Toe Walking in Children

Overview

Toe walking is a pattern of walking in which your child walks on their toes and balls of their feet. Their heels don’t make contact with the ground.

In children under the age of 2, toe walking is common as they’re learning how to walk. It isn’t normally a cause for concern. Your child will usually begin to walk with a heel-to-toe pattern as they get older. No treatment is usually necessary.

If your child continues to walk on their tiptoes after the age of 2, it may be a sign of an underlying medical condition.

How common is toe walking?

Toe walking is fairly common. At the age of 5 and a half, 2% of typically developing children still toe walk. In children with developmental disorders or delays, 41% were toe walkers at the same age.

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Symptoms

When to see a doctor

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Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.

The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Heart failure.
Some types of heart valve disease.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.

By Freedmans Health Clinic Staff

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