Toe Walking: How to Care for Your Child

Toe walking is common among toddlers as they learn to walk. Most children stop toe walking on their own by age 2. For children over age 2, exercises and treatments usually can help.

If your child is under age 2, your health care provider may recommend coming back in a few months to check to see if the toe walking is getting better.

Other treatments depend on your child's age and the cause of toe walking. Your health care provider may recommend that your child:

• do stretching or strengthening exercises

• go to physical therapy

• see an orthopedic specialist (a health care provider who treats bone and joint conditions)

• wear leg braces or splints

Your child:

• does not stop toe walking by age 2

• is over age 2 and does not stop toe walking after following your health care provider's instructions

• falls because of toe walking

What causes toe walking? Children may toe walk:

• while they are learning to walk

• from tight calf muscles

• because their Achilles tendon is tight

• from a problem with the nervous system (for example, from cerebral palsy or autism)

• in muscular dystrophy (from damaged muscles) 

Sometimes the reason for toe walking is not known.

How is toe walking treated? Many young children outgrow toe walking. So health care providers might wait to see how the child does without treatment. If the toe walking continues, or if the child has a physical reason for toe walking (such as tight muscles or tendons), treatment may include:

• physical therapy

• leg braces or splints

• casting

• surgery