Everything You Need To Know About TOE WALKING in 5 minutes

This video goes over toe walking - a gait pattern where a child only walks on the balls of their feet without their heels coming into contact with the floor. This video addresses everything from why this happens & what's happening on a musculoskeletal level, to the most popular treatment approaches. I hope it's helpful, enjoy!
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This video is designed to provide general information about occupational therapy for caregivers. This video does not provide medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. Please see a medical professional if you have concerns about your child’s development

[@nicoleellis798]

I’m 41 and have done this my whole life. My calves are incredible but my feet are too wide for normal shoes. Sign of ASD usually

[@kmaclegends9042]

I'm 23 and autistic. I've been walking on my toes my whole life & didn't really notice it when I was very young. As I grew it didn't change anything at the time when running it made me feel like I ran faster. When watching this video, I at first thought I was the only one who walks like this I didn't know there were people out there who walks similar to me. I've never met another toe walker but it's good to hear. Glad I got to watch this video & learn more about it. Though sometimes being out in public can be tough especially nowadays. But still like to learn more about it.

[@OneiricSVP]

I’m 20 and I alternate between toe walking and normal walking (when barefoot), sometimes just catching myself standing on my toes. I’ve been googling side effects and such but everything they say I’ve never experienced.. I also see that these researchers point out toe walking causes flat feet, but as someone who genetically has flat feet, I find that I do it to relieve the pressure from my feet that’s caused from lack of an arch, and I assume it’s why I continued toe walking throughout childhood into my adulthood. It feels much better to walk on my toes than it does to walk normally if I don’t have proper footwear. I just find it interesting that within all the science I’ve been reading, there’s not one source that talks about this. I’m sure a lot of other people have a similar experience, so I think it’d be worth considering that flat feet causes toe walking rather than the other way around! (for some cases)

[@TheOTGuide]

Hi there and welcome!! Sorry for the delay and thanks for sharing your unique experience! It's fascinating how individuals develop personalized strategies for comfort. Your observation about using toe walking to relieve pressure from flat feet is intriguing and I wonder if you're on to something. While scientific literature highlights associations, personal variations like yours remind us of the complexity of movement. If you haven't already, consulting with a healthcare professional might provide additional insights.

[@vr5994]

Could you give more exercise to stretch & to help improve the toe walking.

[@TheOTGuide]

Yes! Here are more stretches you can do to help lengthen those calf muscles that are gradually being shortened by toe walking: www.foot-pain-explored.com/calf-stretches.html

[@kozieclothes1118]

loved your delivery

[@TheOTGuide]

Thank you! Glad you liked it!

[@bkguruprasad-wm3cb]

What about babies who toe walk on only one leg?

[@user-yn3ir7sq6b]

I want how I can massage my little brother that have cerebral palsy and his foot is not having contact with the ground and his knees is also bend so I want a type of massage that will make him to start walking

[@natafjerome3459]

hi, are insoles effective in toe walking treatment for adults ?

[@TheOTGuide]

Hi there! Insoles, specifically designed for addressing toe walking, can be a part of a comprehensive treatment plan, but their effectiveness may vary from person to person. Definitely consult with your doctor!

[@allieallyali]

My son used to walk on toes regularly but with exercise & more outdoors time, it decreased. However, he curls his toes & seems to have a lot of tension in bottom of toes. Is there anything I can do to alleviate this? Thank you for this video 😊

[@TheOTGuide]

Hey Alison! Sorry for the delay! I'm so glad the toe walking has decreased, that's great news. In terms of toe-curling, the same principles apply - if over time he is constantly curling his toes, those muscles that are flexing will gradually shorten, leading to a muscle imbalance. Make sure he's wearing the right size shoes that don't cause his toes to curl (sometimes toe curling can be caused by shoes that are too short or narrow). Also, if he'll tolerate it, you can try applying gentle stretches to your son's toes (such as straightening them) to elongate those muscles. If you haven't already, definitely mention the toe-curling to his pediatrician. They might want to get him evaluated by a podiatrist.

[@jeenaaldus167]

Can you please tell me about the shoes…. With more pictures…

[@user-cs4wd3pd4z]

You gave some clear treatment strategies for addressing the muscles, but what if the cause is sensory seeking or sensory avoiding? What treatments would you recommend? Would proprioceptive input to the whole body address seeking of prop. input to the calf muscles, or are there more specific localized input activities you could do to address this? If sensory avoidant on the feet, what specific strategies would you recommend? Thanks!

[@TheOTGuide]

Hey there! Thank you so much for visiting my channel! This is a great question, and one I definitely don't have a clear answer to. I'll do my best : -Sensory avoidant - Often people are sensory avoidant to specific textures on their feet and walk on their toes as a result - for example, a child walking on their tippy toes to avoid mud. Usually it's temporary and not something you'd see across different settings. Biggest tip - avoid non-preferred textures to the feet! You can do this by wearing sneakers or a preferred shoe :) If you know someone who is always toe-walking (with or without shoes on), it's likely not just for sensory reasons. -Sensory seeking - My tactile sensory seekers almost never walk on their toes (they want as much tactile information to their entire foot as possible, to the extent that they take their shoes off all the time so they can feel everything on their feet). If they are proprioceptive seekers, you can try giving them heavy proprioceptive input to their calves (and rest of their body) in other ways! I think I mention some activities in the video some activities that do this (walking on uneven surfaces, stretching/strengthening calf exercises, etc.) I hope this helps!!

[@gnome_detector]

im 16 and ive been toe walking for no reason ever since i was 9, is it possible for me to go back to normal walking?

[@TheOTGuide]

Hey there! Thanks for visiting my channel. I can't give medical advice, that being said I do think it's possible for toe walkers to develop a normal walking gait. I'd check in with your doctor and see what he recommends, likely physical therapy

[@-zogekusari-3264]

I'm 13 and I've walked on my toes my whole life, when I was younger my parent tried getting me stiffer high-top shoes to try and get me to stop but it did absolutely nothing. Doctors have noticed me toe walking before and pretty much always check to see if my Achilles tendon is tight, but it never has been I've been told by both a foot doctor and normal doctors that it's just because I'm flexible that it might be more comfortable for me to walk that way. (Never had any problem walking flat-foot just isn't as comfortable to me) Ive also noticed recently that I just don’t like the feel of the arch in my foot, if i do stand flat foot i want to stand on the outer sides of my feet because the arch just feels wrong. Im fine walking flat foot in shoes but it just feels wrong without shoes

[@TheOTGuide]

Thank you for sharing!! That's so interesting

[@Kometheus]

Yea i've found this to be more comfortable

[@anguishedcarpet]

@@TheOTGuide just want to say this is also my exact experience. I also suspect years of martial arts forced my calf muscles to engage in a wide enough range of motion to reduce the deleterious effects of my toe walking

[@reubensingh1430]

Does this cause hammer toes or any toe deformity. I have mad anxiety just thinking about it.

[@TheOTGuide]

Great question! Toe walking itself may not directly cause hammer toes or other toe deformities. However, if toe walking persists, it can potentially contribute to issues like muscle imbalances and shortened tendons, which may affect foot alignment over time. Early intervention can make a significant difference in preventing or addressing any potential foot-related issues. Take care!

[@noxologumede7845]

I walk on my toe till today. Is this a problem or some sort of underlying issue. Im almost 50. I do skipping a lot but i dont hv any problems problem with my legs

[@TheOTGuide]

Hey there! Thanks for checking out my channel and so sorry for the delay. This is definitely something I'd bring up to your doctor, as excessive toe walking can cause shortened muscles/tendons and affect your gait significantly. That being said, if you've toe walked since childhood and it hasn't caused any pain or discomfort, it might just work for you. I'd recommend an evaluation by an orthopedic specialist!

[@Punkydoodle007]

I'm 50 years old and go back and forth between walking on my toes and regular walking. I don't usually realize when I'm doing it. My 25 year old son does the same thing. We've never seen a doctor for it as it's never bothered us and we're not in any pain. But now you got me wondering if there is some underlying cause that is genetic?

[@TheOTGuide]

Hey there! Thank you so much for visiting my channel! Toe walking does sometimes run in families and the existing literature does describe it as having a possibly hereditary cause. I'm very glad it's never bothered you guys or caused any pain!

[@karendouglas8497]

My daughter is 11 and she's still walking on her toe she have the cast on for 4 weeks it was a bit better but now she still toe walking

[@TheOTGuide]

Hey Karen! Thank you so much for watching my video. It sounds like your daughter has been toe-walking for a very long time. That's really, really tough. My biggest tip would be to work closely with your child's pediatrician and physical therapist - they will have the best advice going forward.

[@hellsummon]

I walk on my toes when barefoot.

[@TheOTGuide]

Thank you for visiting my channel and sharing! Has that caused any pain for you or are you generally comfortable with your gait?

[@user-ds5fp6mb4j]

I have disabilty audit and I do walking on my toe in my walker and at home I walk my knees. So what I do.

[@TheOTGuide]

Hi there, I'm just seeing your comment! I recommend discussing this with your doctor and getting a physical therapy referral.

[@sohbatamelUSA]

Thank you 🤗👍

[@TheOTGuide]

You’re welcome 😊

[@sandralowery4618]

I have toe walking becauseof mild cerebral palsy my heal cord are tight

[@TheOTGuide]

Ouch! Tight heal cords sound painful :( Have you talked to your doctor about this and what are their suggestions? Sorry for my delayed response by the way. Thanks for watching my video. -Dana

[@faithfreedom4084]

My 10yo is walking on the balls of her feet. She cant put her heels down if she does her back goes forward. The muscles are all tight. It just all of a sudden happened she wasnt doing this younger. Even after stretching it's not improving

[@nicoleellis798]

My parents tried to get me to stop walking on my toes. It never worked. I’m 41 now and still do it.

[@LaurieFoster-fs4ez]

Hi, my son starting doing this around the time he was 4. Just wondering if you ever found out the cause?

[@faithfreedom4084]

@LaurieFoster-fs4ez I am not positive but I think it was caused by stress. We found someone who was specialized in accupressure and he worked on her feet for 3 to 4 months and she is completely better and walks flat foot now.

[@LaurieFoster-fs4ez]

❤❤ great news for you and your daughter!

[@SallyLeCras]

Serial casting not cereal casting

[@estebanmorris5636]

My lil girl like feet likes toes. And she smells them.she Is very food looking beautiful you Spanish girl. She love feet! What do I do