You may have noticed that small children sometimes walk on the balls of their feet. Toe walking, as it is called, is a normal part of learning to walk, but some children do it for an unusually long time. If you’re concerned that your child’s feet or legs aren’t developing normally, we at Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates in Lorain may be able to assist.
Most toe walking doesn’t have any identifiable cause, but it can occur when the Achilles tendon is too short. The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the back of the heel, so when it’s tight, a person might not lower their heel as they walk. Children with cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy may have difficulty using their leg muscles, causing them to be underdeveloped. This is likelier to be the case when a child only toe walks on one side.
Children will usually walk with their heels when they are reminded to do so, and surgery isn’t recommended for children under five. A doctor may examine whether their calf muscles are overly tight; if so, they will be prescribed stretches that may be sufficient to loosen them. In some cases, we might use a therapy called serial casting, in which a series of casts is used to slowly stretch the calf muscles and Achilles tendon over several weeks. Botox injections may also be used to loosen the calf muscles.
Doctors David J. Hintz and Michael A. Wenowitz run Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates at 1740 Cooper Foster Park Road #B, Lorain, Ohio, 44053. To schedule an appointment, visit Integrity Foot and Ankle or call 440-282-1221.
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