Toe walking in children
Toe walking can occur while learning to walk; persistence or one-sided walking needs assessment.
Content updated:
Educational draft — awaiting physician approval
Illustrates movement only; it is not a diagnostic image.
When is it common?
Some young children walk on the front of the feet without their heels touching down. This can happen while learning to walk. Discuss persistence after age two, especially if the child cannot lower the heels. Many children have no underlying medical cause after assessment.
What does assessment check?
Assessment considers onset and development, ankle flexibility, strength and nerve function. One-sided toe walking or onset after previously normal walking deserves particular attention. Toe walking alone does not diagnose a developmental condition.
Does it need treatment?
Options include observation, clinician-guided exercises, braces or serial casts. Surgery may suit selected children with fixed tendon tightness. Do not force the heels down; the cause and examination guide care.