Toe Walking

[Guest guest]

Toe walking can be nothing more than toe walking. My younger sister

always walked on her toes - even into her teens and now. Did I

mention how pretty her legs are?

On the other hand, it can be indicative of CP, short

muscles/tendons, can be associated with autism and sensory issues.

Before you go deciding to stop it, I think I'd want to know the WHYs

behind it. As long as someone is saying that it could be muscular,

I'd want to rule out physical issues. If it is determined to be

sensory, you need to decide if it's an inappropriate behaviour. Not

all sensory things are " wrong " - geez, I still won't wear sox or use

flannel sheets because I hate the feeling of fuzz on my feet.

Finally, if it's decided by all that it's inappropriate and should

be stopped, high-top shoes are one of the sure-fire ways to stop

it. You do have to keep the shoes on the child, though.

Marina

>

> I was wondering if anyone has found a way to prevent their child

from toe

> walking. My 3 year old son toe walks quite often. He does

fluctuate though

> from being flat footed and on his toes. I've taken him to a

pediatric

> physiatrist, chiropractors, developmental pediatricians, physical

therapists

> and OT's. The developmental pediatrician thinks it is more

sensory related.

> The PT and OT think it is more muscular. I'm confused about the

whole issue.

> Any advice on how to help him with toe walking would be

appreciated.

>

> Thanks so much!!

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

That gets right to the point, , I like it! :-)

" If toe walking is used only when barefoot and

the child isn't barefoot often, then it probably won't cause other

problems. "

Thank you!

________________________________

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of huskinsn

Sent: Sunday, July 16, 2006 3:45 PM

Subject: [ ] Re: Toe walking

I think the determining factors are:

Does the sensory issue impede normal functioning. In other words,

it's no problem to cut tags out of shirts, but there are some places

in life you simply HAVE to wear underwear, especially if you like your

pants to be very loose around the waste (I'm not making this stuff up,

I'm giving actual examples from my son).

Does the child's coping mechanism to the sensory issue put the child

at risk of developing other problems. In other words, if toe walking

is used by a child to reduce sensory input, if used frequently, it

could ultimately mean the heel cords are not stretched often enough

and then it could become difficult to get off the toes, requiring

medical intervention. If toe walking is used only when barefoot and

the child isn't barefoot often, then it probably won't cause other

problems.

Our daughter toe-walked probably as a result of a muscular issue and

had very tight heel cords. From about age 2 on, we could simply

say, " get off your toes " and she'd go back down. If she did it

several times, we stopped, did stretching exercises and then usually

she was OK. Now, at 3.5 she is more prone to toe walk for sensory

reasons. But is at higher risk for having tight heel cords, so we try

to cut it off at the pass.

[Guest guest]

Larry,

 

I don't think I'm a toe-walker.  But...I may not understand toe-walking.

 

Can you describe exactly what toe-walking is?  Is it possible for someone to be

doing it and not realize it or is it very obvious?

 

Thank you,

<Mega calves come from years of toe walking<

[Guest guest]

While taking a step, the toe walker doesn't plant the heel first and roll

forward onto the toes. Instead the toe walker walks toes first and flexes the

calf/leg muscles to propel forward.

The gait isn't very common and is characterized by bouncing up and down with

each step. The shoes of a toe walker are very heavily creased where the toes

flex.

Toe walkers walk fast as they don't waste all that time with ankle flexing. I

think the speed helps in balancing because the surface of the foot on the ground

is much smaller than a normal gaited walker.

On the plus side, toe walkers are usually fast runners as running running is

done solely on the toes, and the toe walker has strong calves and intrinsic foot

muscles built up by the gait.

On the negative side, toe walkers have shortened Achilles tendons and are

constantly admonished by horseback riding instructors to " Get those ^# & $%^ heels

down! " A toe walker doesn't need heels down for balance as the have been

balancing very well, thank you very much, through their toes for years.

A toe walker usually has a wide foot, high arch, and short toes. This anatomy

may dictate how the gait evolves. Pes Cavus is one sign of CMT and the high

arch/short toes look like a mild case. Pes Cavus becomes more pronounced as time

goes by.

I hope this helps. BTW -- I don't toe walk anymore. I can't!

Regards.

--Larry

[Guest guest]

I am, by nature, a toe walker. However, the many physical therapy sessions and

beach walking have helped counter this. Toe walking is a forefoot strike on the

ground first, followed by the heel; the reverse of a heel/toe gait.

No kidding Larry, my riding instructors only wordss to me were constant " keep

your heels down " !

Having the inshoe orthotics has changed my gait to heel-toe walking, however, if

I am exceptionally tired, stressed or in a hurry I slide into toes first. But at

least I feel it and can 'remind' my feet to revert to heel-toe.

Gretchen

[Guest guest]

I am not a toe walker. I have flat feet and until 2 yrs ago when I got my

orthotics I walked without using my toes at all, more of a flat footed clomp

clomp clomp walk. Since getting my orthotics my gait has changed, even when I am

not wearing them. I have cartilege build up in one of my big toes from not

moving it much so not when I walk barefooted it clicks with every step (I get

funny looks from people). I have noticed changes in the shape of my legs, even

my hubby noticed, and I was afraid it was muscle wasting but maybe its from

using different muscles when I walk.

[Guest guest]

Hi Larry,

 

Thank you very much for the detailed explanation.  It helped me figure out that

I'm not a toe-walker.

 

It does make sense, however, that large calves would be related somehow to the

way we walk.  Perhaps there's overcompensation going on somehow for weak

foot/ankle muscles...or something like that.

 

From what I've been able to find online, the issue hasn't been studied enough to

say for certainty what causes it.  Maybe someday it will be.