Habitual toe-walking: evaluation and approach to treatment

Clin Podiatr Med Surg. 1988 Jul;5(3):547-59.

Abstract

Habitual toe-walking has been presented as a prolongation of a normal stage of development that requires conservative treatment to prevent or ameliorate associated gait abnormalities such as tripping and falling. An approach to the evaluation of a child with toe-walking should include (1) medical history (prenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal), (2) gait evaluation, (3) musculoskeletal examination, and (4) neurologic examination. Pathologic entities producing toe-walking have been explored in order to differentiate those conditions from idiopathic (habitual) toe-walking. The most common etiologies of toe-walking (nonhabitual) would include gastrosoleus equinus, clubfoot, or cerebral palsy. Treatment of habitual toe-walkers might include shoe therapy, orthosis therapy, auditory feedback, and surgery.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Central Nervous System Diseases / complications
  • Child
  • Foot / physiopathology*
  • Foot Deformities, Congenital / complications
  • Gait*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Movement Disorders / etiology*
  • Movement Disorders / physiopathology
  • Movement Disorders / therapy
  • Orthotic Devices
  • Physical Examination / methods
  • Shoes