also have to add that the major part of walking comfortably is psychological if you had no physical issues or injuries in the past. Maintenance and consistency is a struggle (because the brain needs rewiring to unlearn old habits). I would love to hear your thoughts.
My knees bend inwards when I force my feet to be straight. I've been aware of my duck feet for a while now I think I've been doing it for at least six years and since I'm fourteen I've been growing with duck feet so I think it has messed up my knees. When i take my foot off the ground and straighten it the inward side of my foot gets raised a lot compared to the outer side(I don't know if thats helpfull info but I'll take all the help I can get).
I would not try to force your feet straight. You may want to get it checked out by your doctor if you are young because there may be things you can do. You also want to see it it is a structural twist in the tibia vs a walking pattern.
You are SO good at explaining, sir. I’m 60 year old woman. I’ve always walked duckfooted, left one worse than right, since birth. I just had total hip replacement, right, and I’m so upset seeing myself on security camera. It seems the hip surgery has corrected my right foot to stay forward(!!!) but my left one looks even worse. Like I’m dragging it almost. When I try to pull it forward, it wears me out…. Feels like I’m walking that foot pigeon toed( but not) . I’m going to religiously wear my orthotics after seeing the video ( and my video) and I’m going to try putting a knee support on to help me as I try to improve that left foot. It’s so severe that I just feel worn out and every joint muscle I own gets jacked up trying to make it right. It makes me sad.
Very helpful…. Is duck feet walking related to anterior pelvic tilt? Thank you!!
No. There isn’t a connection. People usually have a neutral pelvis with this.
I'm naturally duck footed. When my knees are pointing straight forward, my feet are at 10 and 2 o clock. When I try walking normally, my knees are moving inward. Is there anything to be done about this? Been born with it, as well as my dad. One leg is slightly shorter than the other as well.
That could indicate you have external tibial torsion, where your lower leg is rotated out relative to the femur. If that is the case, there may not be anything practical you can do about it. But, check to see if this is true when your legs are dangling, not with your weight on them, because your body positioning could distort things.
absolutely the best explanation of the etiology of duck feet, and its consequences.... I all starts in the head, as a bad habit, I love it. Habits, aka laziness. In this case not actiivating the lower leg, clve muscles, tibialis, foot muscles, but simply letting the leg somehow swing forward...
Yet, i would add that the bad habits start with an overall disconnection of mind and muscles, losing the sense for balance. without the capacity to want balance, you lose it and all the muscles around the hips and down the leg. nex setp then is to widen the gait, to increase lateral distance between feet, supported by or triggering duck feet walking.
For me, the main exercise would be to walk on a line ... feet before feet ... with stable hips. The second exercise would be the crane stance from kung fu, tai qi or whatsoever :)
Thanks. I think Tai chi and other exercises can be very helpful. Anything that brings more body awareness can help.I think the issue is more lack of awareness than laziness.
Only my right foot does this. If I stand or try to walk with my feet pointing straight, my right knee points inward quite a lot. What should I do to correct this on my right foot/leg only?
I would practice standing with very good posture with the feet forward, not walking at first. I would practice glute bridges and planks with your feet aligned to get your core working correctly.
Weird, I been watching few videos on the subject. Most say that duck walking is caused / results / is helped by anterior pelvic tilt (and causes low back pains ontop of duck feet). But you seem to say that duck feet and posterior pelvic tilt go hand in hand.. At least in my case I know I have anterior pelic tilt with lower back pains and duck foot walking. I also have very very poor internal rotation which is making the problem worse.
But as I'm testing duck walking with anterior / posterior pelvic tilt I feel like they are totally 2 different walks. Both have the same position, but with posterior you're kinda casually walking like a cowboy in a western, but with anterior pelvic tilt you're can walk normally/fast but feels more like dragging yourself forward instead of pushing off.
I think the primary problem with people that leads to duck feet is that the are powering the swing through of the step with their swing leg instead of their standing leg. Most people I see with this don’t have an anterior pelvic tilt, and have the more lazy appearing walk. Most people with an anterior tilt and excessive lordosis have more of a driving, pushing, type of walk which is powered by the standing leg, but in the wrong way.
So, I already tried to fix this, however, I feel pain into my bones and column, I can't even crouch you know? Can you help me?
If you are having pain, then I would have to suggest going to see a doctor or getting a referral to a physical therapist so you can get individually assessed.
Thank you. Now at 43 I can start to walk properly.
Btw I like your gangsta duck walk 😉
My pleasure
I have a severe duck/flat feet I was born with it and didn’t get treatment unfortunately, and now I am 20 years old and can’t walk or even stand too long, like even the shower is something really hard for me and I went to a doctor last year he gave me a custom shoes for my feet but it didn’t work it’s been a year since I started wearing them and nothing happened like even the pain is getting worse, I am writing this because I desperately need help like if you have any advice or anything to do at least reduces pain a little bit so I can live my life
I am so sorry to hear your situation. I would start by checking if your feet are lined up with your knees and thigh, so whether or not you have tibial torsion. If you do, that is a bigger issue. I would check out the Best Exercise for Balance and Walking that I just posted. If you can do that exercise then there is hope to fix it.
❤hello dr Todd ive noticed when i stand up to attention or turn to the side i land in a duck foot position but when i walk normal like a long walk on the street no duck walk. But i notice every time i stand over my sink to wash dishes i have duck foot
I would practice placing one foot forward of your body, placed on the heel, with the foot facing directly forward. Then rise up to a standing position on that leg, place the other foot directly next to it and center your weight over both feet, facing forward. Practice getting used to that posture.
I have the oposite i have duck feet and suprinated stance, do you have any advice to begin fixing myself?
The technique I teach for correct walking can be applied to anyone, so O would start watching the videos and practicing.
I had one duck foot and one straight. This caused so many problems. These were knee foot misalignment, whole body rotated to one side. After 3 months of walking straight there is a big difference!
That is great to hear.
OMG - I am right there with you. But I am not walking straight yet. I have walked with one foot, my left foot very duck footed and over the last 15 to 20 years of walking this way, it has caused problems with the entire kinetic chain from my left foot all the way up to my mid back on the left side. Bad sciatica down my left leg and ankle, stiffness and tightness, etc., did you have the same sort of problems and how did you finally start walking with a straight foot? What did you do to get that foot and leg to go straight? Would love to hear if you have time. Thank you very much.
@@jonathanwilliams4149 force the ducked foot to walk straight, and correct its arch if needed with some support. Then try foot balance exercises. Then correct your entire posture and spine alignment .
@@jonathanwilliams4149walk straight, fix foot arches, do foot balance exercises. Fix your entire posture alignment, and finally correct your spine alignment.
The most important Anatomical analysis of the mechanics of normal stance of walking 🚶♀️
Thank you for the comment.
Hello Doctor. I coach my son's soccer team, and I noticed one of the kids was running really slow. After looking at his running, I noticed he was what I know now is duck foot walking. Having had my own aches and pains throughout the years, I'd like to help out anyone else before things get out of hand. Is this something you would say I need to mention to his parents to get looked at with their doctor?
For kids, I would recommend the parents have a pediatrician evaluate and possible physical therapist. It can lead to health issues for one, but also performance issues in athletics.
@ToddMartinMD thanks for the reply. I'll definitely mention it to the parents. I am hoping that with him only being 9 years old hopefully it will be an easier fix and not as much damage has been done
I had spine surgery in 2001 and was in a back brace for 6 months. No one showed me how to walk with it on. After it came off, I went through rehab for another 6 months which extended out to one year because progress was so slow. I think that's when I had started to duck walk and might be one reason for the slow progress. I was shown how to do a lot of things but not walking. I had to do rehab over again 2 years later and it was another year of rehab. I know I duck walk because I used to look at my tracks in the snow and think how funny it looked. I had no idea it was a serious problem. I don't think I have the abdominal strength to do this. I have a Total Gym. What exercise could help be build the muscles I need to make this correction work for me? Thank you!
I believe practicing the correct movement patterns is more important than individual strengthening exercise. I don't believe the issue primarily comes from weakness. It it was, actors like Idris Elba and Jason Statham, both known for their fitness, wouldn't be walking with duck feet.
@@ToddMartinMD thank you for the reply. I will work on those movement exercises.
@NedkaRokonokova I hope you have success.
Near everyone I see has duck feet. For a long time I thought it was the normal alignment of the feet and tried to 'correct' my already correctly aligned legs into being duck-footed 🤦
You are right. Sometimes when I am trying to get footage of people walking with duck feet vs normal walking, I can’t find anyone to film with a normal gait.
I love your videos-especially on proper walking form, slopes and stairs! They really alleviate a lot of the confusion out there and I’ve been sharing links to your videos! THANK YOU!!! I am a very active long distance backpacker, hiking 5-20 miles on any given day (with future thru hikes on the horizon). The hiking & backpacking community would really like to know more about proper form and weight distribution when it comes to climbing up and down hills & mountains (gradient slopes to full fledge climbs) while balancing a full 5 day supply backpack (mine is a pretty efficient 28 lbs). Many of us spend tons of time (and $$$) researching proper footwear, but need help when it comes to actual foot placement AND toe placement (Relax the toes? Grip the floor? Flex them upwards? What’s the answer? Toe injuries are rampant…). When should backpackers stand vertical? When should we lean forward to balance are packs? We are out there, every day, just sort of trusting our instincts about what “feels right,” but as you know, that doesn’t mean we are doing what’s best for our bodies! Can you post any videos that might help us?
Try this for a start. th-cam.com/video/iXZ7Jzhi-qk/w-d-xo.html. I didn't do any follow up because there wasn't much viewership interest, but if that changes I could certainly follow up.
@@ToddMartinMD Thank you! A great start! I copied the link and shared with other hikers. Especially interested in remaining vertical on uphill climbs because I think we all tend to lean into the ascent… Uht oh! If you ever wanted to do a video just on steep uphill/downhill climbs for backpacking with more detail about feet and toe placement (don’t forget those toes), the backpackers would definitely love it and I could do a bunch of shares to groups I’m in. Thank you!!!
lol most of the vid was on how to do the duck walk
If you don’t understand what is happening you can’t fix it. Try one of my videos of FIXING the duck walk
This was a really good video😃
Thanks
My mum used to duck walk .From a young age I made sure my feet were staright forward ..I used to call it 10 to 2 feet.Of course awareness but people are not aware .So they will continue to waddle .LOL .Love the video and proves what I thought about people walking like this is not just me being critical but an observation of life.Could never go out with a guy that walked liked that I would be miles ahead mainly because of feeling
So few people ever think about it. Very cool that you recognized the issue on your own.
Great video,Todd! Thanks so much!
Thank you, Jamie. I am glad you liked it.
always had knee pain one day my friend pointed out that i walked odd and i looked it up and it was duck feet and fixed it by fixing my ankle mobility, stretching my calves, stretching my glutes and strengthening my abductors
Great work for taking action
I try to walk normal but when I try standing straight.. the lower leg tib fib area bellow the knee still point outwards they look broken 😂😂😂😂. My legs are shaped insanely weird. I have big quads but bellow the knee they are so skinny so out of proportion to my body
If the tibia is rotated out relative to the femur, that is a tough problem. I don't know if that is fixable.
I think of ballet dancers and dancers in general doing this.
And guys that wanna look bigger than they are. Puffed out chest, slow duck foot walk for the macho look.
Ballet dancers are the worst because they are always working on their "turnout". So it destroys their bodies in the long run.
I only noticed I had problems with my walk when walking in heels became unbearable (very recently at 26 yrs old). Someone pointed out I have duck feet, and that’s why it’s painful to walk in heels. I had never even noticed I did it. I love that you mentioned the heels in the video! So I’m guessing when you have heels on you cannot walk with duck feet, making it painful to use the muscles that you are actually supposed to be using all the time. I am trying to correct it now, I wish I would’ve known sooner in life. Thank you for sharing such great information! I was looking for a more detailed explanation and you definitely nailed it!
Glad you liked it. I definitely think it would be really difficult walking duck footed in heels. Heel create other problems, like anterior pelvic tilt.
Why are basically all Asian, African, Indian and South American cultures walking with some degree of outoeing.
As I say in my other videos, anyone walking in flip flops is going to end up duck footed. Those continents have large percentages of people who where flip flops as their regular footwear. Although I think you are overstating it that all of them are out-toeing. But it is probably a lot.
How to fix it bc it feels impossible to walk straight
Also can walking like this cause hip problems bc I have a tear in my hip and it hurts to walk and it hurts even more when I try to fix the walk to walk straight
Yes, I believe it can cause problems. The first step is understanding what is causing it and then the proper technique to correct it. If you are trying to fix it, using the technique I describe in most of my videos should help, unless you have a fixed deformity turning the feet out.
Thank you 🙏
Great video but I personally play tennis. The split step may have caused a habit of this. Many pros split step in a duck position but it’s out wide.
There are just so many people that do this, and many are athletes or very fit actors .I was just watching Fast and Furious X, and there is some serious duck-footedness going on in that movie.
Does culturally barefoot indigenous people duck foot walk? Probably their walking must be the closest to a natural and healthy way of walking.
It is hard to find video of this. They do heel strike. One of the challenges judging this is that people who walk in flip flops almost invariably duck foot walk, and many very poor cultures live in flip flop flops.
I was born with duck feet. My feet are almost perfectly flat - I have no arch. Is there anything that can done in my situation?
If you have been walking that your whole life, I imagine the bones have conformed to that type of position, so it would be difficult. You should not try to force your feet straight. You can practice the movement exercises I provide and see if it has any effect on the foot position, but you do not want to force your feet to do something the core isn't telling them to do naturally.
is it also common for ppl with duck feet to have knee hyperextension?
Not so much, unless they also have an anterior pelvic tilt. The anterior tilt is associated with knee hyperextension.
Can walking/standing this way contribute to peroneal Issues and pain? Also, how do you allign feet for sports (ex. golf). Thank you!
Yes, it can be related to peroneal pain. I would focus first on making sure your feet are aligned when walking, but your shouldn't force it. The position of your feet should be determined by how your core moves. You should not try to force the placement of your feet. Likewise, if you are doing sports, the feet will be placed correctly if you are using the correct technique. This varies by sport so having coaching in the individual sport is recommended.
Steven Seagal is also duck footed like Elba and Cruise.
There are a ton of male actors that are duck footed. I have pointed that out in other videos. Jason Stathem is another actor that is seriously duck footed. This is one of the reasons I believe health articles blaming sedentary lifestyle and muscle weakness for duck feet are very wrong.
@@ToddMartinMD it's the same issue with being pigeon footed like Keanu Reeves etc.
The most noticeable duck footed actress is Nicole Kidman like her ex husband Tom Cruise who is also duck footed. That's Hollywood.
@@agxec2932 I checked out a few videos. She manages to straighten the feet position out when walking in heels during the Balenciaga show, but walks duck footed in flats.
@@ToddMartinMD she's duck footed. No doubt about it.
Have you done a video on pigeon footed?
Many soccer, cricket, badminton, and tennis athletes are duck footed. Whereas many track and field and swimming athletes are often not.
Do people think you're a weirdo with a foot fetish when recording random feet 😄
I try to be a little sly about it. I don't walk behind people for any long period of time and I use a gimbal so I don't have the camera up to my face, so it just looks like I am walking normally.
Very helpful. Thank you
My pleasure
Since birth I have had duck foot problems, I was told I have flat feet and as a result i walk on a bone in the middle of my foot, doctors told me growing up they had no idea how i could walk with the issues my feet have. My parents before this would get mad cause i would always complain about foot pain after 10 mins of walking. Doctors were able to take my feet and twist them 180 degrees, with no pain, I can to this day twist my leg like this. I've been told I'm most likely gonna need a wheel chair later in life, if i don't get reconstruction on both legs. All my life i have had this issue, doctors tried to give me braces to help, as a kid i couldn't bear to wear them, so I didn't. I wish I did, because they gave me braces a few years ago and I could barely go up stairs. I have grown accustomed to this style of walking due to the 23 years I have been doing this. Like you said in the video, it is extremely hard to walk with the legs forward as it feels like my knees are inward and towards the other. Thanks for making a informative video like this, its weird hearing that alot of people walk like this because i have been self conscious about this my whole life. I am still to this day considering reconstruction of my legs but the prospect scares me. Thanks for the video, it really is accurate to the things i experience as a result. Remember people if this is a result of habit and not congenital like mine, please try to correct it, it is no fun having these issues. have a great day
Thanks for your comment. Your case is on the extreme side and I wish you the best. Your last statement is very important, that people who are doing this out of habit should really try and correct it as soon as possible.
I was fortunate to have a track coach in 9th grade who noticed that I ran with my right foot toed-out. He drew a line in the sand at the end of my right toe, then had me turn my foot forward and marked it again. I was easily losing an inch or more in every stride. And being 14, I also didn't want to run or walk "funny"! lol This helped to shape how I would walk going forward and probably saved me a lot of pain in my younger years. However...years of high heels, followed by years of carrying babies and toddlers, followed by years of being hunched over at a computer all day took their toll in other ways...and by the age of 50 I felt like I was 90. I've spent the last six years working through various issues (and I now feel more like 40!) and now I've circled back to walking. I've somehow stopped engaging my glutes, so your videos are helping me re-learn what to do with 'em! Thank you Dr. Todd...I am a subscriber now and look forward to learning more!
I’m happy you found the channel. It would be great if we all had coaches somewhere along the way that could point out little things in our gait and posture that are much easier to correct when we are young and our bone structures are still more pliable. It sounds like you have been able to make some food improvements lately. I hope my videos can assist you further.
I'm 29f and my hips, knees and ankles pop and it feels like they're not where they should be. I just realized I've been walking wrong my entire life. It feels like my knees are turned inward but everything is straight now?! I have a pelvis tilt too and no core stability so this is almost life changing stuff lol
You probably are not using your lower abs correctly. Your lower abs would be working to keep your pelvis in a neutral tilt and at the same time winding your knees out so they aren’t turned inward.
This man just casually filming peoples feet in public 😂
no, not people, corpses. the face is an elementary part of a people person
I had this problem for about 2-3 years now, following the steps in your video, how long would you say this would take for me to walk normally again?
It all depends. Some people can change it quickly just by being more aware and a little practice. Assuming you are otherwise in decent shape and don't have actual bone deformity, it can take a few months of practice. Its hard to say for each individual. Some people can pick up a new dance very quickly. Others never can. This is similar. But awareness is the first step.
@@ToddMartinMD alright
When I try to walk duck footed it feels uncomfortable I suppose this is a good thing lol. I wear a lot of boots, seems to make you walk straighter
True. It isn't really possible to duck-foot if there is a heel on the shoe, which most boots have. This is why you never see women in heels walking with duck-feet.
Super!! Very well done. My husband has these issues in spades... ankle now collapsing. Hope theses exercises are not too late for him. Thank you!
I hope they help. There is a point where structural damage can make it hard to correct.
Thank you for the information, someone mentioned I ran a bit weird so I started doing research; the origin of my habit was when I was learning to walk, my head threw off my horizontal balance.
Interesting!
Also, it seems like duck feet walking would lead to tailor bunions? Does overpronation lead to duck foot walking or does duck foot walking lead to over pronation (are these issues related either way?) thank you so much for your expertise!!
Absolutely will contribute to bunions. I think it causes over probation rather than the probation causing the duck feet. Although it can by a cycle where once you start duck feet, the pronation can the make it worse
Thank you so much!!!
Thanks Todd. Just what I needed to get back into alignment. It will take some time but this will certainly help. My duck foot walking has caused issues with my feet particularly my right one. It’s caused top of foot pain and bunion development from rolling off the side of my foot along with a sore collapsed arch. Thanks again for all your videos.
My pleasure, Joe. I'm sure you can do it.
I thought that the cause is lack of ankle rocker and/or lack of hip internal rotation.
Most people who duck foot have perfectly fine muscle function and hip rotation. They are just moving with the wrong pattern.
I am 17, and today I noticed that I am actually duck footed. So I decided to search up TH-cam and found your video. I tried fixing this, but when I sit in the chair my buttocks pain. It seems the pointed bones are in contact with the chair therefore causing pain. How long will it take to correct this habit?
You have to be careful. You do not want to try to force you feet straight. If you are having issues, you may want to see a doctor. You can study my walking technique that I describe in my other videos. This is based on how to use your core properly. If your bones are not deviated, using the core should help your feet get into position naturally.
@@ToddMartinMD thank you.
Are the tuck and the lift on the same side of the body? Thanks for the video!
Yes, the tuck and lift are on the same side, the standing leg side.
TySM
My pleasure
I was glad when I found your video thinking that I will find an answer for my problems but I’m even more confused now: I walk with the right foot externally rotated since I was a toddler, my parents tried to correct me but I was never able to do it, as soon as I forget to actively point my foot forward it automatically goes external. Now what is weird is that I don’t have the walking pattern that you describe in peoples who walk with their toes externally rotated, i don’t have a flat back, I actually have hyperlordosis, my hands swing while walking and the palms are not turned to the back. I never wore flip flops as a child and very rarely as an adult. I have an impingement at the hip rotator muscles on the right side that I can’t seem to correct no matter how much I stretch them and I actually stopped stretching them because every time I get a flare up of lower back pain and și joint pain on the same side. I am very confused now and if you could point me to another video of yours that might explain this I would be grateful, or maybe some literature on this subject. My fiziotherapist is clueless and she wasn’t able to help me at all.
There are different issues that lead to duck fee, although the anterior pelvic tilt with arched back is less common. You may want to begin working on your posture because it may relate to why your foot is turning out. Top 5 Posture Tips That Will Also Help Your Walking Technique with Todd Martin MD
th-cam.com/video/p4MitwbsXmc/w-d-xo.html
@@ToddMartinMD thank you
@@alinaalexandru9793 You're welcome.
Awesome vid. Thanx a million.
My pleasure.
1) i have duck feet but i dont have flat foot but ive had issue of planteer fisciitis 2) how should i do my squats then coz doing them with my foot pointing straight is IMPOSSIBLE 3) whenever i walk for a longer time,i have extreme pain in my shin bone and sometimes my heel. HAVE TALKED TO OVER SEVEN DOCTORS IN MY CITY AND NOBODY HAS AN IDEA WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON (crying emoji) plss help me
You have to be careful with squats because it is easy to injure yourself. You should not try to force the feet forward when doing a squat. It sounds like the duck feet are causing issues with your walking, so it would be worth trying to fix. I think the best approach is to work through the many videos on walking mechanics that I have on the channel. Try to practice the techniques because over time this should gradually help your corer muscles connect with your leg muscles in a way that they begin to move in better alignment.
As a teen I made myself walk this way (duck feet) to avoid Knee Valgus/knees rubbing together to avoid being made fun of. It did cause foot, back, and leg pains over time! Sciatica city! Now stretching and exercise alleviates most pain. But long walks cause foot and lower back pain. Can proper training or shoes correct this too? Great video! Thanks
@@PlunderRoad If you had to walk duck-footed to prevent the knee valgus, you could have external tibial torsion. If that is the case, I am not sure it is fixable with exercises. There are surgeries, but I am not sure how often that is done.
@@ToddMartinMD Thank you for the response Dr! I’m using these tips and others to work on it.
After this and other videos I've bought thicker resistance bands and with other exercise and stretching too. It's already begun correcting. I guess if it's not a severe case strangling and stretching outer thighs, hips and other core muscles pull the knees apart and hips forward. :-) @@ToddMartinMD
I tried walking normally and the front part of my foot is restricting my pace which is opposite to what you have just said and the outer part of my Achilles feels very uncomfortable while walking normally. My thighs are rubbing against each other with more intensity. This "keeping your foot straight" feels more bad than good.
I had normal feet when I was 14 and my PE teacher forced me to keep my feet outward during marching practice and I'm used to it now. I'm 20 years old, used to duck feet for 6 years now.
If your pace is restricted, it means you are not moving with the correct pattern. I didn't say that changing would be easy. It is not just changing the foot position. It means changing the entire pattern of your core movement. Doing that takes significant practice and possibly retraining of your connective tissues.
@@ToddMartinMD 2 week update: kinda getting used to it, outside part of the knees are starting to hurt
@@hmm7808 I'm not a doc but what you're saying makes sense. IME it takes time to feel right after years of doing it wrong. You probably have tight muscles opposing your efforts, too. I'm so glad you found this info earlier in your life than i did! You have time to retrain yourself. It will be well worth it when you are my age lol :)
Very useful information. Thank you.
So nice of you. Thanks
Great video. This will help me
Glad it helped
Great video. Thank you!
Glad you liked it. Thanks
Interesting. Thank you
You're welcome
Great explanation, thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Todd Martin, how can I master walking? I have bad posture it's for me to stand straight, I don't know if it's because of my abs
I think the best way is practice, like you are learning a dance. I have plenty of video content to help guide you. Problems are generally from using the wrong pattern of movement and not from having a problem with the muscles.
@@ToddMartinMD brother, which videos do you suggest?
@@kingmasudwazzirie8992 I suggest starting here and following the playlist. th-cam.com/video/Vlr6Ga5UVdw/w-d-xo.html
What 3 exercises can I do to strengthen the turn, tuck, lift sequence?
@@dwaynejohnson4048 I would start with this video. th-cam.com/video/ZoLwvQOK5CA/w-d-xo.html. It is more an issue of coordination than strength. If you are talking about strengthening exercises you want to try, planks and bridges would do the trick.
Todd is there a way I can send a video of me walking for you to evaluate it? Thanks
You can find my email in the comments section. I do charge for video analysis.
@@ToddMartinMD How much?
@@mindsetmotivation9124 Send me an email
Did you send me an email? I thought I saw a notification come through on my phone but then didn't see any email.
I never knew what it was called, this is how I walk and I waddle like a penguin with my duck foot
It is very common.
I hate when people walk with duck feet, it looks so awkward.
At least here in California it is incredibly common. As a physician who treats people with all the conditions it causes, it drives me nuts to see it.
Exactly i once got so mad i attacked a man that walked like a duck but he could fight so i ended up in the hospital and unfortunately i fell when he beat my ass and it fucked with my leg and they cant do anything so now i walk like a duck too..
@@Nasdaqslaktarn 😂😂😂😂
If only I knew this 40 years ago……is it too late?😢
Im assuming more Americans duck walk than anyone else!
No. A high percentage of people who live in the islands or hot climates where flip flops are the norm end up walking with duck feet by my observation.
I literally just walk with my right foot pointed to the right this isnt my problem please help
Are you saying that you are duck footed with your right foot, but your left foot faces forward?
@@ToddMartinMD yes
@@ToddMartinMD the duck foot is extreme though to the extent where my right foot is visibly at a right angle to my left foot when I have my heels together. It used to be unnoticeable unless you paid a lot of attention but over the last couple of years it's just gotten out of hand to the point people are pointing it out to me
@@ingavarh Wow. If it is really at a full 90 degree angle, That indicates some major issue going on that probably can't be fixed with some simple exercises. If it is causing issues, I think it would be a good idea to see a doctor and or physical therapist to get to the bottom of the issue.
@@ToddMartinMD but it it isnt causing immediate pain what damage could it be causing in the long term. I have been walking like this for a good few years now and would like to know a decent estimate of the damage I've let happen by not going to a healthcare professional about it