Tips about Toe Walking
Children normally learn to walk around the age of one year. They start cruising along furniture and taking a few unstable steps with feet far apart. As they practice they use different foot positions, including walking on toes. This is normal for children as they learn to walk and try different foot positions. By eighteen months to two years of age most children have learned to walk steadily with their feet flat on the ground and toe walking should resolve. Most children may occasionally toe walk when bare feet are on cold floors or during play.
Toe walking is when a child walks up on their toes or the ball of the foot and the heel does not touch the ground. Toe walking does not indicate an underlying problem in most children. But if a child continues to consistently toe walk beyond the age of three, it should be brought to the attention of the pediatrician. If there are no underlying concerns they may just need to be monitored. Typically it is just a habit that they have developed. If your child had not been toe walking, but starts to walk on his toes at about age three to five years it should immediately be brought to the pediatrician’s attention.
When there is no known reason for persistent toe walking it is called idiopathic which means unknown cause. This diagnosis is made after evaluating the child to rule out any neuromuscular, orthopedic or other physical problems. Some children who toe walk have hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity. You may note other signs such as discomfort with tight clothing, certain fabrics, clothing labels, dislike for certain food textures, not wanting to walk in sand or on grass or difficulty with clumsiness. The child may not like or may constantly crave various movement activities like swinging, spinning or jumping.
Prolonged toe walking can cause tightness in the heel cords and over extending the knee in stance to compensate to get heel on the ground. It also develops a poor postural alignment with weak abdominal muscles, an increased curve of the low back as well as bending at the hips. Toe walking can cause stiffness, tightness and pain. Persistent toe walking can increase the risk of falls, because the ankle is in an unstable position. As with most habits, the longer it continues the harder it is to stop.
If the pediatrician does feel the toe walking is becoming a significant issue he may refer you to an orthopedist or physical therapist.
|