What Causes Walking Like a Duck

Out-toeing, or being duck-footed, is a condition marked by feet that point outward instead of straight ahead. It’s most common in toddlers and young children, who typically outgrow it by age 8. Adults can also become duck-footed as the result of a sedentary lifestyle, poor posture, injury, or other causes.

What causes someone to walk like a duck?

Peroneal muscle atrophy or peroneal nerve injury, as with a spinal problem (such as spinal stenosis or herniated disc), can cause this type of gait. Waddling gait. Movement of the trunk is exaggerated to produce a waddling, duck-like walk.

Is duck feet a problem?

If left unaddressed, this walking abnormality can lead to knee and back pain, ankle injuries, and flat feet. In other words, being duck footed can put a lot of additional stress surrounding joints and ligaments or set the stage for injury, including plantar fasciitis due to the additional strain on the fascia.