https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 02 May 2026 13:57:13 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-six-year-old-still-toe-walking#post-2925006 Wed, 22 Sep 2021 14:15:27 +0000 Cait1 2925006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellobeeboston: hi, we actually took him for his orthopedic consultation last week and started PT and OT this week! The muscles in one of his legs is much tighter than the other. We are going to do 6 weeks of the PT/OT and then regroup with the doctor. She seemed to think he would likely need serial casting but we may be able to limit it to just the more problematic leg if the therapy is effective. We’ll see. I feel bad for my son (as he is dreading the casting) but am happy to have a plan now. He does play soccer and ice skating is a great idea. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-six-year-old-still-toe-walking#post-2925001 Wed, 22 Sep 2021 08:38:29 +0000 hellobeeboston 2925001@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had raised this issue with our younger son when he was around 2, also not autistic or any other diagnosis ... he was also in speech therapy at that young age and in a group that had kids working on PT also, so they worked on getting him to stop... At home any time we saw him walking like that we asked him to stop.... You may need to do some PT to correct it as the muscles are likely shortened and it feels more comfortable now.... but I'm sure PT will help him out! They'll give you some good strategies to work on and you'll have to make sure you keep it up at home. </p> <p>Does he play sports? I bet that could help, or ice skate? Then his foot will have to be in the correct position... I would wait to do surgery until you give PT a good few months </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-six-year-old-still-toe-walking#post-2924903 Sun, 12 Sep 2021 07:04:31 +0000 Cait1 2924903@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ALV91711: thanks for sharing this!</p> <p>@fmmtk: thank you for this info! We are taking him to the ortho on Wednesday. I’m hoping to avoid surgery as well and hoping we can do a mix of PT/AFOs if they say he needs treatment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-six-year-old-still-toe-walking#post-2924901 Sat, 11 Sep 2021 22:28:24 +0000 fmmtk 2924901@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We raised this as a concern starting at age 2 and were told over and over, she will grow out of it. At age 6, I felt it had gone on too long and insisted on a referral. We saw a pediatric orthopedic who said surgery was an option to correct, but all we wanted was to be referred to PT. </p> <p>We have been in PT for over a year now, she started with very limited range of motion in her ankles and tightness all the way up the legs. She gained some range of motion/strength through stretches and exercises, but the most progress we saw in range of motion was getting AFOs. She only wore at night with some straps to help get a longer stretch in. While she now has full range of motion and no pain when walking flat footed, the toe walking is still dominant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-six-year-old-still-toe-walking#post-2924898 Sat, 11 Sep 2021 09:19:41 +0000 ALV91711 2924898@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My sisters and I were all toe walkers for a long time. I don’t remember when I stopped but probably close to teenager. None of us had any problems or issues. </p> <p>It sounds like you are on it getting him checked out. Try not to worry too much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-six-year-old-still-toe-walking#post-2924756 Wed, 25 Aug 2021 14:20:03 +0000 Bluemasonjar 2924756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Physical Therapy should help though I do know a child in my son's class who wore two AFOs (ankle foot orthotics) to correct his toe walking issues but believe it was a more extreme case. I would definitely address it sooner rather than later but sounds like you are on it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-six-year-old-still-toe-walking#post-2924748 Tue, 24 Aug 2021 20:34:58 +0000 Cait1 2924748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Chuckles: @Bing2: thank you both for responding! Appreciate it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-six-year-old-still-toe-walking#post-2924746 Tue, 24 Aug 2021 15:40:43 +0000 Bing2 2924746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am a long time lurker and have commented a few times in the past. I lost my login info so just created a new account to answer this one. I tried posting but it seems to have been eaten- so I'll try again! My son is 11 now but he did this up until almost age 6. His pediatrician was not too concerned but I brought him to physical therapy. The physical therapist said he needed to build core strength so we had him do planks, crab walks, and pump his legs on swings every day. I don't remember the length we were supposed to do it each day but it worked and he has not toe walked for years. I would definitely see what your doctor says but also don't panic. He might just need some PT. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-six-year-old-still-toe-walking#post-2924744 Tue, 24 Aug 2021 12:56:07 +0000 Chuckles 2924744@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just one anecdote - I had a student who was a consistent toe walker and he was 14 years old at the time. He did physical therapy to work on strengthening and positions, and that also included calf and foot stretches. By 14, he had a hard time getting his feet flat because his calf and achilles were so tight, but we were able to make good progress over a year so that he could stand flat more comfortably. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/almost-six-year-old-still-toe-walking#post-2924741 Tue, 24 Aug 2021 09:33:53 +0000 Cait1 2924741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our son has always been a toe walker. He isn’t autistic and doesn’t have any other (known) neurological or health issues, so we assumed he would outgrow it at some point. However, he will be 6 in December and is still walking on his toes 90% of the time. He says it’s not comfortable when he tries to walk flat.</p> <p>After Googling around a bit, I’m extremely concerned and upset we didn’t pursue this issue with his pediatrician sooner. We have an appointment with a pediatric orthopedic dr but it isn’t until next month. I’ve read stories online of kids who had to be put in long term casts and braces to correct this and I’m so worried we will have to do the same for him.</p> <p>Does anyone have any experience with this? :sad: </p>