Tip Toe Walking Child Treatment
Put your children's best foot forward with our optimised care.
What is Toe Walking in Children?
It is quite common for children to walk on their toes when they are first learning to walk and getting to grips with balance and coordination. This is a natural stage of development and usually resolves itself by around the age of 2 or 3 years, as the child’s balance and coordination improve. Some children may continue to walk on their toes out of habit, and this is known as idiopathic toe walking.
There is no other reason for them to walk on their toes other than it has simply become part of the way they move. Most children will grow out of this phase too, by about 5 or 6 years of age, but persistent toe walking after this age can lead to tight calf muscles or shortening of the Achilles tendon, which may cause problems later in life.
What are The Causes of Toe Walking in Children?
Idiopathic, or habitual toe walking usually happens without any clear medical or physical cause and generally requires no treatment as most children grow out of the habit by the age of 7 years old. However, prolonged toe walking can lead to tight calf muscles, which will then make it harder to walk with the heels down and may cause pain or discomfort in the long run.
Common causes of toe walking include:
- Sensory-related issues linked to differences in how the brain processes sensory information. Children may walk on their toes to feel the ground differently (linked to the tactile system), or to get more sensory feedback which can feel calming. It may also help them with balance and positioning (related to the vestibular or proprioceptive systems).
- Muscle tightness or developmental issues where toe walking becomes a symptom of underlying physical challenges.
- Neurological or neuromuscular conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
It is important to seek professional advice if your child persists in toe walking, to identify the cause and explore any necessary therapeutic or treatment options.
Signs & Symptoms of Tip Toe Walking.
The most obvious sign that your child is tip toe walking is when they move around on the balls of their feet and rarely, or never, put their heels on the ground. Children should be able to walk flat footed or use their whole foot when they move, so if they can’t it may be a sign of a more persistent issue.
Key physical signs to watch for include:
- Tight calf muscles that may feel firm or shortened, with reduced ankle flexibility, especially when asked to flex their foot upwards
- Altered gait patterns such as a bouncing gait or walking with their knees slightly bent
- Balance difficulties including poor balance and frequent falls, as a smaller area of the foot than usual makes contact with the ground
- Discomfort and fatigue with stiff legs, pain in the calves and feet, and early fatigue or difficulty during physical activities like running and other sports
- Shoe problems where shoes may not fit properly or be uncomfortable, with soles becoming unevenly worn, especially at the front
- Movement limitations such as difficulty squatting or standing with their feet flat on the floor, and frequent stumbling or tripping
When to be Concerned About Children Toe Walking.
Whilst usually toe walking in children will resolve on its own, or simply be a habit they grow out of, sometimes there is an underlying cause and the sooner that is recognised and treated the better the outcome. Even if it is just a persistent habit, prolonged toe walking can lead to tight calf muscles and shortened Achilles tendons that will cause further physical problems later on.
If your child continues to walk on their toes for most, or all of the time without improvement, over a period of 6 months or more it is time to find out why. Any asymmetry in their gait, or if toe walking is more pronounced on one side, or they have difficulty squatting or standing with their heels on the floor, then seeking professional help is recommended.
Whilst toe walking can be a sign of other underlying issues, developmental concerns should also be noted as they can be connected with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Early intervention can significantly improve your child’s function, quality of life and long-term development by addressing symptoms early when the brain is most adaptable.
How Optimise Health Can Help You?
Obviously, the treatment your child needs will depend on the cause, but often simple stretches and exercises can help to lengthen tight calf muscles and improve the condition. Children with idiopathic toe walking can be encouraged to develop a flat-footed gait through such games as “walk like a penguin” and be prompted to put their heels down frequently when they walk.
Getting a proper diagnosis and treatment plan from us is important for more persistent cases. We may recommend wearing supportive footwear like boots or inserting orthotics into shoes. We will also be able to recommend regular stretches to prevent muscle tightening. Our professionals can monitor, guide and advise you on the best course of action, whether that is simple exercises, serial casting to gradually increase ankle flexibility or addressing underlying neurological conditions.
Two Great Locations.
Optimise Health have multiple specialists working across our two conveniently located clinics in Toowoomba and Warwick.
14 Ipswich Street, Toowoomba
Monday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Tuesday 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday 7:00 am – 4:00 pm
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed
Shop 2/44-46 Wood St, Warwick
Monday 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Tuesday 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Wednesday 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Friday 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed
Why Choose Optimise Health's Paediatric Podiatrist?
At Optimise Health we offer a world-class integrated healthcare system all under one roof. We have highly trained and skilled Podiatrists, Physiotherapists and Pilates instructors, all of whom are passionate about their work.
They readily refer patients internally, meaning your child will get all the treatment they need under one roof, whether they need orthotics (which we make in our own onsite lab in under 80 minutes) or physiotherapy. Our paediatric podiatrists will help get your child back on their feet, so get in touch with our team to get started.
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