Ignacio Ponseti Foundation Poland

01/06/2026

CLUBFOOT AWARNESS WEEK - 5/7

“I’m grateful to the parents who are helping encourage this change and very excited by the positive impact it will have on future generations.” — Dr. Ignacio V. Ponseti, May 2002

These words beautifully show something that is worth saying out loud: parents have played an enormous role in spreading the Ponseti method, and they continue to play an enormous role in maintaining the quality and correctness of this method.

The parents support groups do something truly important: they help parents understand what good treatment should look like, what properly applied casts should look like, what questions are worth asking during an appointment, when to seek a second opinion, what the foot abduction brace is for, and what the rules for using it are. They also give hope that clubfoot can be treated effectively, minimally invasively, and with respect for both the child and the parent.

A good support group is not only a place to share emotions. It is a place where knowledge, awareness, and responsibility are built.

It is thanks to parents that the Ponseti method is being protected. Not as a “casting technique,” but as an entire standard of treatment: proper correction, appropriate tenotomy, a correctly adjusted brace, measurement of dorsiflexion, monitoring for relapses, and responding when needed.

Every parent’s question matters. Every photo, every story, every conversation can help another family avoid a mistake, a delay, or an unnecessary surgery.

And that is exactly why the role of parents is so important.
Because when parents have knowledge, they do not become an obstacle in treatment — they become its greatest support.

Thank you to all the parents who share their experiences, support others, and help ensure that the Ponseti method is applied properly — today and for future generations of children. 🧡

31/05/2026

CLUBFOOT AWARENESS WEEK – 4/7

Even though our post is from January 2025, it is still extremely relevant.

The Hoke tenotomy is a simple and effective surgical procedure used in the treatment of relapsed clubfoot.

🧡 The Hoke tenotomy is also called a percutaneous triple hemisection of the Achilles tendon. Why? Because the Achilles tendon is cut halfway through three times, alternately, while leaving its central core intact.

The procedure is characterized by:

👍 no complete transverse cutting of the Achilles tendon
👍 no scars — only 3 tiny marks
👍 no limitation of foot range of motion over time caused by postoperative adhesions
👍 shorter hospital stay
👍 faster return to function

As you can see in the attached photo, the small scars after the procedure are marked with white circles…

Simple, right?

Hoke’s Tenotomy is a simple and effective surgical procedure used in the treatment of recurrent clubfoot.

🧡 Hoke's tenotomy is also known as the percutaneous triple hemisection of Achilles tendon. Why? Because the Achilles tendon is cut three times, alternately, to its midpoint, leaving its core intact.

Hoke’s tenotomy is used to lengthen the Achilles tendon when dorsiflexion is 0 degrees or less (negative).

It is an acceptable surgical and minimally invasive procedure within the Ponseti method. However… it is not widely used. This is a shame because it is both very simple and highly effective.

🧡 Its main advantage is the lack of complete transverse division of the Achilles tendon.
🧡 There are no scars—just three small puncture points.
🧡 There are no limitations in the foot’s range of motion over time, which are typically caused by postoperative adhesions.`

As you can see in the picture, these three small points enclosed in white circles are scars from the procedure...

Simple, right?

🧡 Follow us on Facebook and/or Instagram and share the knowledge with others!

30/05/2026

CLUBFOOT AWARENESS WEEK – 3/7

A child with clubfoot after treatment with the Ponseti method needs movement.
They need to walk, run, climb, jump, ride a bike, swim, dance, explore their body, and build strength. Physical activity supports muscle development, balance, coordination, function, and self-confidence.

Movement is important because the foot does not function on its own.
It works together with the calf, knee, hip, pelvis, and the WHOLE BODY.

That is why well-chosen activity can help a child strengthen their legs, improve range of motion, develop a proper gait pattern, and build trust in their own body.

But one thing is very important: 🧡 not every type of physiotherapy is good for a child with clubfoot.

⛔️ Physiotherapy must not try to “fix” the foot by force.
⛔️ It must not replace treatment with the Ponseti method.
⛔️ It must not go against the biomechanics of this deformity.
⛔️ It should not promise correction where assessment by a doctor experienced in clubfoot treatment is needed.
⛔️ It must not replace the foot abduction brace with bandages.
⛔️ It should not focus only on the foot, but on the WHOLE body.

Random exercises, aggressive stretching, forcing positions, “adjusting” the foot, or therapy carried out without knowledge of the Ponseti method may not only fail to help, but can sometimes cause harm.

Good physiotherapy should support the child — not fight the foot.
It should strengthen, teach movement, improve function, and support everyday activity. It should be calm, logical, adapted to the stage of treatment and to what is happening with the foot. And it should be carried out by highly qualified professionals.

Physical activity is important. Movement is important. A child’s function and mobility are important.

29/05/2026

CLUBFOOT AWARENESS WEEK – 2/7

The Ponseti method requires knowledge. But knowledge alone is not enough.

This is not a method that can be applied “more or less.”
It is not just a few casts, changing the position of the foot, and then putting on a brace.

🧡 The Ponseti method requires understanding.

Understanding the anatomy of a small foot.
Understanding exactly what we are correcting — and in what order.
Understanding why correction must never be forced.
Understanding that every millimeter, every angle, every hand position, and every stage of treatment matters.

In this method, precision is not an “extra.”
Precision is a condition of safety.

A poorly applied cast can slip.
A cast that is too tight can cause swelling and pressure.
Incorrect positioning of the foot can lead to an apparent correction only.
Stages of treatment that are started too early or carried out incorrectly can increase the risk of relapse.

That is why the Ponseti method requires more than simply knowing the protocol.
It requires attentiveness, experience, humility, and accuracy.

Because this is not about “putting on a cast.”
It is about guiding a child’s foot through correction in a way that is safe, logical, consistent with the principles of biomechanics, and respectful of the method.

Parents often see only the external effect: a cast, then another cast, then boots and a bar. But behind a good correction there is great precision — in the hands, in the decisions, and in the understanding of the entire process.

The Ponseti method is simple in its idea, but it is not simple in its ex*****on.

And that is exactly why it is so important that it is carried out by people who not only “know the method,” but truly understand it.

28/05/2026

🧡 CLUBFOOT AWARENESS WEEK – 1/7

This quote by Dr. Morcuende from our graphic powerfully highlights something we often forget: in the history of the Ponseti method, parents were not merely “recipients of treatment” — they were one of the forces that helped this method survive, spread, and reach more families.

🧡 It was parents who searched for information when they were told that their child “had to have surgery” or even an amputation.
🧡 It was parents who came across the stories of other families and, for the first time, learned that there was an effective, minimally invasive method of treating clubfoot.
🧡 It was parents who asked doctors questions.
🧡 It was parents who travelled hundreds of kilometres, sometimes abroad, to find a specialist working according to the Ponseti method.
🧡 It was parents who created the first support groups, websites, forums, and communities where they shared knowledge, photos, experience, and hope.

And that is exactly why the role of parents in this method is so important.

In the Ponseti method, an informed parent is not a problem — an informed parent is part of the success of treatment. Parents’ attentiveness matters, and very often it is precisely this attentiveness and persistence that truly changes the course of treatment.

When parents have access to reliable knowledge, they help ensure that the method is not simplified, shortened, or distorted.

🧡 Parents are not an addition to this method. Parents are a very important part of it.

And perhaps this is exactly why the Ponseti method has become something more than just a technique for treating clubfoot. It has also become a story of parental determination, cooperation, courage, and the belief that every child deserves the best possible treatment.

13/03/2026

Scratching and rubbing the legs/feet against each other. Clear or creamy discharge.
Redness. Warmth. Reluctance to put on socks and the derotation brace.
Helplessness. It could be 🧡 eczema.
How can you deal with it at home?

Find out in our article! 🧡 Link in the first comment.

04/03/2026

Did you know that the presence of an older brother or sister can truly support your little one’s treatment? 💛

Although often underestimated, the role of older siblings in the treatment process — especially during the bracing phase — has enormous emotional and practical significance.

An older child can:
👉 help the younger one feel safe
👉 normalize the daily treatment routine
👉 support consistent brace wear
👉 set a positive example of acceptance
👉 distract during difficult moments

This is more than just support — it’s a real therapeutic factor. It’s not only about practical help, but about building a sense of normalcy and confidence in a child with the condition.

Would you like to learn more about how and why older siblings can become powerful allies in treatment — and how to wisely involve them in the process?

📖 Read the full article – link in the first comment.
🧡 If you have an older child at home, share your experience in the comments 😊

02/03/2026

ATHLETE’S FOOT in children with clubfoot? It’s possible!

Fungal foot infections can also occur in children after casting or while wearing a foot abduction brace. Warmth, moisture, and limited ventilation create the perfect environment for infection.

🧡 What should you look out for?
👉 redness between the toes
👉 peeling or cracked skin
👉 small blisters
👉 unpleasant odor

📖 You’ll find the full article explaining symptoms and treatment in the first comment!

Share this so other parents know what to watch for 🧡

30/01/2026

DRYING A CAST WITH A HAIR DRYER? BAD IDEA!

Sometimes parents—with the best intentions—want a freshly applied cast to “dry faster.” And that’s when the hair dryer comes out.
Stop ⛔️. This really isn’t safe.

🧡 Why?
A cast doesn’t dry like a wet T-shirt. When plaster is mixed with water, a chemical reaction occurs that 1️⃣ causes hardening, 2️⃣ releases heat (an exothermic reaction). In other words: the cast heats up on its own. Adding another heat source only makes things worse.

🧡 What can happen?
Even lukewarm air from a hair dryer can reach temperatures under the cast that are dangerous for the skin. Too rapid and uneven “drying” also weakens the cast structure, causes microcracks, and reduces how well the correction is maintained.

And in treatment with the Ponseti method, precision is crucial. Even minimal weakening of the cast can affect the outcome of treatment.

✅ How to do it right?
Find out in our article! (link in the comments)

28/01/2026

🧡 Why do the boots alone not work on the foot, while the brace as a whole does?

To understand this, we need to explain HOW the brace (boots connected by a bar) works?

1️⃣
During a series of gentle manipulations and casting, the soft tissues lengthen under constant load — a process known as “creep.” In simple terms, tissue stress is applied and then released once static immobilization (the cast) is applied. Casts are changed weekly, which allows tension to subside and enables further gentle stretching manipulations, gradually changing the position of the foot.
This continues until nearly 70° of abduction is achieved. During this time, the calcaneus is released from beneath the talus, the navicular bone moves onto the head of the talus, and correction occurs. The tenotomy addresses the problem of an excessively shortened Achilles tendon. At this point, full correction of the foot is achieved. That is why the final cast after the procedure is applied in so-called hypercorrection: 60°–70° of abduction combined with 10°–15° of dorsiflexion.

2️⃣
After removal of the final cast, the foot — prepared in this way — is placed in a foot abduction brace, where this “stress relaxation” is no longer as intense. The load is reduced while continuous lengthening is maintained. However, over time, with use of the derotation brace, kicking movements, and the child’s other activities while wearing the device, the condition of the foot improves (increased abduction and dorsiflexion) and is maintained up to a certain point. Thus, the FAB helps continue this process. This is long-duration stretching with low load (low load, long duration) — the only effective method after correction with the Ponseti method.

⛔️⛔️⛔️
Boots alone do NOT effectively “stretch” the Achilles tendon or the calf muscles — that is exactly what the attached bar does!

Boots without the bar:
⛔️ hold the foot in an unstable position
⛔️ do not generate constant tension
⛔️ do not control abduction or external rotation
⛔️ do not enforce dorsiflexion of the foot