School concerned - 8 year old ds walks with feet turned in and doesn't bend knees when landing from a jump

[Wallace]

Ds1's teacher pulled me aside for a chat today to mention to me that they had noticed that when ds jumps he doesn't bend his knees when he lands and is very "heavy footed" She asked if I had noticed - I hadn't - but I had noticed that his feet, especially his left, turn in when walking, and he wears down the inside sole of his shoes. They teacher said they had also noticed this, and that the PE teacher has been monitoring him.

They have suggested I take him to the GP. I have always just thought he isn't the most co-ordinated of boys, and he will grow out of it. Do the school know something I don't?

bump

Definitely go to the GP. But, I'm baffled. How does one land from a jump and not bend the knees? Ouch.

I know... Usually when ds jumps he lands like all 8 year old boys do

A stuntman roll across the muddiest bit of ground available

ds has had problems with activities such as jumping and running . He does have motor skill issues , fine and gross, and is under the Occupational Therapy dept which has helped. He is also hyperflexible in his arms which makes swimming amnd writing difficult for example. Maybe your ds has a similar issue with his lower joints for which he could have therapy. Try not to worry too much(easily said I know) , he has got thus far ok and better to have any issue identified or discounted sooner than later.

Thanks. You are right of course.

Of course I googled it, never a good idea

Will make GP appointment tomorrow.

Wow! good PE teacher to notice something like this and be keeping an eye on it.

dd2 has problems with her feet like the ones you describe where they roll in. We saw a podiatrist who noticed that she has something called "Auxilliary bones "in her feet which destabalise the muscles in the feet. (she was actually having pains in her ankles) She had some special inserts for her shoes made, which helps to support her feet and the extra bones should fuse with others in her feet when she is older. Might be something like this. Odd but nothing serious. Worth a visit to the gp though.

according to our GP inturned gait is quite common and usually corrects itself at age 7 (more common in boys).

our dd (now 4.5) walked with a severe inturn gait and we got referral to podiatry via our HV about 2yrs ago - DD kept falling over but Gp wouldn't refer because of above.

we are in same boat as smartie - insoles and 6mth apts to see podiatrist. Our last appointment though ended up with a referral to neurology - podiatrist thought dd's gait was a bit more "odd" and had't shown any improvement.

Had neuro assessment - passed with flying colours have just had an MRI to make sure (won't hear results for 6wks)- if alls ok neruo consultant going to suggest to GP that a referral to orthopedics is required.

Thanks for all the info.

He doesn't like walking very much, much prefers to ride his bike, but he has never said that it hurts or anything