Walking on Tip-Toes

Idiopathic Toe Walking is when a child continues to walk on their tip-toes. 25% of children may walk this way. 

There are various causes including: 

• Habit – many children simply get into the habit of walking this way
• Shortened Achilles’ Tendon – this is the tendon at the back of the heel
• Weak core muscles – this can cause changes in posture which makes it easy to walk on the toes
• Neurological – conditions such as Cerebral Palsy may cause a child to toe walk. 

Prompting

If walking on tip-toes has become a habit, encourage and remind your child to walk heal-to-toe.

Exercises

Increasing flexibility by stretching the calf muscles can help. Click here for a calf-stretch exercise you can do at home.

If symptoms do not improve, a specialist referral can be made to podiatry.