It's a condition that affects hundreds of Northland children and health officials hope to raise awareness of talipes - or club foot as it is commonly known as.
On Friday Whangarei Hospital's orthopaedic department is hosting a NZ first Northland Talipes Awareness Free Fun Day from 10am-1pm at Laurie Hallcarpark.
The region has a high rate of congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV), with more than 120 children on the DHB's register and 270 children receiving treatment in the recent years.
A DHB spokeswoman said local communities had a limited awareness and understanding of the condition and new treatment regimes.
About 7-8 in every 1000 Maori/Pacific Island live births have talipes, compared to two in every 1000 pakeha/European live births. The hospital's orthopaedic department holds weekly talipes clinics run by an orthopaedic consultant, nurses, physiotherapist, plaster technician and play therapists.
"In Northland we use the Ponseti Management Method, this is not about fixing a club foot but achieving a functional foot," the spokeswoman said.
The Ponseti treatment involves weekly casts for 6-8 weeks (groin to toes) and every week its position will be changed to gradually correct the foot position. In 90 per cent of cases there will be a small surgical procedure at the 6-8 week mark, which involves lengthening the Achilles tendon to enable the foot to be moved into a normal position. Special boots are then worn for 23 hours a day for up to three months, then for up to three years during day time sleeps and bedtime.
Once children complete the Ponseti treatment their foot will move more freely and they are able to walk and run, their foot is more flexible and normal than with previous treatment methods where a lot of surgical intervention was used.
Club foot is when the foot turns inward and downward. It is a congenital condition, which means it is present at birth. It is the most common congenital disorder of the legs and can range from mild and flexible to severe and rigid.
