If you still have questions book a free 20 minute phone call or paid 60 minute online consultation with me here: drlaurenbaker.clientsecure.me/request/service
My son has always been a toe walker, he’s now 15 and he has calves that are very muscular but the shape of his foot is definitely being affected. I’m going to try some of these exercises because he is able to “pretend” like he walks normal but not for long. His balance is very affected as well so sitting down for some of these will be helpful. Thank you so much! 12:55
Thanks so much for the comment Katie! If you have physiotherapy or physical therapy in your area I would highly recommend having your sons ankle mobility evaluated preferably by a physical therapist with a background in manual therapy. The areas of mobility I would want looked at in the ankle are the talocrural joint (the main ankle bone) as well as the subtalar joint (heel bone one ankle bone) as well as how the bones in the forefoot/midfoot are moving on each other. Prolonged toe walking can result in hypo mobility of the joints of the ankle and foot (they move less than they should) because of how gait has been utilized (for any number of underlying reasons, toe walking is tough to decipher for the best of us and often takes a team approach). Hopefully these exercises help with some quick wins but I would definitely recommend having at least an evaluation with a PT if possible!
i wish i had stopped walking on my toes as a kid. im 22 and kept the habit up all these years and im just now starting to notice back, foot and ankle pain. arthritis runs in my family so that probably doesnt help either lol. take it from a kid who walked on their toes who is an adult now, try not to beat yourself up too hard over it if your kids keep doing it. i dont blame my parents for not being able to help me kick the habit. kids just dont understand what its like to hurt all the time as an adult haha.
Fluffy Dragonslayer, gosh what a heartfelt comment you left for all the mamas and parents on here looking for solutions for their kiddos. I am SO grateful you took a few moments to share your experience because I think it will help others continue their journey toward answers and give them the strength and motivation and perspective they need to keep learning and trying. I want you to know that it isn’t too late. As a 22 year old the type of therapy would likely look slightly differently but a lot of these exercises can help too regardless of age. Since you are experiencing pain I would highly recommend seeing a manual therapy trained orthopedic physical therapist or physiotherapist. Based on the short history you so kindly left, my first thoughts would be to have someone look at your talocrural joints, specifically in the posterior direction, the length of the Achilles’ tendon, big toe flexibility, and how your mid foot/forefoot bones rotate specifically internal and external rotation of the cuboid. I’d additionally make sure your hip mobility and gluteal muscles are screened and that core strength is assessed as well since all of these things combined can impact back, foot and ankle pain. I hope this journey goes easier for you from here on out with the knowledge you’re learning 💕💕 Lauren
Also Fluffy, try this nerve glide in addition to the one in the video, since you’ve done it for so long I’d want to have you know and try both nerve glides Femoral Nerve Glide For Hip Pain and Tightness ua-cam.com/video/AIXqrjteZx0/v-deo.html
ABSOLUTELY! If you’re in the United States I would call an orthopedic outpatient physical therapy clinic, if you use insurance benefits you’ll likely also need a script from your primary care physician for “physical therapy” and it’ll likely say something like “back pain” or “foot pain.” You’re honestly often times better off going closer to the root of the problem so I’d recommend “foot or ankle pain.” If you’re outside of the states, your country might have a different process but ideally you want to go to a physio therapist or physical therapist who puts their hands on your ankle and other joints for at least 20-30 minutes per session especially in the beginning. I will see if I can pull up a list of PTs with my certification for manual therapy and post it for you.
Fluffy, here is a listing of all physical therapists that have a similar certification as me and is a good place to start to see if any are near you: usa-cpe.edubrite.com/site/cms.do?view=Certification%20Graduate%20Listing Otherwise, googling "outpatient physical therapy near me" would be the best place to start, good luck!
My 5yo son needs PT but I’m in an area where there aren’t many options for pediatric PT. I’m planning and taking this into my own hands and helping him. Thank you for this video. My son “toe runs”. He used to be in AFOs for about 10 months but now he’s out of them and I think he was maybe taking out too soon because he’s still on his toes. Thank you for this video. I’m don’t sleep much thinking I’m not doing enough for him. This video gives me hope I can still help him. 🙏🏽
Hi Elsie! Thank you so much for your comment, I apologize that it took me MONTHS to respond :( -- I try my best, but I am sure as you know, life can get away from us. Toe walking is really tough for families and kids because so much can be going on. If your child had AFOs they may have weakness still present in the ankles. My favorite exercise to strengthen the ankles that you can do in a lot of different environments and with a lot of different toys/games is the toddler squat: ua-cam.com/video/dhsJdtHAj94/v-deo.htmlsi=_7OivdByIXFNpusq I also have found that if there is a sensory component the sensory soles can help: ua-cam.com/video/eWOuoReZHPA/v-deo.htmlsi=pyCWY9oOsh8p4gqh I have also had some success with using the little steps inserts for ankle support in shoes if toe walking is due to instability at the ankle: nolaro24.com/ls.html Here is some information on a few of the experts in the peds space for toe walking in the US: www.knowtochange.com/ If you have additional questions, you can schedule a 1:1 online video parent consultation with me here at anytime: drlaurenbaker.clientsecure.me/request/service -- I am also happy to try to connect you with a provider in your state that might do telehealth services. I hope this helps! Lauren
I’m 21 years old. I’ve been walking on my toes since I was little. Did PT, stayed in casts for like 6 weeks and stuff. Nothing helped. At first it was just an insecurity issue really due to being young and in school. Now that I’m older though I am getting hip pain and just feel stiff constantly and slight pain. Wish my parents would’ve gotten a surgery done for me but I understand being scared. But it sucks having this as an adult. I am a nurse now and walk all day and my legs are so tight it’s ridiculous.
Pablo, congrats on being a nurse! That is amazing and welcome to the healthcare field. Toe walking is so tough for all involved, serial casting followed by bracing (usually AFOs) is a pretty significant intervention, followed only by botox injections or achilles tendon surgical lengthening;however, since toe walking is often multifactoral, there is unfortunately no guarantee that surgical intervention would have cured the underlying cause. While musculoskeletal (muscle length/tightness) is a component, it might not be the true or primary cause. Other considerations include: Neural tension (nerve glides are a treatment for this like in the video) Functional Vision (often times vision therapy including the use of prisim glasses can assist in body awareness and shift a persons weight back onto their heels) Sensory: check out www.sensorysole.com for sensory inserts that can be used in shoes Vestibular input (often using vibration playes with 10-12Hz up to 25Hz if you can find it can assist, there is research that shows individuals who toe walk need higher vibration (have higher thresholds of vibration sensation) than those who do not. For further research: Liesa M. Persaud, PT, DPT, PCS, CKTP is the expert in toe walking in the US and hosts courses available here for healthcare professionals www.educationresourcesinc.com/new-toe-walking-course-for-pts-and-ots-presented-by-our-new-speaker-liesa-persaud-pt-dpt-pcs-cktp/ I hope this information gives you hope. The other option for leg tightness is night splits that would hold your ankles in dorsiflexion and allow for stretching in the calves to avoid contractures. If you are able to passively get your ankle to 90 degrees, you may not need the braces but an orthotist or orthopedic physical therapist could tell you for sure during an evaluation if it would be a good option.
Hi Lauren, I have been struggling with my son for 5 years now with his toewalking and you are the first one explaining the sensory part of it. He hates taking off his socks and when I tried to put his bare foot on the beans he pulled it out immediately saying it was hot and hurts! Thank you so much, I just understood this is his problem because he is fine with the rest of the exercises. Please how can I start desensitizing his feet? I would really appreciate a video or advice on that.
Hi Zsofia, thank you so much for this comment. I’m so grateful you found this video. The best expert for the sensory aspect of toe walking is truly an occupational therapist. If an OT is available in your area I would highly recommend a consultation or evaluation for your son for an individualized plan. I will try to find a few other videos that might help in the meantime or if you’re in a location where OTs aren’t prevalent. I know a lot of subscribers or viewers are from outside the US so I try not to make generalizations that their experiences or access to therapists is the same as in the US where I am. One protocol that may be helpful is called brushing, essentially there is a plastic brush with coarse bristles that is utilized along with other softer brushes. However, there is a system to it which OTs or other sensory specialists learn. I’ll try to find a copy of that as well. In the meantime, it’s important to go to a child’s tolerance. It’s okay if they feel uncomfortable for a bit but can maintain it, but do not force or go past moderate uncomfortable level as it’s important to not force and increase tolerance very slowly. I hope this comment helps and I will find a few helpful resources for you. Please let me know if you have any additional questions. Lauren
@@DrLaurenBaker thank you so much for your answer, Lauren! I live in UK and here they say since he doesn't have any muscular or neurological problem and it seems like only a bad habit, we should just do his exercises daily and that's it. I tried the beans box the next day again and guess what? He was fine with it, said it didn't hurt any more so maybe it is not a sensory issue then again... I am thinking about taking him to do judo or karate, maybe sport would help to get more conscious about how he is holding his feet.
@@BodyCommando Sometimes kiddos need exposure to different textures and then their neuroprocessing adapts quickly. Since your son had an immediate pain tolerance, which isn't the most common I would definitely encourage increasing his exposure to different sensory experiences in both the hands and feet. I have been looking up a few ideas and can send them now! I'm so glad that he did better the second time with the beans, that's amazing to hear!
@@BodyCommando Here is a great example of sensory brushing: ua-cam.com/video/cz-nCvFLEcg/v-deo.html Surgical brushes from amazon (affiliate link): amzn.to/3qWDOdX Other sensory ideas: Playdough: ua-cam.com/video/hCGe4S7X100/v-deo.html Variety of activities (def use feet as well as hands!): ua-cam.com/video/Rjk-F8Q0hcY/v-deo.html TONS of foot ideas: ua-cam.com/video/uBh7ekFmG5o/v-deo.html Hopefully these ideas are helpful for you and your family & also fun :)
@@DrLaurenBaker wow, I'm so excited now to try all these ideas, I would have never imagined this is the way to treat toe walking :O And also there is no information about it anywhere online so I am very lucky I found you, thank you again, you are the best!!
So interesting. I did not meet my late husband till he was 29. I did not recognize a problem till many years thereafter. It ended up with his more or less ‘running downhill,’ culminating in serious fall with significant damage. ‘Culminating’ is not actually correct, as the problem continued after the damage was incurred. There was even a time in which I asked him to show me if he could, literally, put his heel down first (maybe 30 years married?). He could. Ever after, I’ve as a mother, wondered how he might have been earlier helped. I’ve lots more, but am stopping here. Thanks for your practical video.
Thanks for the comment @naturalpaths! I appreciate your story, it's surprising how many stories I hear from adults on wishing there was more information on toe walking when they were growing up. I am sorry to hear that your husband's experience ended up relating to his fall and more importantly, for your loss. Ankle mobility is so important, especially as we age because of how it influences walking, walking on uneven ground, getting up from the floor, and walking up/down stairs. To put some ease to your mind, many parents and friends have experienced similar questions and pondered the same thoughts. For those still looking for answers, my recommendation for adult individuals is to: - Speak with an OT on taking the Sensory Profile Questionnaire to determine if you have any sensory sensitivities or avoidances. This can bring insight into how you interact with sensory information in the environment (sensory can be a huge component in toe walking) - Work with an outpatient physical therapist who is additionally trained in manual therapy: specifically mobilizations of the ankle (talocrural joint, tibia/fibular joints, subtalar joints, and the joints in the foot including cuboid). - Be curious about alternative options including chiropractic care or acupuncture that can decrease stress on the nervous system, as the autonomic nervous system can impact how we walk. - Rule out functional visual difficulties/diagnoses: go to a vision therapy center to have an evaluation including asking about whether prism glasses may be appropriate.
@@DrLaurenBaker Until now, I did not know it was a medical ‘thing.’ I’d like to think that, had I been my husband’s mother instead of his wife, I’d have noticed it and, at the very least help him focus on putting his heal down first while learning to walk. Hopefully I’d have sought further help if necessary. I can almost say I felt both sad and angry on his behalf. To be fair to his parents, he was born in 1946, so times were very different.
@@naturalPaths yes, honestly SO MUCH has been learnt even in the last ten years about toe walking, so that does not surprise me. To be honest, the world of PT in America literally BEGAN in 1921, so when he was growing up it was absolutely in its infancy as far as knowledge goes.
@@DrLaurenBaker By any chance, has this physical condition (I’m not versed in correct identifiers) ever been associated with mental health considerations? I ask because my husband also had BPD. His was a ‘classic’ 5 year cycle, so type of disorder may be relevant as well. (BPD was Also new, so I was married 20 years before I myself diagnosed him with the help of dial up internet - it’s own story, which includes family history, and husband’s mother!) Note: Our son had neither BPD nor toe walking. Sorry, I don’t mean to take your time, it’s just so interesting, and who know what tiny thing may help others. I promise to not continue to intrude!
@@naturalPaths I totally get it and clearly (based on my extremely long responses to others on all my videos, love to chat too!). I have not come across toe walking being associated with mental health diagnoses specifically, BUT it has been associated with emotional responses/regulation so there COULD be at least an underlying current since mental and emotional health/symptoms/experiences are intertwined.
Thanks for the video. We are from India. My 16 year old daughter has always been a toe walker. Orthopedics say its due to short archilles tendon. Few suggest lengthening surgery and few have sugegsted botox injections. We are not 100% convinced with either. She can walk normally when she realises it. But over the years she has constant pain in calf and toe numbness too which I am mostly concerned about. Is 16 too late? What can i do as we did PT and even AFOs for 2-3 years before Covid and it didn't help at all. Thanks
Hi Bushra, thanks so much for the comment. I would continue to be intentional about working on toe walking even at 16. There are so many different aspects to toe walking that it is a really difficult diagnosis to fully resolve but worth the effort to maintain an effort toward. Here are a few additional ideas that may or may not be in the video (sometimes it is hard to remember!) - The toddler squat: this is my favorite for strengthening and lengthening those ankle: ua-cam.com/video/dhsJdtHAj94/v-deo.htmlsi=ycV8EMOYP7QJlin0 Sensory sole inserts: ua-cam.com/video/eWOuoReZHPA/v-deo.htmlsi=0Rj9g7QKwfGuwO1i Vibration plate exercises: some people need more input in their feet and vibration can be a great option. I use a vibration plate off amazon but I am not sure if it is available in india. If you have access to a clinic with a hypervibe that would be ideal. Here is the vibration plate I own: kit.co/drlaurenbaker/pediatric-physical-therapy/6225505-lifepro-waver-mini-v An outpatient physical therapist might also be able to complete ankle mobilizations including the anterior-posterior glide of the talus which might assist. Tendon lengthening procedures are extreme and may or may not solve the underlying cause. If she can get her feet flat with intention, a tendon lengthening procedure will likely not solve the toe walking as she has enough length at the tendon to be foot flat, that further lengthening is likely not helpful but each child and family should definitely discuss these with their provider’s recommending that care. I hope this helps!
Bushra, the numbness could be due to neural tension in the nerves in her legs. I believe I talked about sciatic nerve glides in the video but if not there are a ton of good sciatic nerve glides on youtube to try, the other one I would recommend to try is the femoral nerve glide. Here is my video for that: ua-cam.com/video/AIXqrjteZx0/v-deo.htmlsi=9fejuDBEjdcgAdxE I hope these help! Lauren
Hi Lauren! Thanks for letting me know the link in the description is no longer available, I will update that. Here are two other versions: *Cheaper version with less no slip but still good reviews and similar heights/make: amzn.to/46sRAX7 *More expensive, looks like better grip, more stones total plus a bag to store, slightly higher review rating: amzn.to/3Rg74cD (*Affiliate links). Can also search “balance stones,” “balance steps,” “balance stepping stones” if you want to see what other options are out there! Those two look good from a PT perspective though!
Hi! thanks for the comment -- all the links for similar products or exact products are in the description. Here they are as well: LINKS IN VIDEO balance steps - amzn.to/3mWy40s adjustable slant board - amzn.to/3p4a7aj foam wedge slant board - amzn.to/3j6cJAI large cones - amzn.to/3mV5E6Z small cones - amzn.to/3AIH1PP water beads - kit.co/drlaurenbaker/best-pediatric-sensory-toys/wopunos-water-beads water beads brand #2 - kit.co/drlaurenbaker/best-pediatric-sensory-toys-equipment/sensory-jungle-ocean alphabet bean bags - amzn.to/2Z0KXib
hi! ty for the video it was very helpful. I've always struggled with toe walking and have been doing stretches including the one that stretches the sciatic nerve. I have a question though, whenever I do that stretch, my calf muscles don't feel like they're being stretched (like it does in my hamstring), instead it feels slightly tingly almost like pins and needles. Is that because the nerve is tight? Or should it feel different? I also do that calf stretch where you stand on a step with your toes and move your heel down and that doesn't feel tingly, but it doesn't reduce the tingly-ness when I do the sciatic nerve stretch again.
Hi Joy! These are my favorite kinds of questions because it means that you are paying such close attention to your body and that is AMAZING and something to be so proud of being intentional about! You are absolutely on the right track. Think of the nerve glides and the stretches as two completely different activities that work on two completely different structures in the body so it’s totally normal for them to feel different. Sometimes the calf stretches can compliment the nerve glides and vice versa but they’re still different enough that you’ll likely continue to have to do both. The tingling is the nerve being gently lengthened. Tingling can happen also at rest if a nerve is being squished for lack of better word or is not allowed to move through it’s full length so think of the tingling at rest like oh my nerve is probably not happy I should make time for my glides and the tingling while you’re doing the glides as “if this feels good then it’s okay, if it feels like too much it’s okay to back off” The biggest thing with glides is that you don’t want to hold the position like you do with stretches since it’s focusing on different structures. Just gently go through the range. I also find glides make my legs a different kind of exhausted tired than muscle stretching. As long as it’s a tolerable, I’m not pushing this too far tired then it’s fine. I love doing nerve glides 1-2x a day up to 10-30x each leg based on my own personal tolerance. Hope this helps! If you’d like more information or have more questions you can book an online consult here: drlaurenbaker.clientsecure.me/request/service
@@DrLaurenBaker wow thank you so much! You replied so quickly and this is amazingly helpful! I'll keep doing those stretches then (and glides!) to help both the muscle and then nerve. Thanks, this is awesome, keep it up!
You’re so welcome! I do truly love helping people understand how their body moves and connect them to things that can help it move better & their experience with movement better. My only other thing would be to recommend trying an insert or orthotic with a heel cup to see if that helped stabilize the ankle and then decrease the need to go on the toes as ankle instability can be an underlying cause for toe walking as well. A lot of orthotists can evaluate individuals for custom orthotics that might help the overall system.
You mentioned the Sciatica nerve. I always walked on my toe as a child and lately I have been diagnosed with gluten ataxia and an upper motor neuron disease. Since I have the Babinksi sign and the Hoffman sign retained could I also strech as you did ?
Hi Alessandro, thanks so much for the comment. I would definitely run any exercises by your neurologist or PT if you have one, that being said, if you do the sciatic nerve glides, you may notice some tremor-ing due to the clonus from compression on the upper motor neurons or disruptions in their pathways. That being said, if you try anything I would absolutely go at your own pace and with someone home with you. I hope this helps and good luck, Lauren
Dr Baker, I wonder what is your professional opinion on “foot-to-floor ride on toys” for young toddlers? At what age are they safe to use? Are they beneficial?
Here is the same comment that I posted on your other questions in the event you see it here first! Hi Milena! Thanks for the comment. I like ride on toys for the most part, as long as they are toys that you can get on/off - much better than sit in exersausers which I do not recommend at all. I happen to like balance bikes a bit more than ride on toys because you can introduce them around the same age but they can last a bit longer especially if you invest in one that can go down to two wheels vs three. I just grabbed this one for my nephew who is 12 months and he does well with it. amzn.to/3TtNiM4 (affiliate). Balance bikes are shown to be awesome to progress kids to even regular bike riding. This instagram reel is impressive from one of my PT friends: instagram.com/reel/CrZb_vPp8lG/?igsh=Nnk5ZHMycGEyZ3Bt So while I think ride on toys are good, I think balance bikes that can go from three wheels to two wheels are even better. And would say 12 months is a good age, must be able to stand and pull to stand and take steps while holding on. Ideally have crawled for 2-3 months.
Would this help my almost 10 year old son that’s been toe walking since he was 1 years old? Or do you have any other advice for older kids that can help?
Hi Cristina! Thanks so much for the comment, I apologize that it's taken me a few days to get back to you. These exercises can help a kiddo at any age. If a kiddo has been toe walking longer, it can take longer to find the reason behind it. Toe walking is very complex but these exercises are a great start. Here are a few other ideas: - Physical Therapy / Physiotherapy can help make sure the ankle joints are working well, figure out whether there are any muscle imbalances, and look at the neural tension potentially caused by/contributing to toe walking (sciatic nerve is my biggest find but femoral nerve can also be impacted). They can also help with balance, jumping, or coordination. PT also works on orthotics/shoe inserts. I personally have liked both the sensory soles inserts (can get on your own without PT here: www.sensorysole.com/ ) and little steps inserts (do need a PT or orthotist to fit / size: nolaro24.com/ls.html ) - Occupational Therapy can work on the sensory side of toe walking as they are the experts in figuring out the intensity and tolerance as well as providing standardized tests on sensory such as the Sensory Profile -2, which I find really helpful with kiddos who are toe walking, as toe walking can have a sensory component. Some PTs are additionally trained in the sensory system but not all, so usually I refer to OT for this area. Hopefully these can help. If you find the bean bath on the feet is uncomfortable, I would look into more sensory concenrs and whether there is other things popping up in eating, noise, lights, or movement. Good luck! If you still have questions, check the pinned comment for a link to schedule a parent consultation and we can dive a little deeper into more specifics and I can always help you find a provider in your area.
What an awesome video! My 6 yo daughter only has issue with her left leg. Is this normal when a child only toe walks on one foot? My wife and I have purchased the expensive AFO braces which hasn't really worked with her issues. I'm going to start working with her on these exercises. Fingers crossed this helps her....
Rjmlakota, thank you so much for your comment. To my knowledge it isn’t super common to only toe walk on one foot unless there is something neurological going on, but that being said - it doesn’t mean it isn’t impossible. If one ankle is less stable a child could use toe walking as a way to make it more stable. AFOs will help stabilize the ankle and keep it in dorsiflexion and can help with toe walking or falling while walking, but I would absolutely recommend adding in exercises or seeing a peds physical therapist / physiotherapist to gain more insight on your Daughters movement patterns and rule out any areas of weakness or mobility concerns. I hope this helps! Dr Lauren
@@DrLaurenBaker I have the same issue with my 12 year old son - left foot only is intoeing. Since he was 3, I kept going to all the doctors and exercises didn’t help at all. He didn’t grow out of it. As a result he’s worse at sport at school for which he’s being bullied. He can’t run properly and gets tired quickly. I’m going to GP next week to beg for another referral to the hospital as now my son has pain while walking … he walks like an old man. It’s a shame that no one listened and I was told I’m making this up and it will all go away. 😢
@@user-md1qz7ie2q I am so sorry that you were made to feel like your concerns weren’t valid, that is a really heartbreaking situation to be in for a parent and I’m so proud of you for continuing to advocate for your child. In toeing usually comes from the hip either due to weakness, tightness, or potential changes in how the hip bone (femur) sits in the pelvis bone socket (acetabulum). Usually pediatric physical therapists can influence in toeing even just one side with core strengthening, hip/leg/ankle strengthening, and flexibility work in the opposite directions. We often utilize other external support structures such as shoe inserts like these gait plates (not sure your location but an orthotist in your area may know of a different brand/version as well): nolaro24.com/gp.html If possible I would absolutely encourage working 1:1 with a peds physio or physical therapist. If you’re struggling to find one in your area you can book a parent consultation in the pinned comment with me and we can talk about strategic exercises that may help. Good luck, Lauren
@@DrLaurenBaker Thank you so much! I’m in central London, Uk, going to see GP this evening so will share your post if it’s ok. I got him insoles and put those extra sticky pads on the inside part of them ti force feet to outside position. Will keep doing exercises. I’m sure it’s a hip problem. Shell exercise (opening up like a shell) is a daily routine plus walking on toes and heels of feet and outside of feet. St Thomas’s hospital in Westminster area central London - has Evelina hospital for kids - that’s where we didn’t get any help. Just “do nothing it’s not that bad”
@@user-md1qz7ie2q I love how much you're doing, If your kiddo likes yoga, Cosmic Kids Yoga: www.youtube.com/@CosmicKidsYoga is super fun, or if that is too "kiddy," then Yoga with Adrienne ua-cam.com/video/dF7O6-QabIo/v-deo.html might be a good in between. I love how yoga addresses all planes of motion and is something that can be done wholistically with minimal to no equipment. Great for the hips and ankles! Keep me updated, I'd love to help more if I can!
My 12 year old son has intoeing on left foot and knocked knees. Which insoles will be good please - we’re going to do these great exercises but I think having insoles to push his feet a bit to outside would also help? What about taping? I find his left foot arch or left bone is kind of fallen inside instead of being straight up. Thank you!
ET, I sent this in a different comment but in case you see this one first. For in-toeing these gait plates are really helpful but you do need a PT or orthotist in your area to order: nolaro24.com/gp.html That being said other options could be torsion strapping (these are usually used for younger kids and are more significant of an intervention), regular inserts to give support at the arch which then can allow you to influence the hip and core muscles through exercises and strengthening (with consistency 3-5x a week like adults recommended exercise for best results at that age, potentially long term based on severity). Kinesiotape on the arch can be helpful as well, I don’t have a specific video on it but I really like the rock tape brand the best kit.co/drlaurenbaker/injury-prevention/rocktape-original-2 and they have a lot of videos too. The bone you’re likely talking about in the foot is the navicular and a “fallen navicular” is a clinical sign for flat feet or “pes planus” as well as potential weakness in the feet muscles. You can have him work on picking up marbles or Pom poms with his toes while standing on one foot as another great exercise to strengthen the feet muscles. Hope this helps! Lauren
Hello. I am 52 years old and I have been a tipple toe walker all my life as well as my 2 daughters. The youngest one hab to have Achilles surgery. When that helped her she still walks on her toe. For the person who said it is natural it is not. My feet are way wider than the norm and my daughter will always have balance issues. I noticed also that my underbutt is underdeveloped (the part of my glutes or maybe it's the femoral muscles). I only started now to be able to engage those muscles while working out, do you think I have a chance to wake up those muscles and develop them?
Hi Chantal, Thank you so. much for sharing your story and your family's story with toe walking. Toe walking does change the way the body moves and consequently which muscles are activated properly and which are not, so I'm not surprised in your statement about underactivation of your glutes (a PT would call this a muscular imbalance as a technical term). There are absolutely things you can do to help t hose muscles learn how to activate properly regardless of age (PTs work with infants including newborns all the way to 99+ and muscles can make changes no matter the age!). My recommendation would be to see /. have your daughters see a Physical Therapist / Physiotherapist to rule out any ankle joint tightness, figure out which muscles are weak and which are strong, and decide on a shoe insert to help the ankles have more support. Depending on age for kiddos I find the little steps inserts www.nolaro24.com/ls.html to be helpful, but as adults other orthopedic inserts might be better (an orthotist could help with this). The biggest thing I want you to take away as that the way you move right now, does not have to be the way you move forever and there are lots of things you can do to influence toe walking and other mobility conditions with the right expert. In person is always best, but even working on these exercises now can be helpful. The other area that I always encourage, is having an occupational therapy evaluation to rule out any sensory components of toe walking. A lot of. individuals who need more input from the ground to know where their body is in space subconsciously choose toe walking as a way to increase that input. There are other ways that can help, but OTs are the experts in that area :)
@@DrLaurenBaker Thank you so much for your answer. Both my daughters are grown-ups so I will share any of my findings with them. It is crazy how much information is available today compared to a few years ago. Following your reply, I made an appointment with a psychiatrist and will see the outcome in a few weeks. I'll keep you updated! But I definitely do not rule out that possibility.
I love that you’re taking your health seriously and I totally agree more and more therapists are also willing to show up in non conventional ways like UA-cam now instead of keeping information behind glass doors and waiting for those to have an evaluation to receive it which I am all for. I wanted to give a quick breakdown of which provider can help with what: Physical therapist / physiotherapist: posture, strength of the whole body, any muscle imbalances, walking, ankle joint position (other joints too) and balance are our main focuses. Mostly getting the body to move well. PTs can also help with inserts or orthotics in shoes Occupational Therapist: will look at the sensory system (touch, pressure, vision, smell, taste, hearing and inner ear position) to determine how a body is processing movement and whether it needs more of any specific sensation to move better or whether it needs less of specific sensations. Toe walking is usually associated with individuals who need MORE input than the average person to know where their body is in space so they walk on their toes which gets more feedback from the ground than walking with a heel strike does. OTs can help integrate the different sensory experiences we have in order for our body to get more of what it needs in other places instead of by walking on our toes. Psychiatrist / psychologist: while different technically are going to work on the mental processing of life including stress, anxiety and trauma all of which can also effect how we move. I’m a huge fan of counseling but also want to share that while this is highly helpful in a lot of ways, it may or may not impact or change toe walking (not a lot of research on the mental emotional part of toe walking). But again it’s brilliant in a million other ways.
@@DrLaurenBaker No worries, I am making an appointment with my GP as well to get the referral needed. I wanted to mention as well that we're all short. Two of us are 5'1 and the youngest is 4'11. Nothing is made in life for short people. When I sit on a chair, my feet don't touch the floor. I am constantly going up on my toes to reach out. At the gym, all the machines are unfit for me. At home countertop tops are too high, even toilets are too high.
This definitely could be a contributing factor too. We always bring little boxes for our babes in schools whose feet aren’t flat on the ground. This helps a ton with back health and posture and also keeping ankles in a more advantageous position. But that must be so frustrating!
Hi dr Lauren My daughter is 20 months old. She started walking when she turned 1. We moved to new place which is carpeted. She was waking fine. Even she was running fast. Still she does. But few days back she has started waking on toes. My mother in law got her Skechers shoes 3 months back. She asked me to put her that all the time. Can shoes caused toe waking ? She is good runner.
Hi Rabia! I wanted to say that I loved our chat and hope that some of the things we talked about are helping so far. Always here if you’d like to chat again!
My 3.5 yr old has toe walked since the beginning and now my 16 month old wants to copy him even though she didn’t start doing it till she had been walking over 6 months 😤 I am going to try these with him and see if it helps and hopefully my 16 month old will stop too.
That must be so frustrating! Yes definitely try these exercises but if you do not see quick results (2-4 weeks) definitely look into having your kiddos evaluated by an OT or PT - there are multifactors to toe walking including: ankle instability, primitive reflex integration, vestibular input needs, functional vision (prisim glasses or dual use of both eyes together have shown to influence how kids walk), or sensory needs (need more input when walking so they get it through walking on toes). Other factors such as tightness or core weakness, pelvic floor tightness including urinary or bowel leakage can also be a part of toe walking. It isnt the most fun experience for parents or healthcare providers but it is absolutely a worthy fight to attempt to decrease as much as possible for long term health. Good luck! Also scroll the comments for other resources I have shared in the past.
I’m 23 and have been toe-walking for as long as I can remember. I did a calf surgery when I was 14 but it was unsuccessful. I can put my left leg flat on the ground but not my right. Would physio be able to completely correct this?
Hi Shadae! Thank you for your comment. Likely it depends on what is causing your toe walking and whether any structural changes have occurred in the muscle fibers. That being said, it would likely be beneficial to have a physical therapist asses the following items: mobility of your ankle joints (these allow the ankle to move and the talocrural joint - the bones that connect your leg to your foot - have to slide forward and backwards in order for your foot to point and flex. When someone toe walks for a prolonged period of time, the talocrural joint can get hypomobile (tight/stuck) more in the front position and have difficulty sliding backwards. Physical therapists trained in manual therapy can asses your joint mobility and determine if that is the case (it can be limited based on whether there is hardware inserted from your previous surgery). A physical therapist can also assist with shoe modifications, inserts, or braces to help get a foot flat position as well as assessing whether there is any neural tension in your nerves in your lower leg such as the sciatic nerve or femoral nerve. These can both impact mobility (sciatic more so at the ankle). Physical therapists can also utilize scraping techniques such as gua sha or graston, kinesiotape application, or dry needling based on their experience all of which may benefit someone who has been toe walking for years and is showing mobility difficulties. I would highly recommend a PT eval from a manual therapy trained physical therapist to hopefully find more mobility but ultimately to learn more about your body and what you can do to move as optimally as possible. I hope this is helpful! Lauren
Shadae, I also asked another previous commenter to reach out in your comments (hopefully she sees my comment!) because she had PT after toe walking for years and I think her experience might by extremely valuable for you! Fingers crossed 🤞 we connect you two!
DreamScapes Sleep Music / Mark Bensette Aux Bois, Thanks so much for the comment it is really thoughtful of you to leave one and the compliment is greatly appreciated! It's so crazy as a semi-new creator to really understand what will be helpful, so the feedback is so greatly appreciated! I hope you have an amazing day. Thanks again, Lauren
Hello mam, my son is 3 yr old now he is not walking yet he started crawling and sitting in a w posture at his 2 yrs ...we continue giving physio therapy ...when we make to walk he is walking with his toes and bend his knees .. what are ythe effective exercise to do mam for quick better results
My sister is 13 years old and she is still toe walking and she got scoliosis beacuse of toe walking and her physiotherapist has told her to start walking properly first with her heels touching first but she still can't
Hi Sonu, I love that you are trying to find answers for your sister, you are a really great family member! Toe walking is extremely complex and while this video doesn't go through everything that can be contributing to toe walking I do want to share a few resources with you in case you have access to them. - Little Steps are an insert that I have found really can help if toe walking is due to an orthopedic concern (not enough stability at the ankle or is contributing factor). Often it is not only an orthopedic concern but these can help (you do need a distributor to have access and as I'm not sure if you're in the US or international I linked the international page. Little Steps are the type of insert I use for kiddos who are toe walking): www.nolaro24.com/distributors.html - Sensory Soles can help toe walking if it is more due to sensory experience than orthopedic or other considerations: instagram.com/p/ChYbFQPl0J6/ - Wedges can help increase weight bearing through the full foot if neither of the other options are available. This is the recommended wedge in PT courses / by PTs: amzn.to/3ZaSbdN The focus here is increasing weight bearing through the full foot and decreasing the wedge height as more range becomes available. *this is an affiliate link to amazon. - Functional Vision Exam: Sometimes toe walking can be due to a functional visual problem and with the use of functional visual exams by a developmental optometrist usually employed at a vision therapy center, they are able to see how the eyeballs are working together (or not), whether there is a visual dysfunction, and try things like prism glasses that can help alter body position including potentially decrease toe walking such as this parent's experience: lifeandtimesofstella.com/2011/03/22/how-vision-therapy-is-saving-stellas-toes-and-then-some/ - Chiropractic care: There is an understanding in the Chiropractic model that increased neural tension can result in toe walking and that there can be dysfunction at the cervical joints, which once relieved can decrease toe walking. - OT / PT: Working on primitive reflexes can alter toe walking. Occupational therapists additionally can address the sensory component that occurs at times with toe walking. Hopefully all these resources are helpful!
Majd, thank you for your comment. You are correct, these exercises fit children with idiopathic toe walking best and are likely not going to fit or fit perfectly for children with neurological diagnoses such as spastic cerebral palsy. Often children with such diagnoses who are toe walking are prescribed botox injections, serial casting, and/or AFOs (ankle foot orthotics) all by their pediatricians and in combination with their PTs to manage toe walking along with individualized therapy as spastic cerebral palsy can have a wide range of presentations based on the kiddo. You may have better luck with the channel Pediatric Physical Therapy Exercises as I know she has videos with kiddos with diagnoses of CP (not sure if she has videos with kiddos with CP in regards to toe walking but its worth a shot checking her channel out). Good luck!
Hey, i am 18 years old and for what i know i have been toe walking with my right leg since as long as i can remember. My mother said when i was a kid i was once suffering with pneumonia and since then started to gradually toe walk. Being 18 now i am trying my hardest to not toe walk but since i have been doing this for so long, it’s quiet difficult. So much so that i have developed a callus below my big toe finger slightly on the left side. I am trying out the exercises you suggested for now but i was also wondering if toe walking can be surgically cured. I have been hoping that it is but don’t know for sure. Can it be done?
Hi Zenixonipad, thank you so much for commenting and sharing your story. Toe walking can have many causes (some known and some unknown), depending on the cause and if it is still present can depend on the treatment. There are surgical options depending on whether the tissue can be lengthened in a conservative manner (stretching, splinting, night braces, manual therapy including joint mobilizations to the ankle and foot joints, vibration therapy, brushing techniques, etc) or not. Sometimes, conservative therapy and treatment is not enough to lengthen the tissues (usually the calf muscles) and they have to surgically lengthen them. This would be determined either by a physical therapist or orthopedic surgeon/doctor. There is a middle ground option as well: serial casting, where a series of casts are placed on the foot which can be walked on and over time the stretch on the tissues due to the position of the foot can assist in lengthening the tissue. This is usually followed up by up to six months of ankle foot orthosis (AFO) to maintain the position. This is usually appropriate for individuals who cannot get their foot flat when standing or another person cannot flex the individuals ankle to 90 degrees when they are sitting down with leg bent or straight. Usually I would generally recommend treatment for toe walking in this order: evaluation by a physical therapist (since you are older I would recommend an adult orthopedic physical therapist), conservative therapy including any variation of the options previous listed and likely more, orthotist (for orthotics and/or night splints if PT recommends), then if it still is not flat the next level would be serial casting/bracing, and only then would I recommend surgery. Surgery does have significant downsides and is incredibly invasive so conservative management is ideal. While 18 is legal adult age in most states I would highly recommend talking and sharing this information with your parents or guardians, especially since in the US and possibly other countries 18 year olds are on parents insurance. While this was a lot of info, I do think seeing a physical therapist in person if possible would be your best bet! Good luck and please reach with more questions.
Hi! thanks so much for your comment. I apologize that it has taken me longer than I'd like to respond. This is a fairly common occurrence, that being said there are a bunch of ways to make it better. The more you practice balance and think of what your feet are doing (where is your big toe, where is your arch, are you squeezing your gluteal muscles, are you focusing on one spot near the ground) the more your brain/body connection will be built. You can also make it more challenging by standing on an uneven surface like a pillow, bosu ball, dynadisc, or foam mat. Here are my favorites: foam mat - kit.co/drlaurenbaker/pediatric-physical-therapy/prosourcefit-exercis dynadisc - kit.co/drlaurenbaker/pediatric-physical-therapy/trideer-inflated-wob For pes cavus, a lot of different inserts can help support your foot position from custom orthotics from an orthatist to superfeet orthotics which are some of my favorites off amazon -- amzn.to/3BNUxba Foot exercises can also help you increase your connection with your feet such as toe curls with a towel or picking up little pom poms with your toes. I also really like standing on a vibration plate if you're looking for more involved options (this is the one I have) -- kit.co/drlaurenbaker/pediatric-physical-therapy/6225505-lifepro-waver-mini-v *affiliate links listed I hope all of these options give you a few more ideas! Lauren
Hi Arsal, Thank you so much for your comment. Toe walking is a really tough condition, but my recommendation would be to reach out to a local pediatric physical therapist/physiotherapist for an evaluation of what specifically is causing the toe walking. Toe walking can be caused by sensory needs, weakness, visual difficulties, postural difficulties, and ankle instability. Some additional resources not in this video include some shoe inserts that might help. For sensory: www.sensorysole.com/ For ankle instability, I like the little steps inserts: nolaro24orders.com/products/littlesteps%C2%AE-foot-orthotics You can also start with a wedge in the shoe and decrease the height of the wedge as the heels get closer to the floor -- amzn.to/3YnWtA2 (may need to cut to fit in shoes). gel wedge insole - kidsole.com/products/kidsole *contains affiliate links I hope these options may help. Lauren
Hi Rajashree, toe walking is a really complex condition that is often difficult to assess based on a comment, but if you would like to book an online parent consultation I can assist you in finding the next right steps for you child. You can schedule a 1:1 online video parent consultation with me here at any time: drlaurenbaker.clientsecure.me/request/service I hope this helps! Lauren
These look super helpful. Will try to do these over the next couple weeks. I’m at a lose the Dr thinks it’s an issue with my 7 year old, but when we went to the pediatric orthopedist he said it’s no biggie. He’s super slow with running so his love of sports is suffering cause of this and his feet hurt half way thru the day almost everyday. Do you think it’s possible for them to be fixed at 7 years old? I’ve been fighting this battle since he was 3. It was always “he’s fine” “hell out grow it” “hell have killer calves” I just want him to be able to run and play sports like he wants.
Amy, you are SUCH A GREAT MAMA for continuing to advocate for your kiddo. After about 2 years of age, toe walking is something that can and should be addressed. Biomechanically speaking, it does effect movement and can have significant interactions on forces through the knees, ankles, hips, and low back. That being said, if you haven't reached out to a local physical therapist or occupational therapist for support it would be a great next step. Toe walking is typically addressed by a physical therapist; however, there can be sensory components that can also be addressed by OTs. If you continue to have questions and just would like additional information on toe walking, considerations, and how it biomechanically can affect other areas of the body I do have online parent consultations linked in the pinned comment. Good luck!!
Hi GabeLee, thanks so much for taking the time to comment. I’m not sure where you heard that information but depending on age, toe walking is considered abnormal and can have significant bio mechanical impacts on the body. I disagree with your comment but appreciate that you took the time to share your beliefs. If you or someone you know is toe walking over the age of 2 more than 80% of the time I would highly recommend seeing a physical therapist to assess their ankle, hip, and knee joints to allow them the best possible outcome for longevity of their body.
If you still have questions book a free 20 minute phone call or paid 60 minute online consultation with me here: drlaurenbaker.clientsecure.me/request/service
My son has always been a toe walker, he’s now 15 and he has calves that are very muscular but the shape of his foot is definitely being affected. I’m going to try some of these exercises because he is able to “pretend” like he walks normal but not for long. His balance is very affected as well so sitting down for some of these will be helpful. Thank you so much! 12:55
Thanks so much for the comment Katie! If you have physiotherapy or physical therapy in your area I would highly recommend having your sons ankle mobility evaluated preferably by a physical therapist with a background in manual therapy. The areas of mobility I would want looked at in the ankle are the talocrural joint (the main ankle bone) as well as the subtalar joint (heel bone one ankle bone) as well as how the bones in the forefoot/midfoot are moving on each other. Prolonged toe walking can result in hypo mobility of the joints of the ankle and foot (they move less than they should) because of how gait has been utilized (for any number of underlying reasons, toe walking is tough to decipher for the best of us and often takes a team approach). Hopefully these exercises help with some quick wins but I would definitely recommend having at least an evaluation with a PT if possible!
i wish i had stopped walking on my toes as a kid. im 22 and kept the habit up all these years and im just now starting to notice back, foot and ankle pain. arthritis runs in my family so that probably doesnt help either lol. take it from a kid who walked on their toes who is an adult now, try not to beat yourself up too hard over it if your kids keep doing it. i dont blame my parents for not being able to help me kick the habit. kids just dont understand what its like to hurt all the time as an adult haha.
Fluffy Dragonslayer, gosh what a heartfelt comment you left for all the mamas and parents on here looking for solutions for their kiddos. I am SO grateful you took a few moments to share your experience because I think it will help others continue their journey toward answers and give them the strength and motivation and perspective they need to keep learning and trying.
I want you to know that it isn’t too late. As a 22 year old the type of therapy would likely look slightly differently but a lot of these exercises can help too regardless of age. Since you are experiencing pain I would highly recommend seeing a manual therapy trained orthopedic physical therapist or physiotherapist. Based on the short history you so kindly left, my first thoughts would be to have someone look at your talocrural joints, specifically in the posterior direction, the length of the Achilles’ tendon, big toe flexibility, and how your mid foot/forefoot bones rotate specifically internal and external rotation of the cuboid. I’d additionally make sure your hip mobility and gluteal muscles are screened and that core strength is assessed as well since all of these things combined can impact back, foot and ankle pain. I hope this journey goes easier for you from here on out with the knowledge you’re learning 💕💕 Lauren
Also Fluffy, try this nerve glide in addition to the one in the video, since you’ve done it for so long I’d want to have you know and try both nerve glides Femoral Nerve Glide For Hip Pain and Tightness
ua-cam.com/video/AIXqrjteZx0/v-deo.html
@@DrLaurenBaker oh man thank you so much, i wanted to see a doc but i wasnt sure who to see or what to ask them for. youre so kind
ABSOLUTELY! If you’re in the United States I would call an orthopedic outpatient physical therapy clinic, if you use insurance benefits you’ll likely also need a script from your primary care physician for “physical therapy” and it’ll likely say something like “back pain” or “foot pain.” You’re honestly often times better off going closer to the root of the problem so I’d recommend “foot or ankle pain.” If you’re outside of the states, your country might have a different process but ideally you want to go to a physio therapist or physical therapist who puts their hands on your ankle and other joints for at least 20-30 minutes per session especially in the beginning. I will see if I can pull up a list of PTs with my certification for manual therapy and post it for you.
Fluffy, here is a listing of all physical therapists that have a similar certification as me and is a good place to start to see if any are near you: usa-cpe.edubrite.com/site/cms.do?view=Certification%20Graduate%20Listing
Otherwise, googling "outpatient physical therapy near me" would be the best place to start, good luck!
My 5yo son needs PT but I’m in an area where there aren’t many options for pediatric PT. I’m planning and taking this into my own hands and helping him. Thank you for this video. My son “toe runs”. He used to be in AFOs for about 10 months but now he’s out of them and I think he was maybe taking out too soon because he’s still on his toes. Thank you for this video. I’m don’t sleep much thinking I’m not doing enough for him. This video gives me hope I can still help him. 🙏🏽
Hi Elsie! Thank you so much for your comment, I apologize that it took me MONTHS to respond :( -- I try my best, but I am sure as you know, life can get away from us. Toe walking is really tough for families and kids because so much can be going on. If your child had AFOs they may have weakness still present in the ankles. My favorite exercise to strengthen the ankles that you can do in a lot of different environments and with a lot of different toys/games is the toddler squat: ua-cam.com/video/dhsJdtHAj94/v-deo.htmlsi=_7OivdByIXFNpusq
I also have found that if there is a sensory component the sensory soles can help: ua-cam.com/video/eWOuoReZHPA/v-deo.htmlsi=pyCWY9oOsh8p4gqh
I have also had some success with using the little steps inserts for ankle support in shoes if toe walking is due to instability at the ankle: nolaro24.com/ls.html
Here is some information on a few of the experts in the peds space for toe walking in the US: www.knowtochange.com/
If you have additional questions, you can schedule a 1:1 online video parent consultation with me here at anytime: drlaurenbaker.clientsecure.me/request/service -- I am also happy to try to connect you with a provider in your state that might do telehealth services.
I hope this helps! Lauren
I’m 21 years old. I’ve been walking on my toes since I was little. Did PT, stayed in casts for like 6 weeks and stuff. Nothing helped. At first it was just an insecurity issue really due to being young and in school. Now that I’m older though I am getting hip pain and just feel stiff constantly and slight pain. Wish my parents would’ve gotten a surgery done for me but I understand being scared. But it sucks having this as an adult. I am a nurse now and walk all day and my legs are so tight it’s ridiculous.
Pablo, congrats on being a nurse! That is amazing and welcome to the healthcare field. Toe walking is so tough for all involved, serial casting followed by bracing (usually AFOs) is a pretty significant intervention, followed only by botox injections or achilles tendon surgical lengthening;however, since toe walking is often multifactoral, there is unfortunately no guarantee that surgical intervention would have cured the underlying cause.
While musculoskeletal (muscle length/tightness) is a component, it might not be the true or primary cause.
Other considerations include:
Neural tension (nerve glides are a treatment for this like in the video)
Functional Vision (often times vision therapy including the use of prisim glasses can assist in body awareness and shift a persons weight back onto their heels)
Sensory: check out www.sensorysole.com for sensory inserts that can be used in shoes
Vestibular input (often using vibration playes with 10-12Hz up to 25Hz if you can find it can assist, there is research that shows individuals who toe walk need higher vibration (have higher thresholds of vibration sensation) than those who do not.
For further research: Liesa M. Persaud, PT, DPT, PCS, CKTP is the expert in toe walking in the US and hosts courses available here for healthcare professionals
www.educationresourcesinc.com/new-toe-walking-course-for-pts-and-ots-presented-by-our-new-speaker-liesa-persaud-pt-dpt-pcs-cktp/
I hope this information gives you hope. The other option for leg tightness is night splits that would hold your ankles in dorsiflexion and allow for stretching in the calves to avoid contractures. If you are able to passively get your ankle to 90 degrees, you may not need the braces but an orthotist or orthopedic physical therapist could tell you for sure during an evaluation if it would be a good option.
Hi Lauren, I have been struggling with my son for 5 years now with his toewalking and you are the first one explaining the sensory part of it. He hates taking off his socks and when I tried to put his bare foot on the beans he pulled it out immediately saying it was hot and hurts! Thank you so much, I just understood this is his problem because he is fine with the rest of the exercises. Please how can I start desensitizing his feet? I would really appreciate a video or advice on that.
Hi Zsofia, thank you so much for this comment. I’m so grateful you found this video. The best expert for the sensory aspect of toe walking is truly an occupational therapist. If an OT is available in your area I would highly recommend a consultation or evaluation for your son for an individualized plan. I will try to find a few other videos that might help in the meantime or if you’re in a location where OTs aren’t prevalent. I know a lot of subscribers or viewers are from outside the US so I try not to make generalizations that their experiences or access to therapists is the same as in the US where I am.
One protocol that may be helpful is called brushing, essentially there is a plastic brush with coarse bristles that is utilized along with other softer brushes. However, there is a system to it which OTs or other sensory specialists learn. I’ll try to find a copy of that as well.
In the meantime, it’s important to go to a child’s tolerance. It’s okay if they feel uncomfortable for a bit but can maintain it, but do not force or go past moderate uncomfortable level as it’s important to not force and increase tolerance very slowly. I hope this comment helps and I will find a few helpful resources for you. Please let me know if you have any additional questions. Lauren
@@DrLaurenBaker thank you so much for your answer, Lauren! I live in UK and here they say since he doesn't have any muscular or neurological problem and it seems like only a bad habit, we should just do his exercises daily and that's it. I tried the beans box the next day again and guess what? He was fine with it, said it didn't hurt any more so maybe it is not a sensory issue then again... I am thinking about taking him to do judo or karate, maybe sport would help to get more conscious about how he is holding his feet.
@@BodyCommando Sometimes kiddos need exposure to different textures and then their neuroprocessing adapts quickly. Since your son had an immediate pain tolerance, which isn't the most common I would definitely encourage increasing his exposure to different sensory experiences in both the hands and feet. I have been looking up a few ideas and can send them now! I'm so glad that he did better the second time with the beans, that's amazing to hear!
@@BodyCommando
Here is a great example of sensory brushing: ua-cam.com/video/cz-nCvFLEcg/v-deo.html
Surgical brushes from amazon (affiliate link): amzn.to/3qWDOdX
Other sensory ideas:
Playdough: ua-cam.com/video/hCGe4S7X100/v-deo.html
Variety of activities (def use feet as well as hands!): ua-cam.com/video/Rjk-F8Q0hcY/v-deo.html
TONS of foot ideas: ua-cam.com/video/uBh7ekFmG5o/v-deo.html
Hopefully these ideas are helpful for you and your family & also fun :)
@@DrLaurenBaker wow, I'm so excited now to try all these ideas, I would have never imagined this is the way to treat toe walking :O And also there is no information about it anywhere online so I am very lucky I found you, thank you again, you are the best!!
Now that's very helpful, Thanks a million!
Love all the way from Saudi Arabia :)
Glad that it was informational for you! Please let me know if you have any questions!
So interesting. I did not meet my late husband till he was 29. I did not recognize a problem till many years thereafter. It ended up with his more or less ‘running downhill,’ culminating in serious fall with significant damage. ‘Culminating’ is not actually correct, as the problem continued after the damage was incurred. There was even a time in which I asked him to show me if he could, literally, put his heel down first (maybe 30 years married?). He could. Ever after, I’ve as a mother, wondered how he might have been earlier helped. I’ve lots more, but am stopping here. Thanks for your practical video.
Thanks for the comment @naturalpaths! I appreciate your story, it's surprising how many stories I hear from adults on wishing there was more information on toe walking when they were growing up. I am sorry to hear that your husband's experience ended up relating to his fall and more importantly, for your loss. Ankle mobility is so important, especially as we age because of how it influences walking, walking on uneven ground, getting up from the floor, and walking up/down stairs. To put some ease to your mind, many parents and friends have experienced similar questions and pondered the same thoughts. For those still looking for answers, my recommendation for adult individuals is to:
- Speak with an OT on taking the Sensory Profile Questionnaire to determine if you have any sensory sensitivities or avoidances. This can bring insight into how you interact with sensory information in the environment (sensory can be a huge component in toe walking)
- Work with an outpatient physical therapist who is additionally trained in manual therapy: specifically mobilizations of the ankle (talocrural joint, tibia/fibular joints, subtalar joints, and the joints in the foot including cuboid).
- Be curious about alternative options including chiropractic care or acupuncture that can decrease stress on the nervous system, as the autonomic nervous system can impact how we walk.
- Rule out functional visual difficulties/diagnoses: go to a vision therapy center to have an evaluation including asking about whether prism glasses may be appropriate.
@@DrLaurenBaker Until now, I did not know it was a medical ‘thing.’ I’d like to think that, had I been my husband’s mother instead of his wife, I’d have noticed it and, at the very least help him focus on putting his heal down first while learning to walk. Hopefully I’d have sought further help if necessary. I can almost say I felt both sad and angry on his behalf. To be fair to his parents, he was born in 1946, so times were very different.
@@naturalPaths yes, honestly SO MUCH has been learnt even in the last ten years about toe walking, so that does not surprise me. To be honest, the world of PT in America literally BEGAN in 1921, so when he was growing up it was absolutely in its infancy as far as knowledge goes.
@@DrLaurenBaker By any chance, has this physical condition (I’m not versed in correct identifiers) ever been associated with mental health considerations? I ask because my husband also had BPD. His was a ‘classic’ 5 year cycle, so type of disorder may be relevant as well. (BPD was Also new, so I was married 20 years before I myself diagnosed him with the help of dial up internet - it’s own story, which includes family history, and husband’s mother!) Note: Our son had neither BPD nor toe walking. Sorry, I don’t mean to take your time, it’s just so interesting, and who know what tiny thing may help others. I promise to not continue to intrude!
@@naturalPaths I totally get it and clearly (based on my extremely long responses to others on all my videos, love to chat too!). I have not come across toe walking being associated with mental health diagnoses specifically, BUT it has been associated with emotional responses/regulation so there COULD be at least an underlying current since mental and emotional health/symptoms/experiences are intertwined.
Thanks for the video. We are from India. My 16 year old daughter has always been a toe walker. Orthopedics say its due to short archilles tendon. Few suggest lengthening surgery and few have sugegsted botox injections. We are not 100% convinced with either. She can walk normally when she realises it. But over the years she has constant pain in calf and toe numbness too which I am mostly concerned about. Is 16 too late? What can i do as we did PT and even AFOs for 2-3 years before Covid and it didn't help at all. Thanks
Hi Bushra, thanks so much for the comment. I would continue to be intentional about working on toe walking even at 16. There are so many different aspects to toe walking that it is a really difficult diagnosis to fully resolve but worth the effort to maintain an effort toward. Here are a few additional ideas that may or may not be in the video (sometimes it is hard to remember!) -
The toddler squat: this is my favorite for strengthening and lengthening those ankle: ua-cam.com/video/dhsJdtHAj94/v-deo.htmlsi=ycV8EMOYP7QJlin0
Sensory sole inserts: ua-cam.com/video/eWOuoReZHPA/v-deo.htmlsi=0Rj9g7QKwfGuwO1i
Vibration plate exercises: some people need more input in their feet and vibration can be a great option. I use a vibration plate off amazon but I am not sure if it is available in india. If you have access to a clinic with a hypervibe that would be ideal. Here is the vibration plate I own: kit.co/drlaurenbaker/pediatric-physical-therapy/6225505-lifepro-waver-mini-v
An outpatient physical therapist might also be able to complete ankle mobilizations including the anterior-posterior glide of the talus which might assist.
Tendon lengthening procedures are extreme and may or may not solve the underlying cause. If she can get her feet flat with intention, a tendon lengthening procedure will likely not solve the toe walking as she has enough length at the tendon to be foot flat, that further lengthening is likely not helpful but each child and family should definitely discuss these with their provider’s recommending that care. I hope this helps!
Bushra, the numbness could be due to neural tension in the nerves in her legs. I believe I talked about sciatic nerve glides in the video but if not there are a ton of good sciatic nerve glides on youtube to try, the other one I would recommend to try is the femoral nerve glide. Here is my video for that: ua-cam.com/video/AIXqrjteZx0/v-deo.htmlsi=9fejuDBEjdcgAdxE
I hope these help! Lauren
Such a informative video Dr. Baker! Thanks alot
you are so welcome! Thank you for taking the time to comment!
Where can I get the balance step that you have in your video? Can you post a link?
Hi Lauren! Thanks for letting me know the link in the description is no longer available, I will update that. Here are two other versions:
*Cheaper version with less no slip but still good reviews and similar heights/make: amzn.to/46sRAX7
*More expensive, looks like better grip, more stones total plus a bag to store, slightly higher review rating: amzn.to/3Rg74cD
(*Affiliate links). Can also search “balance stones,” “balance steps,” “balance stepping stones” if you want to see what other options are out there! Those two look good from a PT perspective though!
Where can I get the equipment you are using for my great grandson
Hi! thanks for the comment -- all the links for similar products or exact products are in the description. Here they are as well: LINKS IN VIDEO
balance steps - amzn.to/3mWy40s
adjustable slant board - amzn.to/3p4a7aj
foam wedge slant board - amzn.to/3j6cJAI
large cones - amzn.to/3mV5E6Z
small cones - amzn.to/3AIH1PP
water beads - kit.co/drlaurenbaker/best-pediatric-sensory-toys/wopunos-water-beads
water beads brand #2 - kit.co/drlaurenbaker/best-pediatric-sensory-toys-equipment/sensory-jungle-ocean
alphabet bean bags - amzn.to/2Z0KXib
If you are looking for something not listed for some reason, let me know and I will find it for you!
hi! ty for the video it was very helpful. I've always struggled with toe walking and have been doing stretches including the one that stretches the sciatic nerve.
I have a question though, whenever I do that stretch, my calf muscles don't feel like they're being stretched (like it does in my hamstring), instead it feels slightly tingly almost like pins and needles. Is that because the nerve is tight? Or should it feel different?
I also do that calf stretch where you stand on a step with your toes and move your heel down and that doesn't feel tingly, but it doesn't reduce the tingly-ness when I do the sciatic nerve stretch again.
Hi Joy! These are my favorite kinds of questions because it means that you are paying such close attention to your body and that is AMAZING and something to be so proud of being intentional about!
You are absolutely on the right track. Think of the nerve glides and the stretches as two completely different activities that work on two completely different structures in the body so it’s totally normal for them to feel different. Sometimes the calf stretches can compliment the nerve glides and vice versa but they’re still different enough that you’ll likely continue to have to do both.
The tingling is the nerve being gently lengthened. Tingling can happen also at rest if a nerve is being squished for lack of better word or is not allowed to move through it’s full length so think of the tingling at rest like oh my nerve is probably not happy I should make time for my glides and the tingling while you’re doing the glides as “if this feels good then it’s okay, if it feels like too much it’s okay to back off”
The biggest thing with glides is that you don’t want to hold the position like you do with stretches since it’s focusing on different structures. Just gently go through the range. I also find glides make my legs a different kind of exhausted tired than muscle stretching. As long as it’s a tolerable, I’m not pushing this too far tired then it’s fine. I love doing nerve glides 1-2x a day up to 10-30x each leg based on my own personal tolerance.
Hope this helps! If you’d like more information or have more questions you can book an online consult here: drlaurenbaker.clientsecure.me/request/service
@@DrLaurenBaker wow thank you so much! You replied so quickly and this is amazingly helpful! I'll keep doing those stretches then (and glides!) to help both the muscle and then nerve. Thanks, this is awesome, keep it up!
You’re so welcome! I do truly love helping people understand how their body moves and connect them to things that can help it move better & their experience with movement better.
My only other thing would be to recommend trying an insert or orthotic with a heel cup to see if that helped stabilize the ankle and then decrease the need to go on the toes as ankle instability can be an underlying cause for toe walking as well. A lot of orthotists can evaluate individuals for custom orthotics that might help the overall system.
You mentioned the Sciatica nerve.
I always walked on my toe as a child and lately I have been diagnosed with gluten ataxia and an upper motor neuron disease.
Since I have the Babinksi sign and the Hoffman sign retained could I also strech as you did ?
Hi Alessandro, thanks so much for the comment. I would definitely run any exercises by your neurologist or PT if you have one, that being said, if you do the sciatic nerve glides, you may notice some tremor-ing due to the clonus from compression on the upper motor neurons or disruptions in their pathways. That being said, if you try anything I would absolutely go at your own pace and with someone home with you. I hope this helps and good luck, Lauren
Dr Baker, I wonder what is your professional opinion on “foot-to-floor ride on toys” for young toddlers? At what age are they safe to use? Are they beneficial?
Here is the same comment that I posted on your other questions in the event you see it here first!
Hi Milena! Thanks for the comment. I like ride on toys for the most part, as long as they are toys that you can get on/off - much better than sit in exersausers which I do not recommend at all.
I happen to like balance bikes a bit more than ride on toys because you can introduce them around the same age but they can last a bit longer especially if you invest in one that can go down to two wheels vs three. I just grabbed this one for my nephew who is 12 months and he does well with it. amzn.to/3TtNiM4 (affiliate). Balance bikes are shown to be awesome to progress kids to even regular bike riding. This instagram reel is impressive from one of my PT friends: instagram.com/reel/CrZb_vPp8lG/?igsh=Nnk5ZHMycGEyZ3Bt
So while I think ride on toys are good, I think balance bikes that can go from three wheels to two wheels are even better.
And would say 12 months is a good age, must be able to stand and pull to stand and take steps while holding on. Ideally have crawled for 2-3 months.
In addition, biggest thing is to make sure littles can have feet flat on the floor to pull with their whole foot!
Would this help my almost 10 year old son that’s been toe walking since he was 1 years old? Or do you have any other advice for older kids that can help?
Hi Cristina! Thanks so much for the comment, I apologize that it's taken me a few days to get back to you. These exercises can help a kiddo at any age. If a kiddo has been toe walking longer, it can take longer to find the reason behind it. Toe walking is very complex but these exercises are a great start.
Here are a few other ideas:
- Physical Therapy / Physiotherapy can help make sure the ankle joints are working well, figure out whether there are any muscle imbalances, and look at the neural tension potentially caused by/contributing to toe walking (sciatic nerve is my biggest find but femoral nerve can also be impacted). They can also help with balance, jumping, or coordination. PT also works on orthotics/shoe inserts. I personally have liked both the sensory soles inserts (can get on your own without PT here: www.sensorysole.com/ ) and little steps inserts (do need a PT or orthotist to fit / size: nolaro24.com/ls.html )
- Occupational Therapy can work on the sensory side of toe walking as they are the experts in figuring out the intensity and tolerance as well as providing standardized tests on sensory such as the Sensory Profile -2, which I find really helpful with kiddos who are toe walking, as toe walking can have a sensory component. Some PTs are additionally trained in the sensory system but not all, so usually I refer to OT for this area.
Hopefully these can help. If you find the bean bath on the feet is uncomfortable, I would look into more sensory concenrs and whether there is other things popping up in eating, noise, lights, or movement.
Good luck! If you still have questions, check the pinned comment for a link to schedule a parent consultation and we can dive a little deeper into more specifics and I can always help you find a provider in your area.
What an awesome video! My 6 yo daughter only has issue with her left leg. Is this normal when a child only toe walks on one foot? My wife and I have purchased the expensive AFO braces which hasn't really worked with her issues. I'm going to start working with her on these exercises. Fingers crossed this helps her....
Rjmlakota, thank you so much for your comment. To my knowledge it isn’t super common to only toe walk on one foot unless there is something neurological going on, but that being said - it doesn’t mean it isn’t impossible. If one ankle is less stable a child could use toe walking as a way to make it more stable. AFOs will help stabilize the ankle and keep it in dorsiflexion and can help with toe walking or falling while walking, but I would absolutely recommend adding in exercises or seeing a peds physical therapist / physiotherapist to gain more insight on your Daughters movement patterns and rule out any areas of weakness or mobility concerns. I hope this helps! Dr Lauren
@@DrLaurenBaker I have the same issue with my 12 year old son - left foot only is intoeing. Since he was 3, I kept going to all the doctors and exercises didn’t help at all. He didn’t grow out of it. As a result he’s worse at sport at school for which he’s being bullied. He can’t run properly and gets tired quickly. I’m going to GP next week to beg for another referral to the hospital as now my son has pain while walking … he walks like an old man. It’s a shame that no one listened and I was told I’m making this up and it will all go away. 😢
@@user-md1qz7ie2q I am so sorry that you were made to feel like your concerns weren’t valid, that is a really heartbreaking situation to be in for a parent and I’m so proud of you for continuing to advocate for your child.
In toeing usually comes from the hip either due to weakness, tightness, or potential changes in how the hip bone (femur) sits in the pelvis bone socket (acetabulum). Usually pediatric physical therapists can influence in toeing even just one side with core strengthening, hip/leg/ankle strengthening, and flexibility work in the opposite directions.
We often utilize other external support structures such as shoe inserts like these gait plates (not sure your location but an orthotist in your area may know of a different brand/version as well): nolaro24.com/gp.html
If possible I would absolutely encourage working 1:1 with a peds physio or physical therapist. If you’re struggling to find one in your area you can book a parent consultation in the pinned comment with me and we can talk about strategic exercises that may help. Good luck, Lauren
@@DrLaurenBaker Thank you so much! I’m in central London, Uk, going to see GP this evening so will share your post if it’s ok. I got him insoles and put those extra sticky pads on the inside part of them ti force feet to outside position. Will keep doing exercises. I’m sure it’s a hip problem. Shell exercise (opening up like a shell) is a daily routine plus walking on toes and heels of feet and outside of feet. St Thomas’s hospital in Westminster area central London - has Evelina hospital for kids - that’s where we didn’t get any help. Just “do nothing it’s not that bad”
@@user-md1qz7ie2q I love how much you're doing, If your kiddo likes yoga, Cosmic Kids Yoga: www.youtube.com/@CosmicKidsYoga is super fun, or if that is too "kiddy," then Yoga with Adrienne ua-cam.com/video/dF7O6-QabIo/v-deo.html might be a good in between. I love how yoga addresses all planes of motion and is something that can be done wholistically with minimal to no equipment. Great for the hips and ankles! Keep me updated, I'd love to help more if I can!
My 12 year old son has intoeing on left foot and knocked knees. Which insoles will be good please - we’re going to do these great exercises but I think having insoles to push his feet a bit to outside would also help? What about taping? I find his left foot arch or left bone is kind of fallen inside instead of being straight up. Thank you!
ET, I sent this in a different comment but in case you see this one first. For in-toeing these gait plates are really helpful but you do need a PT or orthotist in your area to order: nolaro24.com/gp.html
That being said other options could be torsion strapping (these are usually used for younger kids and are more significant of an intervention), regular inserts to give support at the arch which then can allow you to influence the hip and core muscles through exercises and strengthening (with consistency 3-5x a week like adults recommended exercise for best results at that age, potentially long term based on severity). Kinesiotape on the arch can be helpful as well, I don’t have a specific video on it but I really like the rock tape brand the best kit.co/drlaurenbaker/injury-prevention/rocktape-original-2 and they have a lot of videos too. The bone you’re likely talking about in the foot is the navicular and a “fallen navicular” is a clinical sign for flat feet or “pes planus” as well as potential weakness in the feet muscles. You can have him work on picking up marbles or Pom poms with his toes while standing on one foot as another great exercise to strengthen the feet muscles. Hope this helps! Lauren
Hello. I am 52 years old and I have been a tipple toe walker all my life as well as my 2 daughters. The youngest one hab to have Achilles surgery. When that helped her she still walks on her toe.
For the person who said it is natural it is not. My feet are way wider than the norm and my daughter will always have balance issues.
I noticed also that my underbutt is underdeveloped (the part of my glutes or maybe it's the femoral muscles). I only started now to be able to engage those muscles while working out, do you think I have a chance to wake up those muscles and develop them?
Hi Chantal, Thank you so. much for sharing your story and your family's story with toe walking. Toe walking does change the way the body moves and consequently which muscles are activated properly and which are not, so I'm not surprised in your statement about underactivation of your glutes (a PT would call this a muscular imbalance as a technical term). There are absolutely things you can do to help t hose muscles learn how to activate properly regardless of age (PTs work with infants including newborns all the way to 99+ and muscles can make changes no matter the age!).
My recommendation would be to see /. have your daughters see a Physical Therapist / Physiotherapist to rule out any ankle joint tightness, figure out which muscles are weak and which are strong, and decide on a shoe insert to help the ankles have more support. Depending on age for kiddos I find the little steps inserts www.nolaro24.com/ls.html to be helpful, but as adults other orthopedic inserts might be better (an orthotist could help with this).
The biggest thing I want you to take away as that the way you move right now, does not have to be the way you move forever and there are lots of things you can do to influence toe walking and other mobility conditions with the right expert. In person is always best, but even working on these exercises now can be helpful.
The other area that I always encourage, is having an occupational therapy evaluation to rule out any sensory components of toe walking. A lot of. individuals who need more input from the ground to know where their body is in space subconsciously choose toe walking as a way to increase that input. There are other ways that can help, but OTs are the experts in that area :)
@@DrLaurenBaker Thank you so much for your answer. Both my daughters are grown-ups so I will share any of my findings with them.
It is crazy how much information is available today compared to a few years ago.
Following your reply, I made an appointment with a psychiatrist and will see the outcome in a few weeks. I'll keep you updated! But I definitely do not rule out that possibility.
I love that you’re taking your health seriously and I totally agree more and more therapists are also willing to show up in non conventional ways like UA-cam now instead of keeping information behind glass doors and waiting for those to have an evaluation to receive it which I am all for.
I wanted to give a quick breakdown of which provider can help with what:
Physical therapist / physiotherapist: posture, strength of the whole body, any muscle imbalances, walking, ankle joint position (other joints too) and balance are our main focuses. Mostly getting the body to move well. PTs can also help with inserts or orthotics in shoes
Occupational Therapist: will look at the sensory system (touch, pressure, vision, smell, taste, hearing and inner ear position) to determine how a body is processing movement and whether it needs more of any specific sensation to move better or whether it needs less of specific sensations. Toe walking is usually associated with individuals who need MORE input than the average person to know where their body is in space so they walk on their toes which gets more feedback from the ground than walking with a heel strike does. OTs can help integrate the different sensory experiences we have in order for our body to get more of what it needs in other places instead of by walking on our toes.
Psychiatrist / psychologist: while different technically are going to work on the mental processing of life including stress, anxiety and trauma all of which can also effect how we move. I’m a huge fan of counseling but also want to share that while this is highly helpful in a lot of ways, it may or may not impact or change toe walking (not a lot of research on the mental emotional part of toe walking). But again it’s brilliant in a million other ways.
@@DrLaurenBaker No worries, I am making an appointment with my GP as well to get the referral needed.
I wanted to mention as well that we're all short. Two of us are 5'1 and the youngest is 4'11. Nothing is made in life for short people. When I sit on a chair, my feet don't touch the floor. I am constantly going up on my toes to reach out. At the gym, all the machines are unfit for me. At home countertop tops are too high, even toilets are too high.
This definitely could be a contributing factor too. We always bring little boxes for our babes in schools whose feet aren’t flat on the ground. This helps a ton with back health and posture and also keeping ankles in a more advantageous position. But that must be so frustrating!
Hi dr Lauren
My daughter is 20 months old. She started walking when she turned 1. We moved to new place which is carpeted. She was waking fine. Even she was running fast. Still she does. But few days back she has started waking on toes. My mother in law got her Skechers shoes 3 months back. She asked me to put her that all the time. Can shoes caused toe waking ? She is good runner.
Hi Rabia! I wanted to say that I loved our chat and hope that some of the things we talked about are helping so far. Always here if you’d like to chat again!
My 3.5 yr old has toe walked since the beginning and now my 16 month old wants to copy him even though she didn’t start doing it till she had been walking over 6 months 😤 I am going to try these with him and see if it helps and hopefully my 16 month old will stop too.
That must be so frustrating! Yes definitely try these exercises but if you do not see quick results (2-4 weeks) definitely look into having your kiddos evaluated by an OT or PT - there are multifactors to toe walking including: ankle instability, primitive reflex integration, vestibular input needs, functional vision (prisim glasses or dual use of both eyes together have shown to influence how kids walk), or sensory needs (need more input when walking so they get it through walking on toes). Other factors such as tightness or core weakness, pelvic floor tightness including urinary or bowel leakage can also be a part of toe walking. It isnt the most fun experience for parents or healthcare providers but it is absolutely a worthy fight to attempt to decrease as much as possible for long term health. Good luck! Also scroll the comments for other resources I have shared in the past.
You're a gem. Thanks for this video. =)
Aw thanks Donna! If there’s anything I can do or resources I can share please let me know! I’m happy to help - Lauren
I’m 23 and have been toe-walking for as long as I can remember. I did a calf surgery when I was 14 but it was unsuccessful.
I can put my left leg flat on the ground but not my right. Would physio be able to completely correct this?
Hi Shadae! Thank you for your comment. Likely it depends on what is causing your toe walking and whether any structural changes have occurred in the muscle fibers. That being said, it would likely be beneficial to have a physical therapist asses the following items: mobility of your ankle joints (these allow the ankle to move and the talocrural joint - the bones that connect your leg to your foot - have to slide forward and backwards in order for your foot to point and flex. When someone toe walks for a prolonged period of time, the talocrural joint can get hypomobile (tight/stuck) more in the front position and have difficulty sliding backwards. Physical therapists trained in manual therapy can asses your joint mobility and determine if that is the case (it can be limited based on whether there is hardware inserted from your previous surgery). A physical therapist can also assist with shoe modifications, inserts, or braces to help get a foot flat position as well as assessing whether there is any neural tension in your nerves in your lower leg such as the sciatic nerve or femoral nerve. These can both impact mobility (sciatic more so at the ankle). Physical therapists can also utilize scraping techniques such as gua sha or graston, kinesiotape application, or dry needling based on their experience all of which may benefit someone who has been toe walking for years and is showing mobility difficulties.
I would highly recommend a PT eval from a manual therapy trained physical therapist to hopefully find more mobility but ultimately to learn more about your body and what you can do to move as optimally as possible. I hope this is helpful! Lauren
Shadae, I also asked another previous commenter to reach out in your comments (hopefully she sees my comment!) because she had PT after toe walking for years and I think her experience might by extremely valuable for you! Fingers crossed 🤞 we connect you two!
Hello Lauren! Thank you for the wonderful exercises and explaining them. Very nicely done ✔ 👏. Mark Bensette Aux Bois 🇨🇦.
DreamScapes Sleep Music / Mark Bensette Aux Bois,
Thanks so much for the comment it is really thoughtful of you to leave one and the compliment is greatly appreciated! It's so crazy as a semi-new creator to really understand what will be helpful, so the feedback is so greatly appreciated! I hope you have an amazing day. Thanks again, Lauren
@@DrLaurenBaker You are so very welcome Lauren! Have a great evening and week ahead 😀 😊.
Hello mam, my son is 3 yr old now he is not walking yet he started crawling and sitting in a w posture at his 2 yrs ...we continue giving physio therapy ...when we make to walk he is walking with his toes and bend his knees .. what are ythe effective exercise to do mam for quick better results
My sister is 13 years old and she is still toe walking and she got scoliosis beacuse of toe walking and her physiotherapist has told her to start walking properly first with her heels touching first but she still can't
Hi Sonu, I love that you are trying to find answers for your sister, you are a really great family member! Toe walking is extremely complex and while this video doesn't go through everything that can be contributing to toe walking I do want to share a few resources with you in case you have access to them.
- Little Steps are an insert that I have found really can help if toe walking is due to an orthopedic concern (not enough stability at the ankle or is contributing factor). Often it is not only an orthopedic concern but these can help (you do need a distributor to have access and as I'm not sure if you're in the US or international I linked the international page. Little Steps are the type of insert I use for kiddos who are toe walking): www.nolaro24.com/distributors.html
- Sensory Soles can help toe walking if it is more due to sensory experience than orthopedic or other considerations: instagram.com/p/ChYbFQPl0J6/
- Wedges can help increase weight bearing through the full foot if neither of the other options are available. This is the recommended wedge in PT courses / by PTs: amzn.to/3ZaSbdN The focus here is increasing weight bearing through the full foot and decreasing the wedge height as more range becomes available. *this is an affiliate link to amazon.
- Functional Vision Exam: Sometimes toe walking can be due to a functional visual problem and with the use of functional visual exams by a developmental optometrist usually employed at a vision therapy center, they are able to see how the eyeballs are working together (or not), whether there is a visual dysfunction, and try things like prism glasses that can help alter body position including potentially decrease toe walking such as this parent's experience: lifeandtimesofstella.com/2011/03/22/how-vision-therapy-is-saving-stellas-toes-and-then-some/
- Chiropractic care: There is an understanding in the Chiropractic model that increased neural tension can result in toe walking and that there can be dysfunction at the cervical joints, which once relieved can decrease toe walking.
- OT / PT: Working on primitive reflexes can alter toe walking. Occupational therapists additionally can address the sensory component that occurs at times with toe walking.
Hopefully all these resources are helpful!
Difficult to do some of these exercises with spastic cerebral palsy children especially the last exercise.
Majd, thank you for your comment. You are correct, these exercises fit children with idiopathic toe walking best and are likely not going to fit or fit perfectly for children with neurological diagnoses such as spastic cerebral palsy. Often children with such diagnoses who are toe walking are prescribed botox injections, serial casting, and/or AFOs (ankle foot orthotics) all by their pediatricians and in combination with their PTs to manage toe walking along with individualized therapy as spastic cerebral palsy can have a wide range of presentations based on the kiddo. You may have better luck with the channel Pediatric Physical Therapy Exercises as I know she has videos with kiddos with diagnoses of CP (not sure if she has videos with kiddos with CP in regards to toe walking but its worth a shot checking her channel out). Good luck!
Here is her channel link: youtube.com/@pediatricPTexercises
Hey, i am 18 years old and for what i know i have been toe walking with my right leg since as long as i can remember. My mother said when i was a kid i was once suffering with pneumonia and since then started to gradually toe walk. Being 18 now i am trying my hardest to not toe walk but since i have been doing this for so long, it’s quiet difficult. So much so that i have developed a callus below my big toe finger slightly on the left side. I am trying out the exercises you suggested for now but i was also wondering if toe walking can be surgically cured. I have been hoping that it is but don’t know for sure. Can it be done?
Hi Zenixonipad, thank you so much for commenting and sharing your story.
Toe walking can have many causes (some known and some unknown), depending on the cause and if it is still present can depend on the treatment.
There are surgical options depending on whether the tissue can be lengthened in a conservative manner (stretching, splinting, night braces, manual therapy including joint mobilizations to the ankle and foot joints, vibration therapy, brushing techniques, etc) or not.
Sometimes, conservative therapy and treatment is not enough to lengthen the tissues (usually the calf muscles) and they have to surgically lengthen them. This would be determined either by a physical therapist or orthopedic surgeon/doctor.
There is a middle ground option as well: serial casting, where a series of casts are placed on the foot which can be walked on and over time the stretch on the tissues due to the position of the foot can assist in lengthening the tissue. This is usually followed up by up to six months of ankle foot orthosis (AFO) to maintain the position. This is usually appropriate for individuals who cannot get their foot flat when standing or another person cannot flex the individuals ankle to 90 degrees when they are sitting down with leg bent or straight.
Usually I would generally recommend treatment for toe walking in this order: evaluation by a physical therapist (since you are older I would recommend an adult orthopedic physical therapist), conservative therapy including any variation of the options previous listed and likely more, orthotist (for orthotics and/or night splints if PT recommends), then if it still is not flat the next level would be serial casting/bracing, and only then would I recommend surgery.
Surgery does have significant downsides and is incredibly invasive so conservative management is ideal.
While 18 is legal adult age in most states I would highly recommend talking and sharing this information with your parents or guardians, especially since in the US and possibly other countries 18 year olds are on parents insurance.
While this was a lot of info, I do think seeing a physical therapist in person if possible would be your best bet! Good luck and please reach with more questions.
Pretty sure I have issues sensing my arches. Also my feet are slightly pes cavus.
Hi! thanks so much for your comment. I apologize that it has taken me longer than I'd like to respond. This is a fairly common occurrence, that being said there are a bunch of ways to make it better. The more you practice balance and think of what your feet are doing (where is your big toe, where is your arch, are you squeezing your gluteal muscles, are you focusing on one spot near the ground) the more your brain/body connection will be built. You can also make it more challenging by standing on an uneven surface like a pillow, bosu ball, dynadisc, or foam mat. Here are my favorites:
foam mat - kit.co/drlaurenbaker/pediatric-physical-therapy/prosourcefit-exercis
dynadisc - kit.co/drlaurenbaker/pediatric-physical-therapy/trideer-inflated-wob
For pes cavus, a lot of different inserts can help support your foot position from custom orthotics from an orthatist to superfeet orthotics which are some of my favorites off amazon -- amzn.to/3BNUxba
Foot exercises can also help you increase your connection with your feet such as toe curls with a towel or picking up little pom poms with your toes. I also really like standing on a vibration plate if you're looking for more involved options (this is the one I have) -- kit.co/drlaurenbaker/pediatric-physical-therapy/6225505-lifepro-waver-mini-v
*affiliate links listed
I hope all of these options give you a few more ideas! Lauren
Hi I have twins daughters 10 years old both r toe walking I am really very upset plz guide me
Hi Arsal, Thank you so much for your comment. Toe walking is a really tough condition, but my recommendation would be to reach out to a local pediatric physical therapist/physiotherapist for an evaluation of what specifically is causing the toe walking. Toe walking can be caused by sensory needs, weakness, visual difficulties, postural difficulties, and ankle instability. Some additional resources not in this video include some shoe inserts that might help.
For sensory: www.sensorysole.com/
For ankle instability, I like the little steps inserts: nolaro24orders.com/products/littlesteps%C2%AE-foot-orthotics
You can also start with a wedge in the shoe and decrease the height of the wedge as the heels get closer to the floor -- amzn.to/3YnWtA2 (may need to cut to fit in shoes).
gel wedge insole - kidsole.com/products/kidsole
*contains affiliate links
I hope these options may help. Lauren
My 8 years old son toe walking so you help me kaise khatam karu uska toe walking?
Hi Rajashree, toe walking is a really complex condition that is often difficult to assess based on a comment, but if you would like to book an online parent consultation I can assist you in finding the next right steps for you child. You can schedule a 1:1 online video parent consultation with me here at any time: drlaurenbaker.clientsecure.me/request/service
I hope this helps! Lauren
These look super helpful. Will try to do these over the next couple weeks. I’m at a lose the Dr thinks it’s an issue with my 7 year old, but when we went to the pediatric orthopedist he said it’s no biggie. He’s super slow with running so his love of sports is suffering cause of this and his feet hurt half way thru the day almost everyday. Do you think it’s possible for them to be fixed at 7 years old? I’ve been fighting this battle since he was 3. It was always “he’s fine” “hell out grow it” “hell have killer calves” I just want him to be able to run and play sports like he wants.
Amy, you are SUCH A GREAT MAMA for continuing to advocate for your kiddo. After about 2 years of age, toe walking is something that can and should be addressed. Biomechanically speaking, it does effect movement and can have significant interactions on forces through the knees, ankles, hips, and low back. That being said, if you haven't reached out to a local physical therapist or occupational therapist for support it would be a great next step. Toe walking is typically addressed by a physical therapist; however, there can be sensory components that can also be addressed by OTs. If you continue to have questions and just would like additional information on toe walking, considerations, and how it biomechanically can affect other areas of the body I do have online parent consultations linked in the pinned comment. Good luck!!
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Sefora, thank you so much for the
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Thanks TanpingHo! please let me know if you have any questions!
@@DrLaurenBaker no
“When they’re older.” … 2 years. 🤦♀️
yeahhhh... sometimes while filming I can say slightly random things that don't always translate well!
There is literally nothing wrong with toe walking it’s natural.
Hi GabeLee, thanks so much for taking the time to comment. I’m not sure where you heard that information but depending on age, toe walking is considered abnormal and can have significant bio mechanical impacts on the body. I disagree with your comment but appreciate that you took the time to share your beliefs. If you or someone you know is toe walking over the age of 2 more than 80% of the time I would highly recommend seeing a physical therapist to assess their ankle, hip, and knee joints to allow them the best possible outcome for longevity of their body.