Originally Posted by
noglider
It has helped me a lot recently to have a bike mechanic install cleats on my shoes. He has an alignment tool to ensure that my feet point straight forward, because I have a tendency to point them out. The podiatrist told me to move my cleats back, and that has been a strange feeling, but it helps a lot. Another great help is to walk with my toes pointed forward, because I also tend to point them out when walking. I walk more consciously now. But recently, I find I can descend stairs much more easily, so these new things really help.
That's very interesting. I have pretty extreme duck feet, I walk and bike with toes pointed way out. My solution is 20mm pedal extenders.
I have never talked to any doctors about it, but I always assumed my issue is genetic/unavoidable (my dad is this way too), and unaddressable.
Do you find that after long-term walking/cycling with straight feet, your body/posture is changing?
If I stand and force my feet straight ahead, then my kneecaps are angled inwards.
One time I went on a hard ride with two friends who were much stronger cyclists than me, this was before I had pedal extenders, and the exertion combined with rotated-forward feet gave me so much pain (IT band) that I had to bail out on the ride halfway through. Fortunately a few days of rest and I was all better, and since I got pedal extenders, it's never happened again. (Then again I pretty much never ride hard for very long)