All About Toe Walking!

Children typically begin to walk around 12 months of age, and when they start, it is so exciting to see! You may notice that your child starts to walk with a wide base of support, some waddling, and little to no arm swing. Initially, kiddos may walk with flat feet or slightly up on their toes, but around 18-24 months of age, we begin to see a consistent heel strike when children walk. Sometimes, it is difficult for a child to begin walking with a heel-toe gait pattern, and they will continue to walk on their tip toes. 

Sometimes, we do not know the exact reason why a child may begin toe walking. It can be due to tightness in the calf muscles, difficulty processing sensory information through their feet, or bony misalignment, to name a few reasons. Toe walking can also be associated with diagnoses such as autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, and muscular dystrophy. Whatever the underlying cause, physical therapy is a great option to help assess and address a child’s toe walking.

Usually, children outgrow this gait pattern by 24 months. However, if not addressed, toe walking leads to tightness in the calf muscles, which limits ankle range of motion, affecting their strength and balance. Additionally, toe walking increases stress put on the knee and hip joints. This can lead to pain, injury, and falls as the child grows and develops their motor skills. In severe cases, this gait pattern can lead to contractures in the calf muscles, which may someday require surgery to correct.

The post All About Toe Walking! appeared first on PPT4Kids.