Idiopathic Toe Walking Treatment

Why is my child always walking on their toes?


​If your child has a tendency to always walk on their toes, an experienced pediatric physiotherapist at Active Solution Physiotherapy Verdun will develop a treatment plan specifically for your your child.
WHAT IS IT?
WHAT CAUSES IT?
HOW CAN PHYSIO HELP?
WHAT IS IT?
​Toddlers may walk with their heels lifted when beginning to walk independently.  At the age of 2, children begin to develop walking patterns similar to adults and by the age of 3, the child has developed a mature walking pattern, thus the heel-toe pattern should be present. Idiopathic Toe Walking, also known as Habitual Toe Walking, refers to a child who stays on their toes while walking.
WHAT CAUSES IT?
​Idiopathic Toe Walking is often caused by shortening of the calf muscles rather than another underlying condition.
  1. Neurological – coming from the nervous system (ie. Cerebral Palsy)
  2. Myogenic – coming from a problem in the muscle tissue (ie. Muscular Dystrophy)
  3. Congenital – the way your child has grown (ie. Clubfeet)
In children with Idiopathic Toe Walking, they are usually able to stand with flat feet and Toe Walking may be inconsistent.  However, children with Cerebral Palsy are up on their toes consistently when standing and walking.  The greatest difference is the presence of Spasticity (the muscle is unable to relax) in the ankle, knee or hips in children with Cerebral Palsy, where as spasticity is not present in children with Idiopathic Toe Walking.​
HOW CAN PHYSIO HELP?
The main purpose of physiotherapy is to increase the flexibility of the calf muscle, allowing adequate movement in the ankle to allow heel toe walking pattern.  Active Solution Physiotherapy Verdun’s pediatric physiotherapists will develop a home program that includes stretching exercises to ensure adequate movement of the ankle when walking and strengthening exercises to ensure proper development.

Be Your Own Solution!

Call (514)767-6858 to reach Verdun & (514)769-6789 to reach Monk or click below!​
If you have any questions regarding how pediatric physiotherapy can help, please do not hesitate to contact us by filling out this form.
references
Song, Kit M MD, Staheli, Lynn T MD. (2007). Pediatric Orthopaedic Secrets, 3rd edition. Philadelphia: Elsevier Inc.
Campbell, S. Vander Linden, D. Palisano, R. (2006). Physical Therapy for Children, 3rd edition. St. Louis: Elsevier Inc.