Toe Walking - Rochester, NH

My Daughter Bria is now 10 and always walks around on her tip toes. I have always been concerned and asked her if anything hurts when walking or standing on flat ground etc. and she always says no! but she being 10 and very tall as it is I find it embarrassing and rather concerning to watch her do this all the time. We got her in Basketball at 8 and she looked ridiculous running up and down the court on her toes... I am concerned, she also has issues every once in awhile with her bowl movements (very large stools) and even excessive bathroom visits which keep her out of school at times are these connected???.. Worried Father here.. anyone think I am over reacting? Tonight she passed a very large stool that was hard and long clogged the toilet.. Doctors have tested her in the past and nothing ever comes from it..

Hello,
I know exactly what you are talking about. My 6 y/o god-daughter has done it since she started walking. We all thought it ws cute and joked that she will be a dancer. On her last phys. her doctor told her parents that it has turned out to be a bad thing, the tendens in her legs have tightened up from lack of proper walking. He has given her 1 year to correct her walk on her own and if she can't do it on her own she will start Physical Therapy and maybe braces. So now when we see her do it we yell FEET and she trys to fix it but a few minutes later we catch her doing it again. She has about 5 more months to fix it hopefully she can b/c she starts first grade in the fall and I'd hate for her to be put in braces while adjusting to school. I've noticed my 17 month old doing it and we are stopping it now by correcting her and when she thinks it's fun we don't give her any attention good or bad and then she stops. Good luck!

I personally know three kids with this issue. One boy (my neighbor) saw a doctor at Children's Hospital in Boston and he put him in leg braces to break the habit. He wore them for about a year or so when he was 4 or 5. He no longer walks on his toes. My godson was a toe walker too and he grew out of it by 5 or so. My daughter's best friend is now 11 and she still walks on her toes. Her calves are very tight and she has difficulty walking flat foot. She was doing physical therapy at home with her mom and sometimes on her own but they've since stopped. She is a dancer and looks great in ballet but still those calf muscles need to be loosened up or she could have an injury. I would see your pediatrician and let him/her see your child walk and assess from there. I think every case is different.

Hello M., I am a 40+ year old woman who also toe walked for years. I actually did turn out to be a dancer but I'm sure not every toe walker does. I have had no problems with my feet or ligaments or muscles. The way I look at it is if a Dr. doesn't see any problem than it is usually just what is comfortable for the child. I noticed that all of the other people who posted seemed to have problems. I can honestly say I have had none, and I was an excellent student in school.

If kids are toe walking a lot, it is usually a sensory issue: either it feels uncomfortable to walk on flat feet, or the toe-walking gives them a little something extra in the sensory dept that they enjoy. Either way, it is something you should have looked at. It can also be a sign of developmental disabilities (a lot of these kids have sensory issues). My daughter is a toe-walker and is also autistic. That does not mean there will be anything wrong with yours! But it's worth ruling out, just the same; she could have a mild disability that won't show up until school otherwise, and if it's found early, then she can catch up now. The earlier the better! Or she might be fine. But it would be better to know for sure. And it would be better to get her into some sort of routine to teach her to walk on her flat feet now, whether something informal at home or some OT (if she does have a sensory issue, she may have other sensory issues that you haven't even realized--it was that way with my daughter--and OT could take care of these). Good luck!

Hi M.,
It could be a medical issue; but I do know someone who walks on their toes as an adult. He has awesome calve muscles and athleticly has done extrodinary. Maybe ask your pediatrition their thoughts and go from there. Good luck!

My Step-sister started walking on her toes when she first started walking and now she is 9 and still walks on her toes. It was really cute a first but now it is a real big problem if it does not get corrected. It now hurts her to walk on "flat feet". here is what happens medically speaking: The tendon in the heel will start to shrink and she will have to have sugergy to stretch the tendon. My sister is now 9 and will have her first sugergy next month. the will stretch the tendon and she will have to wear special shoes to help her keep stretching it. If that does not work she will have to continue to have sugerys until the dr's can stretch it back. Just a little about what she has to go through.
if you need anything just let me know.

N.