Toe walking and flat feet in 4.5 yr old DS2

[essnce629]

At DS2's 4 year check up back in May his doctor noticed that he was toe walking and asked me if he did it all the time. I said no, because I had never really noticed it. But when I told my mom, she was like "yeah, he walks on his toes all the time" and then I started actually paying attention and realized he does toe-walk all the time! And then one of his teachers mentioned that he has the most pronounced calf muscles that she's ever seen on a 4 year old, which I then realized was probably from all the toe walking. So I took him back to the doctor a week ago and told her that yes he does do it regularly. She checked him out and said he has flat feet (so does my dad) and that maybe that's contributing to the toe walking. She wants him to get an eval by a pediatric ortho and then probably to physical therapy depending on what the ortho says. Does that seem like the correct course of action?

She also recommended that he wear shoes with better arch support since the sandals he was wearing that day were completely flat inside. But are there good preschool sized shoes (size 12) with good arch support? Right now he has 2 pairs of Stride Rite sandals and a pair of Pedipeds. All 3 seem to have little to no arch support.

[JBaxter]

The boyfriend of a good friend of mine has a son who is now 23. They were told he had flat feet as a child and needed "good supportive shoes" Fast forward till his senior year in high school he had an ankle injury playing football and the ortho was appalled he had not had his feet surgically corrected long before he was 18. He actually took his 2nd semester off college to have surgery on his one foot then was able to go back a semester and have the 2nd one done over winter break the next year. Get 2 opinions the 2nd & 3rd ortho docs both said that his issues would not have occurred till he was middle aged but needed to be addressed surgically.
They can have special insoles made for shoes btw I had them as a kid.

[elliput]

I just checked my DS's Keens. There is an arch in the style he is currently wearing (Riggins sz 13). I don't believe the Keen skate shoe styles have much support but the hiking and athletic style do.

A pair of siblings I knew as children had to wear special orthotic inserts in their shoes to correct their toe walking. Definitely get a couple of opinions from a ped ortho.

[elektra]

DD has done this and still does. We do stretching and exercises with bands but I think I need to take her in again. Here was my thread on it if it helps. http://windsorpeak.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?367227-UPDATE-Back-from-the-ped-ortho-The-toe-walking-issue-again&highlight=walking

[crl]

Ds toe walked. Probably a sensory thing for him. Our developmental Ped checked and there was no shortening of the tendons so he said to ignore it. He said ds would likely stop. If not, to tell the wedding video guy to tape from the knees up. Ds no longer walks on his toes.

Catherine

[speo]

Running shoes might be your best bet for arch support. Both of my kids have either flat fleet or very small arches. They both wear Asics shoes. Three of us wear the GT series. And DS2 has Pre-Excites. Although I think they now have the GT-1000 for little kids. I can really see a difference in DS1's gait when he wears proper shoes.

[brittone2]

I wouldn't invest too much in shoes per se until you consult with someone, as they may recommend a specific type of insert. Toe walking can have several causes, so treatment is going to depend on the results of the eval. Regardless of cause, there may be some tightness and he may benefit from stretching to counteract the cycle of toe walking leading to tightness. Idiopathic toe walking isn't uncommon. But that doesn't mean there aren't a few things you can do to work on it and work on range of motion, even if it is just idiopathic.

[essnce629]

Thanks everyone for your responses! DS2 has an appointment with the ortho on Thursday afternoon so we'll see what he says then. We had DS2's preschool conference last week and his teacher said that he does toe walk at school and that she has noticed him tripping on nothing at times. He did play basketball last season though and was really good, but when he played soccer the season before I did notice that he didn't like running and would just stop and come sit down after one lap and would then go back on to the field when the running warm ups were done.

I'll update on Thursday after our ortho appointment and will hold off on buying any shoes until hearing what he says. Thanks again!

Oh, and I'm thinking these foot issues may be inherited as my dad had both flat feet and was pigeon toed and had to wear special leg braces as a child and then went on to have lots of ankle issues when playing basketball most likely due to his flat fleet. And then I've had bunions since I was at least 10 years old and I think I roll my feet when walking to compensate which may have to do with the lower back pain I've had since early high school. Hmm, maybe I should see a specialist too!!!!

[elliput]

And then I've had bunions since I was at least 10 years old and I think I roll my feet when walking to compensate which may have to do with the lower back pain I've had since early high school. Hmm, maybe I should see a specialist too!!!!
Yes. Don't put off dealing with lower back pain. Take this as fair warning from someone who did and is paying for it now. :(

[KpbS]

We have a friend who also walks on her toes. She has shortened tendons (her mom had this condition as well and had surgery for it after she was finished playing hs soccer) and has a very vertical gait.

[essnce629]

Yes. Don't put off dealing with lower back pain. Take this as fair warning from someone who did and is paying for it now. :(

Who would I need to see? A podiatrist or an ortho as well?

[stinkyfeet]

Who would I need to see? A podiatrist or an ortho as well?

I'm guessing you would see a podiatrist if your feet roll inwards (my sis is in podiatry school). Most likely, they would suggest custom-made inserts.

I have collapsed arches which make my feet roll inwards. I've had to say goodbye to "cute" shoes and now look for supportive shoes for my feet. Non supportive shoes make my feet roll inwards and give me knew and lower back pain.

Good luck!!!

[essnce629]

I'm guessing you would see a podiatrist if your feet roll inwards (my sis is in podiatry school). Most likely, they would suggest custom-made inserts.


My feet actually roll outwards I'm assuming since all my shoes are worn unevenly on the outer edge of my heel area. They've been like this for as long as I can remember. I'm assuming I roll away from my bunions! I have lower back and hip pain (like my hips are tight).

I'll look into getting an appointment for myself after dealing with DS2 and his feet issues!

[elliput]

Who would I need to see? A podiatrist or an ortho as well?
I started with my PCP. He's a DO so he's done some manipulation and referred me to physical therapy.

[brittone2]

Yes, I would try PT Latia. They can do gait analysis, get you hooked up with orthotics if you would benefit, and address the back issues.

[stinkyfeet]

[QUOTE=essnce629;3897997]My feet actually roll outwards I'm assuming since all my shoes are worn unevenly on the outer edge of my heel area. They've been like this for as long as I can remember. I'm assuming I roll away from my bunions! I have lower back and hip pain (like my hips are tight). [QUOTE/]

From my understanding, podiatrists handle all surgical and non-surgical problems below the knee. They would be able to address and treat your feet rolling outwards and your bunions. :)

[brittone2]

Yeah, if you have bunions you probably want to see a podiatrist anyway. If you still have back pain after addressing the issues with your feet, I'd look at PT.