8 Yr Old Toe Walking

My daughter toe walked since she was a toddler. She is 18 now and although I still spot her on her toes now and then when she is barefoot, she regularly has a normal gait. The concern was shortened tendons that could cause problems, but she has not had any complaints. The sneakers with the thick platforms tended to keep her flat on her feet more. The advice that we got from her pediatrician when she was about the same age was to have her regularly stand on a board or platform that has a 45 degree incline toes up) a couple times a day to stretch the back of the heel and calf. My daughter does not have any problems running, or other activities, even with the life long toe walking.

All of my children do this. So does their father, 2 of his brothers and 1 of our nephews. If there is anything "wrong" with it, we've yet to see the issue. My oldest daughter (7) does it more than anyone so, sometimes, I remind her to walk flat on her feet. :)

My daughter did it, but I think she stopped by the time she was eight. It was so cute!!

I doubt there's anything to worry about, esp. if the ped. says not to. Has anyone asked her why she does it, just out of curiosity?

When we were kids my friend used to walk on her toes. lol. She did it for a long time. But eventually she started walking normally

I find it curious that she only started this a year ago...My 6 yr old son is being treated for this right now. However, he was walked on his toes all of his life. My former ped said not to worry about it, but my new ped referred us to an orthopedic doctor. His achilles tendons are tight and shorter than they should be as a result of not walking flat on his feet. He is wearing leg braces (for 3 months to one year) and is getting physical therapy.

I would see a lot of younger kids around 8 in the school I taught at walking on their toes. I think they should just grow out of it and start walking normally.

Get a specialist now. An Orthopedist I think. She could have problems with the muscles and tendons in her legs. It has nothing to do with a disability but can affect her walking, running, etc the rest of her life if not treated soon. It can be from how she is growing and be fixable if caught sooner rather than later.

If toe-walking is all that she is doing, she will probably outgrow it. However, if she has balance problems or any problems with elimination, then it can be something more serious.

Are you meaning tip toes? Or en Pointe like a ballerina? Because if she is on her toe tips en Point this can hurt her bones horribly. The reason dance students cannot do en Pointe until they are mid teen age is because of the serious damage it can do to their bones, ligaments, and tendons. So depending on what you mean by toe walking I would be concerned if it were one but not if it were the other.

A Podiatrist could answer this question more thoroughly though. They may even have some remedies to stop it.