08 Mar 😳Have you been told that your child might have Autism because he toe walks Or perhaps you are concerned that your child 🧒may have Autism because you noticed your toddler always on their tip toes👣

If you can identify with the above statements, then you are not alone. Here at My Favourite Physio, our Expert Paediatric Physiotherapists often see toddlers and children whose parents are concerned that their child is toe walking all the time or a lot of the time. One of the concerns that parents have is that, their child could have Autism, also known as Autistic Spectrum Disorder because they have been told by childcare teachers or well meaning family and friends or Dr Google. This is incorrect, as toe walking can be a result of many causes and not an accurate indication of Autism or Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

Although some children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder may walk on their toes, not all children who walk on their toes have Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

Some of the causes for toe walking include:
Idiopathic Toe Walking – where there is no known medical cause for the toe walking identified. Toe walking is often put down to the habits that a child developed over time. This is the most common cause of toe walking.

Sensory Processing Issues – where a child is sensitive to touch of the ground or floor that they are stepping on. Toe walking is often demonstrated only when walking on certain surfaces like sand or grass.

Cerebral Palsy – where due to a lesion in the brain, there is increased signals from the brain that causes the calf muscles to tighten up and cause a child to walk on their toes. The child is often unable to control the calf muscles from tightening up.

At My Favourite Physio, our Expert Paediatric Physiotherapists carry out a detailed assessment to determine the cause of your child’s toe walking and the best treatment options for your child. Treatment options will vary depending on how frequency and cause of toe walking as well as the age of the child.

If you have concerns about your child’s toe walking, ring My Favourite Physio on (02) 9790 4233 or DM us @myfavouritephysio to find out how we can help your child today!