# Is there a technical name for this posture (feet point outward instead of straight)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 10, 2013, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-name-for-this-posture-feet-point-outward-instead-of-straight/657993 "2013-05-10T13:55:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-name-for-this-posture-feet-point-outward-instead-of-straight/657993/1 "2013-05-10T13:55:56Z")
I can remember reading something about correcting your posture, and it had a description of what to do if you have feet that point outward when you stand instead of pointing straight ahead. I remember they had a name for that type of posture. Now I can’t remember what that name was. Any help? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-name-for-this-posture-feet-point-outward-instead-of-straight/657993/2 "2013-05-10T14:03:06Z")
Duck footed?.. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-name-for-this-posture-feet-point-outward-instead-of-straight/657993/3 "2013-05-10T14:11:37Z")
Splay-footed? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-name-for-this-posture-feet-point-outward-instead-of-straight/657993/4 "2013-05-10T14:13:47Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Duck footed?.. That would be my guess. It doesn’t sound very technical though. Is that actually bad for posture? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-name-for-this-posture-feet-point-outward-instead-of-straight/657993/5 "2013-05-10T14:47:49Z")
IANAOrthopedist, but I noticed that many people who are duck footed also tend towards being knock-kneed with turned in ankles and flat feet. \ ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-name-for-this-posture-feet-point-outward-instead-of-straight/657993/6 "2013-05-10T15:35:24Z")
Duck foot Splay foot Slew foot toe out/out toe Assuming it’s something inherently wrong rather than simply a bad habit it can be a “torsional deformity.” I’ve heard all these terms. Guess why? ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-name-for-this-posture-feet-point-outward-instead-of-straight/657993/7 "2013-05-10T15:54:18Z")
the Charlie Chaplin? ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-name-for-this-posture-feet-point-outward-instead-of-straight/657993/8 "2013-05-10T15:59:01Z")
Interesting. Darrell Huff, in his magnificent little book _How to Lie with Statistics_, mentions this posture in passing, and puts forth the assumption that in an earlier age (which would have been around 1890-1920, by the book’s assumed dates) this toes-outward posture was taught to women as a classy and graceful thing. I don’t know the validity of the claim, but an answer may lie in finishing school terminology of that era. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-name-for-this-posture-feet-point-outward-instead-of-straight/657993/9 "2013-05-10T16:20:55Z")
[First position](http://dance.about.com/od/stepsandmoves/ss/Ballet_Five.htm)? (ballet) ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-name-for-this-posture-feet-point-outward-instead-of-straight/657993/10 "2013-05-10T22:11:19Z")
Bowlegged. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-name-for-this-posture-feet-point-outward-instead-of-straight/657993/11 "2013-05-11T00:36:50Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:10, topic:657993”] Bowlegged. [/QUOTE] I don’t buy that. unless I consciously think about it, my feet splay outward when I’m standing still (hell, I can even walk that way) and I am definitely not bowlegged. I am, however, flat-footed. ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-name-for-this-posture-feet-point-outward-instead-of-straight/657993/12 "2013-05-11T00:46:02Z")
We always called them penguin-toed, while people whose toes pointed in were pigeon-toed. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-name-for-this-posture-feet-point-outward-instead-of-straight/657993/13 "2013-05-11T00:51:32Z")
Splay-footed ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-name-for-this-posture-feet-point-outward-instead-of-straight/657993/14 "2013-05-11T04:44:44Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Duck foot > Splay foot > Slew foot > toe out/out toe > > Assuming it’s something inherently wrong rather than simply a bad habit it can be a “torsional deformity.” > > I’ve heard all these terms. Guess why? The demons shout them in your sleep? ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-name-for-this-posture-feet-point-outward-instead-of-straight/657993/15 "2013-05-11T09:29:26Z")
I give up. ---
**Author:** ![Jormungandr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@Jormungandr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jormungandr)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-name-for-this-posture-feet-point-outward-instead-of-straight/657993/16 "2013-05-11T09:35:04Z")
> [@Sudden\_Kestrel](#): > > We always called them penguin-toed, while people whose toes pointed in were pigeon-toed. My father called that way I stood penguin-footed. ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-name-for-this-posture-feet-point-outward-instead-of-straight/657993/17 "2013-05-11T10:28:20Z")
> [@Lakai](#): > > I can remember reading something about correcting your posture, and it had a description of what to do if you have feet that point outward when you stand instead of pointing straight ahead. > > I remember they had a name for that type of posture. Now I can’t remember what that name was. > > Any help? As mentioned above, if you stand that way deliberately, it would be secondary to performing a plié, I guess. With normal anatomy, most of the external foot rotation range occurs from movement at the hip since the knees and ankles have a fair amount of rotational stability in that plane. If you are asking about a technical term for a pathologic posture–i.e., on that would be considered physiologically abnormal–I think the most general term would be “external rotation of the foot.” To get any more technically specific than that would require a careful analysis by a specialist. Most such pathologies come under the expertise of a pediatric orthopedist, since these are typically developmental abnormalities. Out-toeing could be caused by hip, knee or ankle abnormalities or rotational problems with the femur or tibia, or any number of combinations. Those in turn could be primary or secondary (to a muscular problem, for example). During fetal development, the human lower limb gradually rotates internally, and then after we are born, both femoral and tibial versioning rotate laterally.\* Depending on what you end up with, the actual technical term for the problem would vary according to what the fundamental anatomy is. For example, either “external femoral torsion” or “external tibial torsion” (or a combination) could be the “technicial” term for someone with out-toeing. Many other possibilities exist, the fine points of which are well beyond my rudimentary knowledge. Consult a pediatric orthopedic development textbook if it’s driving you nuts or you want to get fancy. \*This is why “pigeon toeing” (in-toeing) tends to improve w/ growth, and out-toeing tends to worsen, but who cares, really, unless it’s your kid? ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-name-for-this-posture-feet-point-outward-instead-of-straight/657993/18 "2013-05-11T11:33:33Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > [First position](http://dance.about.com/od/stepsandmoves/ss/Ballet_Five.htm)? (ballet) That’s what I came here to post, but then again I spend a lot of time around ballerinas. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-name-for-this-posture-feet-point-outward-instead-of-straight/657993/19 "2013-05-11T13:32:32Z")
> [@Chief\_Pedant](#): > > For example, either “external femoral torsion” or “external tibial torsion” (or a combination) could be the “technicial” term for someone with out-toeing. Many other possibilities exist, the fine points of which are well beyond my rudimentary knowledge. Consult a pediatric orthopedic development textbook if it’s driving you nuts or you want to get fancy. I just want to be able to google for more information on how to do a one-legged squat. It’s a little difficult to squat on one leg when your foot points sideways. I’m going to try and search with the terms you’ve listed. ---
**Author:** ![esmeralda2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ccd318/32.png) [@esmeralda2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/esmeralda2)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-name-for-this-posture-feet-point-outward-instead-of-straight/657993/20 "2013-05-11T14:25:36Z")
> [@Lakai](#): > > I can remember reading something about correcting your posture, and it had a description of what to do if you have feet that point outward when you stand instead of pointing straight ahead. > > I remember they had a name for that type of posture. Now I can’t remember what that name was. > > Any help? Not technical: pigeon toed; oh, that’s the opposite. The other, I don’t know. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-technical-name-for-this-posture-feet-point-outward-instead-of-straight/657993.md?page=2)