Adults who experienced childhood Clubfoot/Talipes
Experiencing symptoms of clubfoot as an adult can be overwhelming. Our goal is to offer guidance to help you through your journey and provide support along the way.
On this page you will find:
- What is Clubfoot, and How Can it Affect Me in Adulthood?
- Treatment of Clubfoot in Adulthood
- The experiences of others: Steps Ambassadors
- The experiences of others: Steps Adults
- Support
- Resources
What is Clubfoot, and How Can it Affect Me in Adulthood?
Congenital talipes equinovarus (also known as talipes or clubfoot) is most commonly a condition that a child is born with (congenital), but it can also develop some time after birth. Modern treatments (usually the Ponseti method) work well, with a low risk of recurrence as children grow into adults. However, some adults might notice signs and symptoms coming back in later life.
This means that the relationship to and perspective on the condition they experienced in their childhood may change. This page provides information and stories from:
- adults with clubfoot;
- adults who were surgically treated for clubfoot when they were children;
- and adults who experience symptoms related to clubfoot.
Treatment of Clubfoot in Adulthood
While modern treatment for children with clubfoot focuses mainly on non-surgical treatments (see our children’s clubfoot pages), this has not always been the case. Before the Ponseti method was designed, doctors often did surgery to the bones of the foot to alter their position and treat clubfoot symptoms. As patients reached adulthood, they sometimes found that the feet and sites of the surgeries became painful and stiff, with swelling around the joints (all signs of arthritis).
Studies show that with the Ponseti method, there are fewer surgeries necessary and, where surgery is needed, it is less extensive and shorter.
However, some adults who did not undergo the Ponseti method in childhood still experience arthritic symptoms, like Steps supporter and ambassador Ryan (see below).
The experiences of others: Steps Ambassadors
Ryan
Ryan has been an incredible member of the Steps extended family, raising awareness of both clubfoot and the charity. Ryan was born with bilateral talipes but did not have access to non-surgical treatment when he was a child. This has not stopped him from climbing a mountain or trekking the Jurassic coast.
Listen to Ryan’s story here.
Watch Ryan’s Jurassic coast challenge here
Maggie Alphonsi, MBI
Maggie Alphonsi (Margaret Omotayo Sanni Alphonsi MBE) was born with clubfoot; she has not only been on the World Cup-winning England women’s rugby team but is also known as the face of international women’s rugby.
Click here to read about her experience.
Victoria Baskett
Victoria Baskett is a paralympic sprinter and a social research PhD candidate. She was born with bilateral clubfoot (talipes on both feet), but her mum made sure she never felt different to her friends.
The experiences of others: Steps Adults
Steps created a working group of adults who were treated for clubfoot as children. They came together to share their different experiences, top tips, and all the activities they now enjoy. These resources are designed to support those whose lives are affected by clubfoot, including families, children, and other adults.
Steps is proud to have brought this group together to share their experiences and is grateful to each of them for their support in this project.
Support
The Steps closed Facebook Group for adults is a friendly and safe way of discussing your worries, sharing tips and finding emotional support. Our Family Contact Service identifies someone else who has been through a similar situation and who’s happy to talk about their experiences, on a one-to-one basis, to offer support.
You can reach out to Steps with your questions, concerns and requests via email at info@steps-charity.org.uk or leave a voicemail message on 01925 750271 and one of the team will be in touch.
All our clubfoot links and related resources can be found below
