Toe Walking

During development, when a child begins to pull to stand, and begins to take steps, they will go through a brief period of time on their toes, but they should always come down.

Toe walking is never a predominant pattern, and is only meant to prepare the foot for more forward strides and speed.

Persistent ToE Walking…..

Does not go away on its own
Results in orthopedic issues such as:
- Changing the alignment of the foot
- Bone growth of the calcaneous (heel)
- Shortening of the length of the heel cord & calf muscles
Can be a result of trunk and/or lower extremity weakness
Affects the center of gravity due to dysfunctional motor planning
Can cause future balance and lower extremity joint problems if left untreated.
Can be a result of sensory processing deficits/sensitivity issues
Provides intense proprioceptive input to the calf muscle
May be a sign of tactile sensitivity
May be a result of poor visual-vestibular processing.

Physical Therapy

Treatment

Toe walking can be a result of several underlying factors. A screening by a physical therapist and/or occupational therapist can identify the root cause of what is contributing to the persistent toe walking.

Following are some general suggestions to enhance your child's core strength:

While lying on his/her back, have your child kick their legs up in the air
Wall kicks - have your child lie on their back with their head up against the wall, have them bring their legs up to the wall and touch it
Sit-ups with knees bent, have your child pull-to-sit
Planks
Push-ups - either on the knees or their toes
Sit on an unsupported surface without back support (bench, small ball, chair)
Play in tall kneel
Crawling - on all fours, reaching for objects, throwing objects