Toe Walking and Autism
Why do some autistic children toe walk? It is a common misconception that toe walking is only a result of an injury to the foot. This is not always true and toe walking in autistic children can be caused by many factors, such as sensory processing disorder and motor planning difficulties. In this blog post we will discuss possible reasons for toe-walking in autistic children, including tips on how to manage it!
Tips on toe-walking in autistic children:
- Always consult with your doctor before trying to correct toe walking. There are some cases where toe walking is a result of an injury to the foot, so it is important that you have this ruled out first! If there are no injuries present and toe walking continues, please read below for tips on how to manage toe walking.
- Is walking on toes a sign of autism? No, toe walking is not an indicator that your child has autism or even sensory processing disorder. It may be considered as one of the symptoms for these conditions but it can also occur in children who are neurotypical (or without any sort of brain development issues). This is an indepth resource for toe walking and autism.
- Most toe walkers have low muscle tone, so you will want to provide them with adequate support when walking. Wearing supportive shoes and using a toe pad can help your child feel the ground beneath their feet (and it looks pretty cute too). You can also try modifying or reducing activities that require lot of jumping or running as toe walkers are usually not very stable when jumping or running, which can lead to toe walking.
- For some children who toe walk have motor planning difficulties that cause them to toe walk even in the comfort of their own homes! If this is the case with your child they will benefit from physical therapy sessions where they learn how to improve balance and reduce toe walking.
- If toe walking persists, your doctor may refer you to a physical therapist who can provide assistance in learning how to walk correctly. It is important that toe walking is managed early on before it turns into an even bigger problem!