Jeffrey used to but doesn't do it anymore. And we didn't get him any special shoes or anything. I know my ex husband always walked on his toes. And he is definitely not on the spectrum at all. Jeffrey just outgrew his thing with walking on the toes. Now when he is really being sneaky he still does it tho.
Tammy
Sometimes Jakob walks on his toes and sometimes he doesn't. The shoes do help. I think this is a sensory issue. Like the bottoms of their feet are sensitive to touch? I don't know for sure, it's just my assumption. I have a NT 6 y/o nephew that still walks on his toes. I think some kids have the sensory issue when they are young and then as they get older it just becomes habit.Oh good so it sounds like if ds was going to do this he would already be doing it. So I don't have to worry about it showing up suddenly later on since he is already 2. THat's good to know. :-)
Amber
I just put Colin in athletic shoes that I couldn't bend in the middle. I do buy higher top ones when I can find them. The higher ones keep him from kicking them off so much too.
http://www.sickkids.ca/kidshealth/winter03vol3issue4/walkthi sway.asp
Walking on their toes
Some toddlers seem to spend much of their day walking on their toes. That too can be just a habit, but one that children should outgrow. If toe walking is identified early enough, a firm, high-cut shoe that does not easily bend in the middle may be sufficient to discourage toe walking. If, however, it becomes persistent, be sure to check with your physician
Wow, so much insight from all of you...thank you.
Levi stands on his toes for hours on end when watching TV or playing...he rarely sits down. He jumps on his toes, he walks on his toes. The boy has the strongest legs I have ever seen in a toddler...LOL!
I plan on trying several of the suggestions...very cool insight. I just love this board! I think all pediatricians should have to spend at least one hour a month reading through posts here...they would then be awesome help to us!
Feeling so much more hopeful since finding all of you, Julianne
Levi is 28 months old tomorrow. He started standing and jumping for hours on end on his tip toes when he was six months old. He would hold on to the side of the crib and jump and jump. We all thought it was soooo cute.
Levi has never walked flat footed. He started walking between 10-12 months. Some days he would walk and some days he would not, just jump only. His jumping has slowed down some, though he still goes into tantrums if he cannot jump on my bed.
When I put him in shoes he does seem to walk a little more flat footed, though he still hits his toes. Any specific type of shoe that works best?
Thanks for the responses.
Hi Julianne,... I have a pattern for the weighted vest I will send to you with the one for the weighted blanket. I got your PM with the email address,... I just havent gotten over to email yet LOL! Vests are great for calming and proproception.... heres something I found on toe walking with some suggestions.... I remember Tyler also was a toe walker and he still walks pretty funny,.... Im not sure its toe walking though....
http://www.autism.org/toewalk.html
Toe walking is quite common in young children, age 3 and younger; but toe walking, especially in children 5 years and older, is often associated with neurological immaturity. Many parents and professionals are not aware of the various interventions used to treat toe walking. The following interventions are listed from least to most invasive.
1) Physical exercises are sometimes used to stretch out the tendon in order to reduce toe walking, but this treatment has had minimal success.
2) A dysfunctional vestibular system, a common problem in autism, may be responsible for toe walking. The vestibular system provides the brain with feedback regarding body motion and position. It may be possible to reduce or eliminate toe walking by providing the person with therapeutic vestibular stimulation (e.g., being swung on a glider swing).
3) Toe walking may be directly or indirectly related to a visual-vestibular problem. I have conducted several research studies with Melvin Kaplan, O.D. at the Center for Visual Management in Tarrytown, New York. While conducting these studies, I observed four individuals who were toe walkers. In each case, their toe walking was eliminated within seconds after the child began wearing prism lenses.
(4 & 5) Casting is another intervention used to stop toe walking. This procedure involves wearing a cast to stretch out the tendon. In most cases, the cast is applied every two weeks for a total of 6 to 8 weeks. Another treatment involves surgery. Long-leg casts are then worn for six weeks and followed by night splinting for several months.
It is important for parents to learn as much as possible about treating toe walking before selecting an appropriate intervention for their child. When making a decision about any treatment, parents should take into account the treatment’s effectiveness, safety and cost.
Here is a link to different sensory areas... how to know if its a problem and ideas or suggestions to do to help... How to know if its sensory / What to do
ALSO I see in the integrations catalog a product called Stepping Stones - N - Stilts it says Fantastic for low tone children or those that toe walk. Not only works on dynamic balance, but keeps the back leg muscles from shortening and strengthens ankles. Just slip the straps out of the stilts and create the most fun "stone" path with 6 stones rocker side up or rocker side down. 3 pair of stilts. .99 a set. C 1-26824-142
TRAMPOLINES I would also think would help with using the whole foot and developing the muscle for walking flat footed..... you can buy small exercise ones at walmart, target, even sporting good stores for around -
Also try peddaling a bicycle trycicle exercise bike.....
Moon Walkers (the description in the integrations catalog - www.integrationscatalog.com or 1-800-622-0638 says) best fun in galaxy and calms by getting all the leg muscles to really work out ..... even when walking. The curved soles are great for children who have been toe walkers. Enjoy fun skipping! Big Walks! Giant Leaps! Slip over bare feet socks, and some shoes Indoors / outdoors c 1-04698-142 .99 / pair
heres a link to a different catalog but excat same product http://www.specialkidszone.com/Product_Level3.asp?ProductID= 1718
GO here for MANY great ideas!!! http://www.specialkidszone.com/Product_Level2.asp?SubCategor yID=78
ALSO SENSORY SLEEVE and LITTLE KIDDLE WEIGHTS for weights on the ankles AND there are weighted shoe pockets that velcro to the top of the shoe.
other catalogs for special equipments are listed under catalogs by going to the links page I posted and scrolling about 3/4 of the way down.. http://www.autism-pdd.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=690& PN=3
I hope this helps
OTHER INTERESTING ARTICLES EXPLAINING TOE WALKING......
http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/toddler/toddlerdevelopment/ 12580.html
In part..... Under what causes it.... 2nd paragraph... If your child's doctor rules out cerebral palsy and other physical problems — if her muscle tone is fine, and she has a good range of motion in the ankle — then she'll likely be diagnosed with what's called idiopathic toe walking. This is a catchall diagnosis that means the cause is unknown. Idiopathic toe walking may be associated with language delays and with certain forms of autism, so it's important to verify that your child's not having other problems with communication or socialization skills. You may want to schedule a development assessment to make sure. (MORE TO READ ON PAGE)
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http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/toddler/toddlerquicktips/toe_ walking.html
Toe walking (equinas gait) is usually normal, especially if your child is just beginning to learn to walk and is otherwise growing and developing normally.
However, toe walking can be a sign of a medical condition and can lead to problems with your child's gait, especially if it is persisting after she is three years old, if she developed toe walking at an older age, if the child can't stand flat, or has a limited range of motion..
Although often a habit, toe walking can be caused by neuromuscular disorders, such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy, leg length discrepancies or developmental dysplasia of the hip (especially if the toe walking is one sided), spinal cord abnormalities (such as a tethered cord) and tendo-Achilles contractures.
For children with mild contractures, stretching exercises and/or physical therapy may be necessary. For persistent or more severe contractures, casting or surgery may be required as treatment, although some specialists are using botox to successfully treat and correct toe walking.
Children with toe walking should be evaluated by their Pediatrician, so that a complete neurological exam can be performed to look for the above conditions.
My son does alot of toe walking. . .He use to climb up on our couch to look out the window to the pool. . .He no longer does that since we have told him not to. He learned he can stand on his toes and peak out the window to see if others are in the pool. He just turned three.
He toe walks to benefit him! Stands on his toes to get VHS tapes
Well my son is now 11 and has always been a toe walker he was a late walker but when he did start to walk he was a toe walker he now has muscle trouble and I have to work on stretching his calves and back of legs muscles he wears leg weights in theraphy and I have a excersise with a slow tredmill for him to walk on it has done some good but from so many years of toe walking you can see what it is done to his legs and feet. I lay him on the bed and have to slowly strech his ankles and feet I wish all of you's luck with you kids maybe it isn't that bad for all .......Junior mint use to toe walk a lot but it was addressed by everyone so its gotten a lot less now. Every now and then we say " walk flatfooted" and he comes down, now that he is a little past 5 he does it much much less, he used to be on his toes all the time.
On the toe walking, I was wondering did your child always do this or if not when did it start? Ds never does this. But then again, there are many things he now does that he didn't do even a couple mths ago (he is 2 now). I was just curious. What is the reason children w/ autism do this?
Amber
I have read walking on tip toes can cause muscle growth issues. I have also read about weighted vests. Who has had success and what did you do to rectify this issue? So far Levi (age 27 months) does not seem to understand about walking on his feet normally. I do know when he is in shoes he tends to walk better, but still tries to go up on his toes.
Thanks again, Julianne
My son's OT told us to put him in shoes with good support and stiff soles (hard to bend). Once we started doing that his toe walking really decreased.Hi, I am posting this reply on two forums, but I wanted to especially thank "MsSteelersFan" for the incredible info about Toe Walkers. I cannot believe I found this. Anyway, here's my tale:
My son is 9-1/2, started walking very late at 27mos, and is a toe-walker. He also flaps. Although he is extremely high-functioning, he has a lot of behavior issues and trouble reading. We have been stretching and "coaching" for flat feet for years - sometimes it works, but it is taking a toll on his body. We saw the pediatric orthopedist a few weeks ago. He explained at great length the long-term damage that may result from allowing him to continue to toe-walk... his arches will collapse, the toes will be damaged, the tendons shorten, the knees have problems, etc. He wants to do surgery to lengthen the tendons before it gets worse. The big question, of course, is what happens AFTER the surgery. Will he continue to have the urge to pop up on his toes? The doctor said that he does the surgery at least once a week, mostly on autistic and CP kids. He's only had one child go back up on their toes - a child about 13 years old. At this age, they should be able to learn to stay down. I do understand his logic, but I still think there must be something neurologically that needs to be corrected concurrent with the surgery. I read a TON of parent forums and posts and found the information about the prism lenses and visual vestibular therpy. Why haven't I seen this before????? THis is amazing!!! I immediately called a Developmental Optometrist in my area (Marietta, GA) - I didn't even know these people existed. I had a long chat with the therapist, and we're going in for two hours of testing and eval on Thursday. I will try to post back here for all of you to let you know what happens - if we get relief from this, I will be ecstatic. We may have to do the therapy to repair the tendons... I'll try to post back on that well so that others will benefit from our experience. I want to thank all of you for the great info I've found on this site. KJP
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