Idiopathic Toe Walking
👣 Understanding Idiopathic Toe Walking in Kids
Have you noticed your child walking on their tiptoes — even when there’s no reason to? If so, you’re not alone. Toe walking is common in young children, especially as they’re learning to walk. But when it continues beyond the toddler years, it may be a sign of Idiopathic Toe Walking (ITW) — a condition where children walk on their toes for no identifiable medical reason.
At Better Beyond Rehab for Kids, we help families understand and manage toe walking with gentle, evidence-based care tailored to your child’s needs.
⸻
🧠 What Is Idiopathic Toe Walking?
Idiopathic Toe Walking means that a child continues walking on their toes after the age of about 2, without any underlying neurological, orthopedic, or developmental cause.
Children with ITW usually have normal strength, balance, and coordination — they just prefer to walk on their toes!
⸻
🚨 When Should Parents Be Concerned?
Occasional toe walking is normal in toddlers. However, it’s time to check in with a pediatric physiotherapist or orthopedic specialist if:
• Toe walking continues past age 2–3
• Your child can’t put their heels down comfortably
• You notice tight calf muscles or limited ankle flexibility
• The walking pattern causes pain, falls, or fatigue
• There’s asymmetry — one leg behaves differently than the other
Early assessment can help determine whether it’s idiopathic or related to another condition, such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, or autism spectrum disorder.
⸻
💪 How Physiotherapy Can Help
At Better Beyond Rehab, our pediatric physiotherapists create individualized programs that may include:
• Stretching and mobility exercises to loosen tight calves and Achilles tendons
• Strength training for foot and ankle muscles
• Balance and coordination games to retrain walking patterns
• Gait retraining using playful, age-appropriate activities
• Night splints or orthotics, when needed, to gently encourage heel contact
Our goal is to help your child move confidently and comfortably — from tiptoes to heels — while making therapy fun and positive.
⸻
🧩 The Outlook for Toe Walkers
The good news? Many children outgrow idiopathic toe walking as they gain strength and body awareness. For others, early intervention can make a big difference in preventing long-term tightness or balance issues.
The ultimate goal is to reach skeletal maturity with the ability to heel strike during gait. This will prevent ankle and foot pain as an adult.
Having a physiotherapist intermittently follow up on your child’s range of motion is important as they age!
Some children may also benefit from a referral to an orthopaedic surgeon which we can arrange.
⸻
🏥 We’re Here to Help
If you’re wondering whether your child’s toe walking needs attention, our team can help assess and guide you through the next steps.
At Better Beyond Rehab for Kids, we provide pediatric orthopedic and physiotherapy care — helping children move, play, and grow beyond their limits.
📍 Visit us at 660 Sterling Lyon Parkway, Winnipeg
🌐 Learn more at https://www.betterbeyondrehab.com
📞 Book an assessment today! 204-306-9951
