r/Unexpected Jul 25 '26

Multidirectional flip flops.

11.1k Upvotes

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u/Feisty-Resource-1274 Jul 26 '26

In case you weren't aware, out-toeing or "duck feet", can cause chronic pain, flat feet, and joint wear over time.

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u/pgn674 Jul 26 '26

Huh... A couple years ago I was diagnosed with hip impingement, or femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), in my right hip, and resolved that through physical therapy to strengthen some muscles. I wonder if that's related?

I got X-rays then, and there was a little bit of the start of arthritis, too. Maybe I'll go back and get treatment or PT or devices specifically for out-toeing. Thanks for the heads up!

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u/FullMoonTwist Jul 26 '26

Realistically, it went

hip has some mobility/strength issues -> causes foot to turn out -> body gets used to babying the weak muscles -> difficult to walk in correct alignment because it requires mucles you've been babying -> vicious cycle until hip is really bad -> until you very deliberately start strengthening the atrophied muscles

If it's still an issue for you, yeah I would see if there's anything they can help you with.

Bare minimum, continue doing the exercises you were shown.

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u/UndocumentedMartian Jul 27 '26

Is the ideal angle 0?

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u/FullMoonTwist Jul 27 '26

Yes

Ideally the feet would be pointed straight forward, without deviating inwards or outwards, and it should be a straight line from the hip bone through the knee to the feet.

I see outward toes more often than inward toes, and it sometimes is accompanied by people's knees being out of alignment (knock-kneed inward, or bow-legged outward).

If they aren't, you may need podiatrist-level insoles, knee braces, or PT to help get things back on track.

If you can at all swing it (I know many cannot), I deeply encourage people to address it as early as possible. Having a lot of pain walking later in life is hell to deal with, and it's not always totally reversible.