Positional Talipes — Stretching Exercises
Principles for parents, the official RCH and Royal Women's Hospital stretch routines, and when to ring for review.
- Last reviewed
- Sources cited
- 4 sources
- Author
- Dr Jubal John, FRACP
- Category
- medical guides
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Take-home
Positional talipes is the turned-in foot shape caused by how your baby was packed in the womb, about 2 in 100 babies. It’s not the same as congenital clubfoot (which is stiff, doesn’t fully correct passively, and needs specialist casting). The treatment is gentle daily stretches at every nappy change. Most babies’ feet fully correct by 3-6 months.
Before starting
These exercises are for babies already diagnosed with positional talipes by a paediatrician, GP or MCH nurse. If the foot is stiff and cannot be moved to a normal position, or if one calf is noticeably smaller than the other, stop and book a review, it may be congenital clubfoot. See Positional Talipes (overview).
How the stretches work, in brief
The treatment is gentle stretching at nappy changes: little and often, easing the foot toward a normal position. The exact technique, how long to hold, and how many repetitions are best shown to you in person by your physiotherapist or MCH nurse, and are set out in the official fact sheets below. A grizzle is fine; real distress means stop and try again later. Keep going until your physiotherapist confirms the foot shape has corrected.
The official protocols
Both are short, parent-friendly PDFs that work well printed and stuck on the fridge.
Official fact sheets
- Royal Children’s Hospital — Positional Talipes (PDF): standard Melbourne paediatric protocol.
- Royal Women’s Hospital — Positional Talipes (PDF): used widely in maternity discharge packs.
- Paediatric physiotherapist (APA directory): for the hands-on teach and ongoing review.
When to ring for review
Watch closely — MCH Line 13 22 29 for advice
Worth a physio or paediatric review
- No visible change after 2 months of consistent stretching
- The foot looks stiffer rather than more flexible
- New asymmetry, calf size, leg length, hip click
- Family struggling with the routine
Same day
- Foot that suddenly becomes painful, red, or swollen
Related reading
Foot not straightening on schedule?
Start with your GP or MCH nurse, who can refer for a paediatric review to decide whether a physio session or an orthopaedic opinion is needed.