Breaking a habit

[Haruki-kun]

Back in February I injured my knee. So far the cause of the injury is unknown, other than it was probably a minor running injury. A doctor I went to see this week proposes a theory that had not been mentioned by previous doctors.

Throughout my whole life, I've walked wrong. My feet are pointing outwards and I open my legs way too much. As it turns out, this means that I'm not supporting my weight on my legs the way I'm supposed to. The doctor says this may have deteriorated my joint gradually.

As part of the treatment, the doctor told me to make a conscious effort to walk properly, feet straight and parallel. But this is a lot easier said than done; I've been walking wrong my entire life and now it's even tiring to try to walk properly.

Have you ever had to break a habit of this sort? How did you go about it? How long did it take?

Note: Not asking for medical advice on my knee. That's what doctors are for.

[Bill Murphy]

I walk with my toes pointing out. (Duck feet "V") I tried to walk with my feet pointing directly forward when I was a kid but I started to get pains in my ankles that I never had before. I also noticed that my walk was a little more exagerated in the "V" pattern than most of the kids, but they all seemed to have it to a degree with the exception of one kid that had more of a pigeon toed walk. So I stopped trying.

It will take some time to get used to walking with your toes pointing more forward. Just like learning to sit up straight. After a while you will start to do it without trying. I suggest taking walks around your block where you can practice. Don't try this in a crowded mall or hallway. You might end up falling ito someone.

[LaZodiac]

Back in February I injured my knee. So far the cause of the injury is unknown, other than it was probably a minor running injury. A doctor I went to see this week proposes a theory that had not been mentioned by previous doctors.

Throughout my whole life, I've walked wrong. My feet are pointing outwards and I open my legs way too much. As it turns out, this means that I'm not supporting my weight on my legs the way I'm supposed to. The doctor says this may have deteriorated my joint gradually.

As part of the treatment, the doctor told me to make a conscious effort to walk properly, feet straight and parallel. But this is a lot easier said than done; I've been walking wrong my entire life and now it's even tiring to try to walk properly.

Have you ever had to break a habit of this sort? How did you go about it? How long did it take?

Note: Not asking for medical advice on my knee. That's what doctors are for.

Some advice I can give that might assist. I'm not sure how willing you are to do it, but...wear a skirt/kilt. Preferably a relatively short one. That'll give you a good reason beyond just repairing yourself to walk correctly, as it where.

[MonkeyBusiness]

Sorry to hear about your knee, Haruki. That sounds really painful.

It seems to me that this is more than just a habit. Your whole body is aligned based on the way you have walked your entire life. I imagine it will take more than just pointing your toes in rather than out.

I recall taking ballet classes for the first time in my twenties, and how different my body felt. I also recall my first horseback riding lessons, which improved my balance tremendously. Same with yoga, which I took up the following decade.

My point is, there might be some discipline (dance, martial arts, tai chi, gymnastics ...) that involves balance and posture of the whole body working from your feet up. I realize that, with a knee on the mend, you do need to be careful, but a good teacher will understand that.

I hope that helps.

PS ... La, I love the kilt idea!

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[Aedilred]

Remodelling the way you walk is extremely difficult: it's not impossible, but you almost have to teach yourself to walk again. Most people just don't have the time or patience (or ability) to do this unaided. As suggested above, the best way to do it might be to take up some discipline which forces you to position your feet and carry your weight correctly.

[Starwulf]

Back in February I injured my knee. So far the cause of the injury is unknown, other than it was probably a minor running injury. A doctor I went to see this week proposes a theory that had not been mentioned by previous doctors.

Throughout my whole life, I've walked wrong. My feet are pointing outwards and I open my legs way too much. As it turns out, this means that I'm not supporting my weight on my legs the way I'm supposed to. The doctor says this may have deteriorated my joint gradually.

As part of the treatment, the doctor told me to make a conscious effort to walk properly, feet straight and parallel. But this is a lot easier said than done; I've been walking wrong my entire life and now it's even tiring to try to walk properly.

Have you ever had to break a habit of this sort? How did you go about it? How long did it take?

Note: Not asking for medical advice on my knee. That's what doctors are for.

Just to give your some incentive to fix this: My nephew had a similar problem, but his was he walked on his tippy-toes. The problem got so bad that he eventually required 3 corrective surgeries, and the doctors all said he'd probably never even walk normally again. Thankfully he was very determined to prove them wrong, and ended up becoming quite the athlete in high school. Moral of the story: Fix your bad walking habits, or they can become extremely serious problems.

[Roc Ness]

Just to give your some incentive to fix this: My nephew had a similar problem, but his was he walked on his tippy-toes. The problem got so bad that he eventually required 3 corrective surgeries, and the doctors all said he'd probably never even walk normally again. Thankfully he was very determined to prove them wrong, and ended up becoming quite the athlete in high school. Moral of the story: Fix your bad walking habits, or they can become extremely serious problems.

I have the walking on tiptoes problem, actually, although it never extended to surgery. (It also isn't quite fixed yet.) Having said that, I think concious effort is probably the best method (that and having something that forces you to put in a concious effort, like the kilt). I've been put in no end of corrective casts and shoes by my parents, but I find it helps much more for me to pay attention to how I walk, rather than shoehorning my feet into the right positions and motions.

[Castaras]

I'm another who walks on tiptoe a lot. I don't all the time, and there's nothing wrong with my feet and walking nowadays, despite tiptoeing for 19 years.

[Aedilred]

I used to walk on tiptoes when I was quite young; I trained myself out of that when it was pointed out (I don't remember how old, but pre-ten, I think). Unfortunately I replaced that problem with a roll that puts a lot of weight on the outside of my foot and will probably eventually cause knee problems. I don't notice myself doing it, but it's very visible on the soles of any shoes I have for a while.

I've given up on trying to change it now. If I try to correct it I overcompensate and I'm still not carrying my weight properly. Also as soon as I stop concentrating I just slip back into how I was doing it before.

I've been told I have a "distinctive" walk (and a "funny" walk by someone who was close enough to me to get away with it), although I'm not entirely sure what characteristics make it so.

[noparlpf]

Back in February I injured my knee. So far the cause of the injury is unknown, other than it was probably a minor running injury. A doctor I went to see this week proposes a theory that had not been mentioned by previous doctors.

Throughout my whole life, I've walked wrong. My feet are pointing outwards and I open my legs way too much. As it turns out, this means that I'm not supporting my weight on my legs the way I'm supposed to. The doctor says this may have deteriorated my joint gradually.

As part of the treatment, the doctor told me to make a conscious effort to walk properly, feet straight and parallel. But this is a lot easier said than done; I've been walking wrong my entire life and now it's even tiring to try to walk properly.

Have you ever had to break a habit of this sort? How did you go about it? How long did it take?

Note: Not asking for medical advice on my knee. That's what doctors are for.

My little sister has always walked on her toes, which is seriously messing up the bones and musculature of her legs and feet. My mum and her doctor have been trying to get my sister to walk properly, heel-toe, and from what I've seen of it changing a "habit" like how you walk is very hard, even for a kid who's still developing. (She's eleven.)
Best I can tell you is, if you put a lot of effort into it, hopefully it'll work out. Good luck.

[Rawhide]

I will do what I can to help through song.

[Emmerask]

Aren´t there any insoles (hope this is the right word here^^) or special medical shoes against this?

I had to use insoles as a child because my left foot was kind of making a circle when going forward, the doctor at that time told my mom that this could damage my joints over time so I got these and had to use them for 4 years or so (I think) over time my walking style corrected itself using them and I didn´t need them anymore.

[Cuthalion]

The kilt idea does sound like it would work quite well.

[Haruki-kun]

Some advice I can give that might assist. I'm not sure how willing you are to do it, but...wear a skirt/kilt. Preferably a relatively short one. That'll give you a good reason beyond just repairing yourself to walk correctly, as it where.

........I am confident enough to decorate my dorm room with ponies, drink pink girly beverages at bars, and listen to Disney songs, but I am not willing to go to school in a skirt. <.<

Aren´t there any insoles (hope this is the right word here^^) or special medical shoes against this?

I had to use insoles as a child because my left foot was kind of making a circle when going forward, the doctor at that time told my mom that this could damage my joints over time so I got these and had to use them for 4 years or so (I think) over time my walking style corrected itself using them and I didn´t need them anymore.

My brother used those. He was a lot more of an athlete when we were kids, so he needed to, but my walking funny was never an issue until now so we never went to a doctor for my case. I guess I'll ask my parents about it.

I will do what I can to help through song.

Much appreciated.

[LaZodiac]

........I am confident enough to decorate my dorm room with ponies, drink pink girly beverages at bars, and listen to Disney songs, but I am not willing to go to school in a skirt. <.<

You could do the kilt then. They're for manly men who man things with their manly man fists.

[noparlpf]

You could do the kilt then. They're for manly men who man things with their manly man fists.

The only thing manlier than a kilt is a man in a kilt.

[GnomeFighter]

You could do the kilt then. They're for manly men who man things with their manly man fists.

This. Anyone laughs at you tell them they are a dirty sasanach and a big jessy, give them a Glasgow kiss then head off for a deep fried mars bar, a pint of heavy and a whiskey chaser.

Seriously, have you thought of talking to a specialist about gait analysis and correction? They may be able to help.

[MonkeyBusiness]

The only thing manlier than a kilt is a man in a kilt.

Particularly on a windy day.

I like Gnomish's suggestion to have your gait analysed.

Also, if you don't usually, please buy yourself some really good, supportive shoes.


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[prufock]

See a physiotherapist or kinesiologist. That's kind of what they do!