A parent-first guide to clubfoot

Clubfoot is treatable.You are not alone.

Happy Feet helps parents understand the journey from diagnosis through treatment, bracing and growing up — with clear information and practical support.

South Asian parents smiling with their happy infant at home.

Start where you are

Where are you in the journey?

You do not need every answer today. Start with where you are now.

The path ahead

The clubfoot journey, one stage at a time

Treatment happens in stages. Each stage has a different purpose.

  1. DiagnosisClubfoot is identified — during pregnancy or after birth.
  2. CorrectionSerial casting gently moves the foot into position over several weeks.
  3. MaintenanceA foot-abduction brace protects the correction while the child grows.
  4. Growing upFollow-up continues as the child grows. Most children go on to walk, run and play.
Understand the Ponseti journey
Parents cuddling their smiling baby together at home.

A little support for today

You can take this one step at a time

  • You do not need every answer today.

    Start with the next step.

  • Questions are part of good care.

    Write them down and ask your clinical team.

  • Difficult days happen.

    Casting and bracing can be challenging. Asking for help is part of the journey.

Bracing & maintenance

Correction is a milestone. Maintenance protects the progress.

Caregivers help a baby wear a foot-abduction brace with the connecting bar visible.

After casting, the brace becomes an important part of maintaining correction while your child grows. Building a routine can take time, and many families need practical support along the way.

Get bracing support

Looking ahead

The goal is an active childhood

Many children treated for clubfoot go on to walk, run and take part in everyday childhood activities. Treatment and outcomes can vary from child to child.

A young child running across sunlit grass in a park.
Caregivers review medical records with a clinician.

Support in India

Need help finding credible clubfoot care?

Learn what to look for in a Ponseti care team and what questions to ask.

Our content approach

Information you can understand — and verify

  • Evidence based

    Built from credible medical and professional sources.

  • Sources provided

    Parents can see where medical information comes from.

  • Parent-first explanations

    Complex information is explained in practical language.

  • Corrections welcomed

    Parents and clinicians can suggest improvements.

A family's reason for starting

Why Happy Feet exists

Happy Feet grew from a family’s experience of navigating diagnosis, treatment, maintenance and fragmented information — and wanting the next parent to have a clearer path.

Read our story

Frequently asked questions

Is clubfoot treatable?

Yes. Clubfoot is treatable, and the Ponseti method is widely accepted for idiopathic clubfoot. A child’s exact treatment and follow-up needs vary, so individual decisions belong with the treating clinical team.

What is the Ponseti method?

The Ponseti method is widely accepted as the standard treatment approach for idiopathic clubfoot. It is not a single procedure. It is a sequence: correction with serial casting, an Achilles tenotomy for many children when needed, and then bracing and follow-up to help maintain the correction.

Why is bracing needed after correction?

The brace is used to help maintain the correction and reduce the risk of relapse while the child grows.

See more parent questions