If children are learning to walk, they should quickly stop tip-toe walking within a few weeks. There can be a variety of contributing factors for why a child might continue to toe walk.
Unresolved toe walking can result in:
- Tight muscles in the legs
- Impaired walking or running
- Pain in the legs
- Increased risk of tripping and falling
Case Study 1
- 7-year-old male
- Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis
- Tip-toe walked since started walking
- -25 degrees for plantar flexion on B ankles at evaluation
- Seven (7) weeks of occupational therapy
- Five (5) months of aquatic physical therapy, including a five days per week walking program
- Achieved heel contact in stance in pool
- Improved tolerance of shoe wear and improved walking tolerance/attention
Case Study 2
- 5-year-old female
- Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis
- Tip-toe walked since started walking
- Mother expressed concerns for tip-toe walking for falls
- Full ROM for plantar and dorsiflexion
- Therapist discussed toe walking program, but trialed reflex integration as a modality first
- Within one week of mother consistently doing home exercise program two times per day, patient had decreased tip-toe walking by 75%, per parent report
- No need to complete toe walking program at this time
For additional information on Good Shepherd Pediatrics’ toe walking services, contact Jennifer Schueck-Plominski, MS, OTR/L, at 610-737-4037 or [email protected].