Tips for Toe Walkers

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD PREFERS TO WALK ON THEIR TOES

What is toe walking?

Toe walking is when you walk on the balls of your feet without heel contact. Toe walking can be typical for new walkers but, if your child walks on their toes more than 80% of the day or is over 2 years old and is still walking on their toes, it may be time to check out these recommendations!

Toe walking over a long period of time can create tightness in the calf muscle and can make it difficult to complete tasks such as stairs, squatting, and walking without tripping. Here are some tips and tricks for addressing toe walking.

Physical therapists can address toe walking with children by helping complete stretches, strengthening of ankle muscles, and gait training. If you are concerned about your child’s toe walking, scheduling a PT evaluation is a great place to start. Selecting a stiff shoe for your child to wear may also help decrease toe walking. If your child goes to push up on their toes, they will get some resistance from the sole of the shoe, and it may cue them to get their feet flat.

Exercises to help decrease toe walking include: duck walking (walking on heels), standing on one foot, pushing a laundry basket full of toys, squatting, and placing a wash cloth under each foot and having your child “ice-skate” by sliding their feet on the floor with the towels under.

Feel free to reach out to any of our physical therapists at Reach for Speech if you have questions about your child’s toe walking.