Watching a youngster’s first steps is an emotional moment. And before long, those awkward stumbles turn into a confident hustle, as the child learns to navigate their surroundings on foot.
But what if they’re doing it on their toes instead?
This approach is fairly common when a child is just starting out, but when it continues past age 2, it can indicate something else.
Our experts at Premier Foot and Ankle Center have extensive experience with childhood foot disorders. While some may be present from birth, others can appear with time.
Does your child walk on their toes? Here’s what you should know.
As mentioned, it’s quite natural for a child to walk on their toes early on. But when it continues past those toddler years, it often has other reasons.
In many cases, it’s simply due to habit, and it’s likely they’ll outgrow it. But toe walking can also occur because of:
Toe walking can also run in families.
While walking on the balls of the feet may not seem like cause for concern, it does increase the risk of falling and social stigma.
If you have concerns about how your child walks, speak to their healthcare provider.
This expert can review their medical history and perform a physical exam. They could also suggest neurological tests to assess their nervous system.
From there, you can partner with a podiatry expert on your child’s foot disorder — like our team at Premier Foot and Ankle Center — for further assessment.
Based on this comprehensive evaluation, we can help outline the best course of treatment for their toe walking.
We take a variety of approaches when treating toe walking, depending on the child’s age, the severity of the problem, and its underlying cause.
Whenever possible, we take a conservative approach to start. In some cases, that simply means watching their condition for six months to see if it improves.
Other times, it involves ankle-foot orthotics and physical therapy to stretch calf and foot muscles.
For children over age 5, we sometimes recommend surgery to improve range of motion and function in the foot and ankle by loosening and lengthening the Achilles tendons and calf muscles.
While children often grow out of this condition, it’s essential to speak to their pediatrician or a podiatrist as early as possible.
Without treatment, the Achilles tendons and calf muscles can tighten further, making it incredibly difficult and even impossible for your child to walk on flat feet.
It can also limit the child’s range of motion and interfere with their ability to wear certain shoes or participate in certain sports.
For some, it can even persist into adulthood and lead to musculoskeletal issues and pain.
Does your child walk on their toes? Contact us at Premier Foot and Ankle Center to schedule a consultation in Worcester or Webster, Massachusetts, today.
