Child goes on tiptoe
It's not a bad habit, nor is it a "tick". We're talking about toe walking. It's a medical disorder. The good news: The chances of therapy are very successful.
Habitual Toe Walking: What Causes the Disorder?
Toe walking or Toe gait is recognized as a clinical picture in the classifications used worldwide, but science does not agree on the causes of the gait anomaly.
For one, the (excessive) gait on the forefoot is on independent disorder on its own, on the other hand, toe walking can also occur as a side effect of various other diseases. Seem like that Children with intellectual disabilities and autism relatively often to prefer the habitual toe walk.
However, just because a child frequently walks on its front foot does not mean that it has a mental disorder. However, the gait anomaly should not be downplayed. On the contrary! The earlier a faulty gait is corrected, the more successful the therapy.
Standing on your own two feet: the habitual toe walking is already evident in infancy
The phenomenon of toe-walkers is not new to science. Aside from early descriptions in ancient medical publications, physicians and scientists have had a look at the gait abnormality since the 1950s.
Forefoot walking usually occurs in early childhood. Here, parents should carefully monitor whether the child often and in normal everyday situations on the tiptoeing, or whether it's only in exciting situations, in the game or, for example, at nervousness does.
In any case, the pediatrician should be informed if walking on the forefoot lasts several weeks. Generally speaking, we are talking about walking freely, not when the small child “walks” by holding on to a piece of furniture. Then further diagnostics can begin. Various factors are taken into account, including the anatomy of the foot, ankle and hip, as well as rotational and balance skills.
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Why does a child become a toe walker?
The causes of habitual toe walking the gait on the forefoot can be of different nature. Possible causes of the gait abnormality are one shortened Achilles tendon or calf muscles, one muscular or developmental disorder, also one hypersensitivity the area between the toes and the beginning of the verse or family, i.e. genetic, pre-existing conditions. Interestingly, pneumonia is also suspected of having an impact on later toe walking.
Toe walking is still relatively common up to the second year of life; should not master the complete gait pattern. In addition, the ability to place the foot flat when standing should be given.
By the age of three at the latest, the child should make the rolling movement when walking. If it does not do this, side effects can result over a longer period of time. Knee and back pain are often associated with habitual, i.e. habitual, toe walking.
As a rule, the behavior of constantly walking on the front foot disappears on its own by the age of five. Even the pediatrician will not initiate a therapeutic measure immediately if tiptoe walking is already an issue.
If the damage persists, action is required
However, if motor damage such as hardened calf muscles, a pointed heel or a flattened forefoot is already present, there is a need for action. Various approaches with very good therapeutic outcomes are considered here. One way to treat the abnormal gait is physical therapy. Accompanying this, in private stretching the Achilles tendon and the calf muscles favor the outcome of the therapy, as well as, if prescribed, custom-made ones insoles for the shoes.
On the other hand, they are a bit more static Splints or orthoses, which, depending on the severity of the anomaly, should be worn both day and night. Also Botox injections in the calf muscle are used as therapeutic measures, but always only represent a temporary therapy with the effect that the calf muscles relax completely. Only in rare cases is an operation required, for example to lengthen a shortened Achilles tendon.
The fact that small children sometimes walk on tiptoe should come as a surprise to only a few parents. However, if walking on the front foot becomes a habit, lasts for several months and progresses with age, then the causes should be clarified. Often the anomaly goes away on its own; alternatively, physiotherapy and insoles can improve gait. Parents can prevent the use of a so-called "walk-free". Some studies examine a connection between the intensity of toe-walking and being in an ambulatory in early childhood.
