What is Toe Walking?
Walking on one’s toes or the balls of one’s feet, also known as toe walking, is fairly common in children who are learning to walk. However, it is not a cause of concern and the majority of children outgrow it.
Children who continue to walk past the toddler stage often do so out of habit. Toe walking in toddlers is unlikely to be a cause for concern as long as your child is growing and developing normally.
Toe walking is very common in toddlers upto 3 years of age. If your toddler is hitting developmental milestones, toe walking is not a cause for concern, according to the Mayo Clinic.
What causes toe walking in toddlers?
Often, doctors are unable to pinpoint the cause of a child’s toe walking. This is referred to as “idiopathic” toe walking.
Children who continue to walk on their tiptoes or ball of their feet after they have outgrown their toddler years are frequently doing so out of habit. This is usually not a cause for concern as long as your child is developing and growing normally, but toe walking after the age of three is unusual and should be investigated.
Certain serious medical conditions, such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and autism spectrum disorder, can cause toe walking.
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How toe walking is corrected in toddlers?
Tow walking is treated by a pediatric orthopaedic or pediatric podiatrist. Children who simply toe walk out of habit do not require treatment or medical intervention. They usually outgrow the habit eventually.
When is toe walking a concern?
If your pediatric podiatrist determines that there is an underlying physical issue that is causing the toe walking, then they may consider the following treatment options:
- Physical therapy exercises to strengthen and stretch muscles in the legs and feet
- Leg braces or a splint to correct gait
- Custom orthotics
- Serial below-the-knee casting to properly align the toes to the shin
Surgery is the last resort and is done only when all other treatments fail. Typically, this only occurs if there is an issue with the Achilles tendon or calf muscles.
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Bottom Line
Toe walking may become a cause for concern if it persists past the age of 5. Children who walk on their toes may have difficulty walking with their heels down later in life, though most people with idiopathic toe-walking do not.
If your child walks on the toes most of the time, then they may have difficulty wearing shoes comfortably or participating in recreational activities that require the use of special shoes, such as roller skates. They may also fall more easily too.
Most children, who do not have an underlying medical condition that causes toe walking, will eventually walk heel-to-toe. Toe walking treatments can help them walk flat-footed after a cause is identified.
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