Peer-reviewed article

Sports Participation Among Children and Adolescents Following Treatment With the Ponseti Method for Idiopathic Clubfoot: A Multicenter Survey Study.

Weihe J, Bent M, Kent L, Padilla A, Margherio S et al. · 26 May 2026

Abstract

Background Idiopathic clubfoot is a complex congenital foot and ankle anomaly commonly treated with the Ponseti method. While gross motor function and activity level are similar in children with clubfoot treated with this method compared with children without clubfoot, data are lacking on sports participation following this treatment. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of sports participation among children with idiopathic clubfoot treated with the Ponseti method. Methods This was a multicenter retrospective cross-sectional study. Patients aged 5 to 17 years were included if they had been diagnosed with idiopathic clubfoot and treated with the Ponseti method during infancy. Parents of subjects were asked to complete a 1-time REDCap survey that included basic demographic questions, 2 validated activity scores (PROMIS Physical Activity Short Form and PACE+), and questions relating to sports participation. The comparison group consisted of the siblings of patients with clubfoot. Results One hundred fifty-one patients with clubfoot and 45 siblings without clubfoot were included from 4 institutions. In the clubfoot group, 72.2% of participants were male compared with 60% in the sibling group ( P =0.12). Median PROMIS-PA t-scores were 53.3 [interquartile range (IQR) 8.6] and 56.3 (IQR 13.2) in the clubfoot and sibling groups, respectively ( P =0.016). The median PACE+ scores were 4 (IQR 3.5) in the clubfoot group and 4.75 (IQR 2.75) ( P =0.261) in the sibling group. Sports participation was reported in 120 (79.5%) patients with clubfoot and 43 siblings (95.6%) ( P =0.006). Soccer, baseball, basketball, football, and swimming were the most commonly played sports in both groups. Conclusions Children treated for idiopathic clubfoot with the Ponseti method remain active and participate in sports similar to their siblings. Further prospective studies examining sports participation and injury prevalence are needed to better understand long-term clinical and functional outcomes in patients treated with the Ponseti method for idiopathic clubfoot. Study design Retrospective. Level of evidence Level IV.