Why children walk on their toes

Why children walk on their toes

Toe walking, also known as equines gait is usually considered to be a normal part of development, as long as your child is growing and developing normally. Toe walking usually occurs when your child is just beginning to learn to walk. Toe walking, however, can be a sign of a medical condition and can lead to problems with your child's walking, especially if it persists after three years of age.

Although, toe walking is a habit, it can also be caused by neuromuscular disorders such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy, leg length discrepancies or developmental dysplasia of the hip (this is especially true if the toe walking is one sided), spinal cord abnormalities and tendo-Achilles contractures.

For children with mild contractures, stretching activities or physical therapy may be necessary. For persistent or more severe contractures, surgery may be necessary to correct and treat toe walking.

If you are concerned about your child's toe walking, have their pediatrician evaluate him/her to rule out any neurological conditions and to ease your mind.