Cerebral palsy, congenital Achilles tendon contracture, and paralytic muscle illnesses like Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy may all induce toe-walking. Toe-walking has been linked to developmental abnormalities including autism and other myopathic or neuropathic conditions.
When to see a doctor. If your child is still toe walking after age 2, talk to your doctor about it. Make an appointment sooner if your child also has tight leg muscles, stiffness in the Achilles tendon or a lack of muscle coordination.
Kids might toe walk because: They're learning to walk. They have tight calf muscles. Their Achilles tendon is tight. They have neurologic disorder (such as cerebral palsy or autism).
Is walking on tiptoes a sign of autism? Research suggests that toe walking can be a sign of autism, particularly when it's combined with language delays. In general, toe walking is more common in children with ASD and other neuropsychiatric conditions than in the general population.
One large study found that 9% of children on the spectrum were toe walkers. The same study found that less than 0.5% of children without an autism diagnosis were toe walkers. The causes for this increased rate are unclear because there's no direct link between autism and toe walking.
Signs of autism in young children include: not responding to their name. avoiding eye contact. not smiling when you smile at them.
Sometimes, toe-walking can become purely habitual. A few potential factors that may contribute to the toe-walking include: difficulty with processing sensory information through their feet and/or legs, muscular tightness and/or weakness, poor bony alignment, or nervous system involvement.
This is called idiopathic, or habitual, toe-walking. In the Swedish study, at 5.5 years old, more than 40 percent of children with developmental delays or neuropsychiatric disorders, such as an autism spectrum disorder, were currently or had been toe-walkers.
If the underlying reason for toe walking is not caused by physical differences, it can be an indication of motor, visual motor, and gross motor delays that are associated with neurological conditions2 such as cerebral palsy, autism, and sensory processing issues.
Toe walking can also be a result of trying to minimise sensory input. It can worsen with bare feet or on alternate terrains such as sand or grass, etc. Increased overall muscle activity. Toe walking increases with excitement, stress or anxiety.
Background: Toe walking is associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Correction of this “behavior” is a health challenge. The toe walker is affected by the contact refusal with the outside world: touching the ground as little as possible, trying to avoid any contact.
Vestibular Difficulties
The vestibular system deals with the body's movements, posture, and muscle coordination. Children with autism often experience vestibular difficulties which again push their weight forward and end up encouraging toe walking.
What Happens if Toe Walking is Not Addressed? Toe walking can lead to tight, stiff muscles in the legs and hips, as well as weakness and impaired balance. If left untreated, tight muscles in the calves can turn into muscle contractures and decreased range of motion which require casting or surgery to correct.
Symptoms. The primary features of ADHD include inattention and hyperactive-impulsive behavior. ADHD symptoms start before age 12, and in some children, they're noticeable as early as 3 years of age. ADHD symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe, and they may continue into adulthood.
Your child may have muscle weakness, low muscle tone, or low muscular endurance. Your child may be seeking or avoiding sensory input to their feet or body. It may be a symptom of a medical diagnosis such as Autism or Cerebral Palsy.
Toe Walking Diagnosis
But if there are no abnormal findings, the child likely has idiopathic toe walking, meaning there is no found reason for the toe walking other than that he or she has a preference to do so.
Custom wedged ankle-foot orthosis (AFOs) are designed especially for toe-walking patients. The unique wedging of these “wedged” AFO's accommodate the loss of range of motion that often accompanies toe-walking.
People with mild autism still have a hard time communicating and interacting with others. They can also find it difficult to change their routine and can be sensitive to sounds, pain, tastes, or other sensations. But generally, they are able to carry out the tasks of daily living well.
Although the exact cause of autism is still unknown, there is evidence to suggest that genetics play a significant role. Since autism is less prevalent in females, autism was always thought to be passed down from the mother. However, research suggests that autism genes are usually inherited from the father.
Signs and Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder
People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. People with ASD may also have different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention.