Some people walk on their toes primarily because of habit, developmental factors, or underlying medical conditions. Toe walking is common in toddlers just learning to walk, but most children outgrow it. When it persists beyond toddler years, it can be due to habitual toe walking or conditions such as a shortened Achilles tendon, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, or autism spectrum disorder. In some cases, toe walking provides sensory input or is a response to muscle tightness or neurological factors.

Common Reasons for Toe Walking

• Habitual Toe Walking: Many children develop toe walking as a habit during early walking stages and continue it beyond toddler age.
• Medical Conditions: Toe walking can signal neurological or muscular issues like cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, or autism. These conditions affect muscle control or sensory processing.
• Short Achilles Tendon: A physically shortened tendon can prevent heels from touching the ground, leading to toe walking.
• Sensory Processing: Some individuals toe walk for increased proprioceptive input or due to sensory sensitivities, especially in autism spectrum disorder.
• Pain or Structural Issues: Heel pain or structural abnormalities in the feet or legs can cause toe walking to avoid discomfort.

Additional Points

• Idiopathic toe walking occurs without identifiable medical causes and is thought to relate to sensory processing challenges.
• Persistent toe walking should be evaluated by healthcare professionals, especially if it continues past age 2 or 3 or includes stiffness, lack of coordination, or muscle tightness.
• Toe walking is more frequent in children with autism, possibly linked to sensory or vestibular system differences.

Overall, toe walking can be a benign habit, but in some cases, it indicates an underlying issue requiring medical attention.