Toe Walking Treatment Bankstown NSW
What Is Toe Walking?
As you would expect, toe walking is when your child walks on their toes or on the balls of their feet placing little to no pressure on the heel. It is a fairly common condition when your children are just learning to walk and many outgrow toe walking as they mature and learn to walk properly.
If your child is still toe walking at 6 years old, it is best to consult with our podiatrists as it may be an underlying symptom of cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy. Toe walking past this age has also been linked to a possibility of autism.
Causes of Toe Walking
Toe walking is usually caused by a short Achilles tendon or a spastic muscle, and symptoms often include stiff muscles, un-coordination, a waddling gait and the slow development of fine and gross motor skills. Toe walking can also be habitual, the cause of which is unknown.
Toe Walking Treatment
Treatment options are usually limited at first and a watch and see approach is undertaken to see if the problem is simply outgrown. If this is not the case then casting or braces can be used to stretch the tendons and force correct posture/walking. Botox therapy can also be a possibility which helps to reduce the opposition from other muscles and surgery to lengthen the tendons can also be used in severe cases.
If you are concerned about your child suffering from toe walking, let us put your mind at ease. At Bankstown Podiatry Clinic, our team of experienced podiatrist can help with a range of conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Correct Toe Walking?: If your child continues to toe walk past the age of 3, this is called idiopathic toe walking and there are steps you can take at home to try and correct it. This includes calf stretches, achilles tendon stretches and sit to stand exercises. However, if your child continues toe walking past the age of 6, you should book an appointment with a Bankstown podiatrist to determine to the underlying cause.
When Should I Be Concerned About My Toe Walking?: While toe walking is usually associated with children, it can affect adults. You may have always toe walked or you may have started toe walking in adulthood as a result of calluses, corns or peripheral neuropathy. Book an appointment with a Bankstown podiatrist to day for assessment and treatment.
Long Term Effects of Toe Walking: If your child continues toe walking past the age of 6 and its not corrected, long term effects include tight muscles and tendons and abnormal stress on the bones and ligaments of the knees, hips and lower back.
Is Toe Walking Bad?: Toe walking is completely normal in children between 12 and 24 months old. If your child is still toe walking past the age of 3, you should attempt to correct it at home with calf stretches, achilles tendon stretches and sit to stand exercises. If your child continues toe walking past the age of 6, book an appointment with a Bankstown podiatrist as it could be a symptom of an underlying issue.