02 Dec Have you noticed that your toddler is walking on their tip toes all the time

Have you noticed that your toddler is walking on their tip toes all the time
Have you been old that your child may have Autism because he walks on his tip toes all the time

Did you know that there are many possible reasons apart from Autism that could cause a child to walk on their toes? Here at My Favourite Physio, our Expert Paediatric Physiotherapists see many toddlers and children whose parents report that the Childcare teachers think their child has Autism because they walk on their tip toes. Often times, when we assess the children, we find that the child who is tip toe walking, does not have Autism.

Here are Common Causes for Tip Toe Walking excluding Autism:
1. Idiopathic Toe Walking. This is a condition whereby a child simply walks on their tip toes for no apparent medical reasons. It is more often related to the frequent use of Baby Walkers or Jolly Jumpers, where baby had a lot of practice in them learning to walk or jump with their toes pointing downwards. Children who tend to W-sit all the time can also end up tip toe walking when they stand up.

2. Sensory Processing Disorders. This is a condition whereby a child has sensitivity to the texture of the ground they are walking on such as sand or grass. The child will usually be able to walk on their feet flat except when they are placed on sand or grass.

3. Structural Talipes. This is a condition whereby a child was born with a structural problem in their foot bone and calf muscles, causing the foot to point downwards. Because their calf muscle is tight, it makes it difficult for the child to place their foot flat on the ground to walk.

4. Cerebral Palsy. This is a condition whereby a child has increased signals from the brain going to their calf muscles which causes the foot to point downwards. This can affect one or both feet, so a child is always on their tip toes when they try to walk.

The treatment strategies for each condition is different. So if you are concerned about your child’s tip toe walking. The best thing to do is to speak to one of our Expert Paediatric Physiotherapists. Ring My Favourite Physio on (02) 9790 4233 or DM us @myfavouritephysio.