Anybody have a kid that walks on his/her toes?

[dtsaos]

My daughter turned 3 in July and has always been very much a toe walker. A year ago July (when she turned 2) I brought her to an orthopedic surgeon to make sure there was nothing wrong. after an examination he assurred me that she would outgrow the toe walking in a year and not to worry about it because there was nothing wrong with her etc. I remember asking him if i should put her in certain shoes to help and all that and he said not to bother because she'd outgrow it and it wasn't a big deal. Well, she still does it quite a bit so I brought her back to the same doctor on Monday and he looked her legs over again and stretched her calf's and whatever and said to me "yeah, we're gonna have to cast her". For 6 weeks! I'm like, hello-a year ago you were 100% positive that she'd outgrow it and not to worry and now you're telling me we have to cast her!!! I was so upset I didn't even say anything! And he was looking at me like I was stupid!! -or that's how I felt he was anyway-kind of that obnoxious look like "Duh! of course she needs to be casted type of look."
Okay, I know doctors can be wrong sometimes, but come on...why was he so sure the first time. I wish he had said to bring her back in 6 months and then try certain shoes or something. I'm not even saying that casting her for 6 weeks is the end of the world, but I do think it's a little extreme. I mean she's only 3- isn't there any other options at this point? DH and I agree that we definetly want her to see someone else before we go ahead with it. Just wondering if any of you have been through this? Obviously we want to avoid any surgery that would eventually take place if she was to continue doing it. BTW, she can and does walk flat footed too, but prefers to walk on her toes-she does run with her feet flat.

We leave for WDW on Saturday so obviously nothing going on until we get back anyway, but any thoughts on this? Should we take her to a foot doctor instead?

 

[stacy6552]

Yes get a second opinion. Absolutely.

Also shes getting big enough to try and self correct. Tell her, "no" when you see her walking like that. Unless she physically cant at this point, then dont make it ok. Treat it like any other behavior that you correct, like biting or whining.

 

[staci]

Im not a doctor (far from it ), but I just wanted to tell you that I did this for a long time when I was a kid. Although I could walk normally, I often walked on my toes, especially when I was happy. I have no idea why but when I watch old home movies I see myself doing it. Again, I know I had the ability to walk normally, I just did this becuase I thought it was fun. I walk completely normally now, and as far as I know, I have nothing wrong with my feet or ankles.

I do know a little boy from our church had some surgery on his feet and casts when he was young (I think he had mild cp but not sure it was a long time ago), he COULDNT walk normally before the surgery, and it really helped him with his walking.

I hope this helps you, its never easy to make the difficult decisions regarding our children!

 

[meandtheguys2]

My 6 year old is still a toe walker to some degree. My ped has never suggested anything like that, and my dad wasn't concerned about it. For that matter my unle the physical therapist has never been concerned.

I say it can't hurt to get a secon opinion!

Good luck!

 

[newtowdw1]

I did this forever...drove my parents NUTS!! It never got so extreme that I had to have 'intervention' however!
Take the toes of her foot in one hand and put your other hand on her heel. Gently pull her toes until her foot is at a right angle to her leg. Does this cause her pain? If not then I would definitely get a second opinion. My reasoning is that if if doesn't hurt, her achilles tendon is not 'shortened.' If it does hurt, she definitely needs intervention! But casting is going to be very painful. Couldn't he try Physical Therapy first?

FYI, my grandmother wore heels so much that she couldn't wear sneakers, so it is possible to shorten up you Achilles.

 

[tmarquez]

I would definately get a second opinion just based on how sure he was the first time he saw her and now he wants the total opposite. My friends DD did the same thing, they asked the doctor about it when she was 2, and he had her go to some sort of physical therapy for a few months and she stopped, so hopefully there will be other options for you. My DD is almost 3 and I just can't imagine how casts would be on such an active kid at this age. Good luck!

 

[Nini]

my SIL took her to a physical therapist who basically said that there was nothing wrong with her just that her tendons were not stretched and comfortable (most likely because she walked like that for a long time) walking flat. They did two sessions and taught her some stretches to do at home and she now walks properly most of the time...habits become difficult to break.

Now is the time to address her walking habits.

 

[dtsaos]

DH and I are always telling her "walk on your feet" when she's walking on her toes and she does listen-at least for a few seconds or sometimes a few minutes before she converts back to toe walking. If I had thought it more serious, I would've been on her case a lot more in this past year! I'm not entirely trying to put blame on the doctor though, I did think of taking her to him or another doctor this past spring, but kept remembering how he had said there was nothing wrong, not to worry etc etc, so we held off. Guess I wanted to believe that but I kind of still do! And like Staci said, That boy "couldn't" walk on his feet properly! I also used to walk on my toes when I was a kid, but not quite as much as she does. Everyone says she looks like a little ballerina-she is petite and kind of bounces gracefully around the house.
Anyway, we will definetly be getting a second opinion. Thanks for all the replies so far!

 

[dtsaos]

my SIL took her to a physical therapist who basically said that there was nothing wrong with her just that her tendons were not stretched and comfortable (most likely because she walked like that for a long time) walking flat. They did two sessions and taught her some stretches to do at home and she now walks properly most of the time...habits become difficult to break.

Now is the time to address her walking habits.

I like that idea! Now why didn't I think of that before? A physical therapist is exactly who we should bring her too! PT's are awesome! It's amazing how much they can help people accomplish. Thanks Nini

 

[tjmw2727]

A dear friends son had problems after toe walking and he did have to wear leg braces in addition to PT. Evidently the ligaments in the back of the calf shrink and it can be difficult to stretch them - but you already know that!

He only wore the braces for a few hours a few times each day, not great but better than a cast, in addition to lots of PT.

FWIW he was at least 5 when he started the therapy so hopefully she has time to reverse the habit and stretch the legs normally. He is a happy healthy 22 yo now who designs shoes for new balance - go figure!

I would get a second opinion and maybe even a third with a child this age.

Good luck - HTH
TJ

 

[TAKitty]

My daughter turned 3 in July and has always been very much a toe walker. A year ago July (when she turned 2) I brought her to an orthopedic surgeon to make sure there was nothing wrong. after an examination he assurred me that she would outgrow the toe walking in a year and not to worry about it because there was nothing wrong with her etc. I remember asking him if i should put her in certain shoes to help and all that and he said not to bother because she'd outgrow it and it wasn't a big deal. Well, she still does it quite a bit so I brought her back to the same doctor on Monday and he looked her legs over again and stretched her calf's and whatever and said to me "yeah, we're gonna have to cast her". For 6 weeks! I'm like, hello-a year ago you were 100% positive that she'd outgrow it and not to worry and now you're telling me we have to cast her!!! I was so upset I didn't even say anything! And he was looking at me like I was stupid!! -or that's how I felt he was anyway-kind of that obnoxious look like "Duh! of course she needs to be casted type of look."
Okay, I know doctors can be wrong sometimes, but come on...why was he so sure the first time. I wish he had said to bring her back in 6 months and then try certain shoes or something. I'm not even saying that casting her for 6 weeks is the end of the world, but I do think it's a little extreme. I mean she's only 3- isn't there any other options at this point? DH and I agree that we definetly want her to see someone else before we go ahead with it. Just wondering if any of you have been through this? Obviously we want to avoid any surgery that would eventually take place if she was to continue doing it. BTW, she can and does walk flat footed too, but prefers to walk on her toes-she does run with her feet flat.

We leave for WDW on Saturday so obviously nothing going on until we get back anyway, but any thoughts on this? Should we take her to a foot doctor instead?

I am an adult toe walker. It started when I was first learning to walk; the doctors told my mom not to worry about it and that I would out grow it. We were then in a car accident when I was 8 and I was in a body cast. When I started to walk again, I went back to my toes. As a grown adult 31, I still walk on my toes if I am barefoot or in flexable shoes. It is not all the time, but I still do it. I am normal, no problems etc. I think my calfs are bigger than I would like, but at 112 pounds, I don't have much to worry about. Get a second opinion.

 

[dtsaos]

I did this forever...drove my parents NUTS!! It never got so extreme that I had to have 'intervention' however!
Take the toes of her foot in one hand and put your other hand on her heel. Gently pull her toes until her foot is at a right angle to her leg. Does this cause her pain? If not then I would definitely get a second opinion. My reasoning is that if if doesn't hurt, her achilles tendon is not 'shortened.' If it does hurt, she definitely needs intervention! But casting is going to be very painful. Couldn't he try Physical Therapy first?

FYI, my grandmother wore heels so much that she couldn't wear sneakers, so it is possible to shorten up you Achilles.

Just wanted to thank you for your post too. Somehow I missed reading yours the first time around. My Aunt also can not wear flats anymore due to wearing heels constantly. -so it does happen.

 

[malibuconlee]

I know a girl (adult now) who's had several surgeries/casts to have this corrected. (Actually my cousin's half sister, so no relation to me)

I say get a second opinion, but also getting it fixed earlier rather than later will be much easier on your daughter. I've seen the kids tease, and I saw her struggling with crutches at different times while growing up after various surgeries, even into high school.

 

[marj70]

Developmentally everything else is on target except for the toes? She talks at age level, etc?

 

[dudedisney]

My son's 11, he's a toe walker. Doesn't have any problems that I know of. Also, my BIL does and he was in the Navy!

Get a second opinion.

 

[MainStreetFan]

My DD, now 23, was a toe walker. I started her into dance lessons at 3 and she learned control of her feet and legs, along with increasing flexibility. Now she walks fine, having had now corrective action. And she has killer calves. They are still toned and defined. I say at least get the second opinion and maybe talk to a physical therapist before casting. Good luck

 

[staci]

My DD, now 23, was a toe walker. I started her into dance lessons at 3 and she learned control of her feet and legs, along with increasing flexibility. Now she walks fine, having had now corrective action. And she has killer calves. They are still toned and defined. I say at least get the second opinion and maybe talk to a physical therapist before casting. Good luck

I use to have killer calves too! I never made the connection between that and toewalking! Maybe I will have to start walking like that again

 

[statefan]

I was also a toe walker, who ended up with huge calf muscles! A also now have a 4 yr old who continually walks on her toes. She says it makes her feel "pretty and taller"! My husband and I constantly tell her to stop, but she continues even in her shoes! At the same time, I also worked in an orthopedist's office and saw too may small children in casts. It was awful for those that even needed to be wearing them, I couldn't imagine having to carry a 3 yr old around with both legs casted unless it was absolutely necessary! JMO

 

[dtsaos]

My DD, now 23, was a toe walker. I started her into dance lessons at 3 and she learned control of her feet and legs, along with increasing flexibility. Now she walks fine, having had now corrective action. And she has killer calves. They are still toned and defined. I say at least get the second opinion and maybe talk to a physical therapist before casting. Good luck

How funny! I just started her in dance this summer and she's doing really well with it. I never thought about how it could help her walking, but it probably is. I was thinking of switching her to gymnastics because she's very athletic and I thought at this age she would get more out of the gymnastics, but maybe we should do both! She actually already has "killer" calves-for a 3 year old that is .

Marj70, Her speech is not perfect, but it's about where it should be for her age. I believe she's fine in every other developmental way. Physically speaking, she's probably more advanced than many kids her age. She's very agile and balanced. Why did you ask? Just wondering what you're thinking?

 

[cinderlexa's mom]

My daughter is 8 and has had serial casting every summer since she was 4. A PT in Chicago does this for her because she has tight heel cords. The casts are walking casts and they are taken off after one week. Each week a new cast is set at a higher angle. After 5 days of wearing a cast, we are able to peel the cast off to give her a 2 day break. It's not bad at all. It's no big deal. She can run and play, just no water play. I think I'd find an NDT trained pediatric PT, though. I wouldn't have a surgeon do it, kind of a conflict of interest? You'll need to call around though--not all PT's are NDT trained and not all PT's are skilled in serial casting. Really, this technique is awesome and we've always been successful after 3 weeks!