In the recent months, I have noticed more and more athletes who have running mechanic issues. One of the more prevalent issues is being pigeon toed. The term pigeon toed refers to an athlete that points their toes inward while standing, walking, or running. It is possible that a young athlete can grow out of this phase, however there are a few things that can be done to help correct the issue.
One way to help with correction is to have the athlete walk heel to toe trying to keep their foot straight instead of turned inward. This can be done as a drill and should be reinforced daily as they walk about. Another way to help this issue is by performing calf raises in which you focus on the position of the foot and the mobility of the ankle. This may require some stretching and foam rolling to assist in the process.
Another area of concern is tightness in the hips. If an athlete has poor hip mobility this can cause the foot to turn inward as well. Exercises that help strengthen the glute medius and focus on range of motion can assist in correcting the problem. Most people dismiss this condition as something that cannot be fixed, however with proper programming, stretching, and foam rolling this problem is solvable.
I would say most athletes I have seen typically have hip and ankle mobility issues. That is why it is important to perform a dynamic warm-up before any exercise takes place. Post exercise should also involve foam rolling and stretching to help work out any potential issues that may arise. As far as exercise programming is concerned, you should be performing a variety of unilateral and compound movements based on what areas you may need to improve upon. If this process seems daunting allow me to help guide you through the process.