My 9 year old daughter almost exclusively walks on her tiptoes when she’s barefoot. I don’t think it’s causing a problem now per se but don’t want issues in the future. I will bring it up at her next doctor’s appointment but just thought I’d throw it out here to see if others have had children do the same?
Mamazita: Yes I’m familiar with Google and have googled this topic. I use this forum regularly to ask and answer questions so I thought I’d throw the question out here to see if anyone had firsthand experience.
* And yes she can walk flat foot however she constantly walks on her tiptoes. Always have but just not as much as I’ve noticed recently which is why it occurred to me that it could potentially cause issues.
You can always pick up the phone and CALL the doctor's office, tell them what you are observing and they will advise whether or not they want to see her sooner than her next appointment. Because, yes, this could be a sign of an underlying problem.
Are you familiar with google? If you go to google.com and type in "toe walking in children" all kinds of information will come up.
I have a friend who I've known since childhood who as a kid, liked to walk on her toes. She doesn't now and is a walker (hiker) and bike enthusiast (bikes all over Europe for example).
It wasn't related to a neurological condition or anything. Her sister did the same (but in shoes too).
Your doc might refer her to physio or OT just for stretching exercises. My kids have gone for tips and evaluations. We have motor skill issues here.
Walking on toes might just create tight calf muscles over time but no worse I would think than a dancer. Flexing toes back will relax those calf muscles. Or if you have a step/stair, just let heels drop over edge of it and hold till feel a pull. Just don't over-stretch.
has she done it all her life? seems an odd thing to suddenly start worrying you.
if it's not causing a problem now, it also seems unlikely that it will cause future problems.
but yes, bringing it up to your pediatrician can't hurt.
khairete
S.
This is so funny! My daughter used to do that! I have never heard of another child doing the same. I don't recall when she stopped, but when she was little she walked around all day almost exclusively on her tiptoes. It was so cute! I recall it particularly when she was a little girl, but I think she had stopped by age nine.
It has caused her zero problems.
@Terri S. - The poster does say that she is going to bring it up to her doctor. I'm simply relating my experience.
If I recall correctly, there is some kind of medical condition that causes kids to walk on their tiptoes. However, I think it's younger kids, not kids as old as 9. You can check with your ped.
That said, I was a major tiptoe walker when I was a kid - gave me Tina Turner legs. I don't walk on tiptoes anymore but still have the legs! My best friend's younger daughter is also a tiptoe walker. Best friend is a ped, so no issues there.
Yes it can cause problems. Assuming that she has always done this and it isn't a new thing, I would call her doctor and ask a nurse about it unless her appointment in within the next month or two. Have you brought it up previously at the doctor? This is going to be a hard habit to break at 9 but better than being an adult. My friend's husband does this still and I know he has had issues because of it, I just can't remember what they are.
As long as she can put her feet down flat it shouldn't be a problem.
If she's always on tippy toes then it's like being in high heels all the time and that can cause some shortening of the calve muscles.
But that would take a long time to develop.
Some yoga stretches should help keep her limber.
A friend of my moms was less than 5 ft tall and wore heels all the time for decades.
She had to have surgery to fix her muscles so she could stand flat on her feet.
S. -
The question is CAN she walk flat-footed? If not? She needs to see a podiatrist or an orthopedic surgeon to see if she has tight leg muscles, stiffness in the Achilles tendon or a lack of muscle coordination.
There are other factors to consider as well. Does she have MS or CP? If so - that might be an issue as well.
Good luck!
When my son was young he did that but apparently do did my husband. It's probably nothing to freak out about but something you want to bring up to her dr when you see them next. If you are supper concerned though you can call and leave a message for them to call you back. Or if your insurance offers a on-call nurse for medical questions you can call it.
I’m glad you are planning on talking to the doctor, but I think maybe you might want to consider have her see an orthopedic specialist. Ortho docs know more than pets do about their specialty. Sometimes a habit can cause problems later in life, and if this is the case, your daughter needs to hear it from the doctor.
Rosebud's response below is exactly why you shouldn't be asking these kinds of questions on here. Just because another child had "no problem" doesn't mean that your child won't. This CAN be an indication of an issue after age two so call the doc today and see if they want to see her before her next appt.
Yes it can be a problem. Or no it might not. I can't wear high heels without getting a severe case of tendonitis in the top of my foot from the unnatural position. Dh has to have arch support or his feet hurt him.. so what one person needs another does not.. So yeah bring it up with the child's Dr the next time you go in.
This is linked to Autism if the child is doing it after the age of 3. Call your doctor sooner rather than later.
I like walking on the heels of my feet, when barefoot. I hate the feeling of the flesh of my bare feet sticking to the ground when I walk. I can walk barefoot in socks, without issue though. I guess it's just a weird quirk of mine. As far as I know, I don't have any foot issues, but maybe that's just because I limit my time walking on my heels until I can get a hold of a pair of socks, or slippers, so it's not like I do it for hours for days on end.
