What is Toe Walking?
Toe walking is when your child walks on the balls of their feet without their heels touching the floor. This condition is common amongst kids who are just beginning to learn how to walk and usually isn’t a concern because most children will outgrow it. However, if your child is still toe walking after two years old, visit Drs. Kelly Bumpus and Danielle Malin at Knoxville Footcare in Knoxville, TN for an appointment today.
Causes of Toe Walking
Walking on tiptoes is unusual for children past two years old and causes stiffness of the ankles. Sometimes this behavior is a result of underlying conditions including:
Heel Pain
Your child may be toe walking because of pain in their heels. Pediatric heel pain is caused by Sever’s disease, a condition where the heel’s growth plate is heavily inflamed and swelled up. Typically, children going through early puberty or who are active in sports are at a risk for developing Sever’s disease.
Short Achilles Tendon
Your Achilles tendon is located on the back of your heel and extends up to your lower legs. This tendon helps your child move and walk. If an Achilles tendon is too short, that means the heel can’t reach the ground. This is why your child prefers to walk on their tip-toes instead of their feet.
Other conditions that are linked to toe walking include cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorders, and muscular dystrophy.
Treating Toe Walking
Your Knoxville, TN podiatrists pride themselves in taking care of their littlest patients, and that includes your child suffering from toe walking. At Knoxville Footcare, we will evaluate your child for the best possible treatment plan to stop toe walking. Ranging from physical therapy and stretching treatment plans to braces and footwear with special soles, Drs. Bumpus and Malin will help your child walk normally in no time.
Knoxville Footcare is located at 1932 Alcoa Highway Building C, Suite 480, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37920. Visit Drs. Kelly Bumpus and Danielle Malin at Knoxville Footcare or call 865-632-5700.