The funny kid who started to walk looks like a tiny ballet dancer - he walks on tiptoe. This can be tender, however, such a gait should alert. The cause of walking on the forefoot can be muscle hypertonicity. This happens if, during pregnancy or during childbirth, the baby experienced oxygen starvation.
Not trained in ballet, but walks on tiptoes
Uneven muscle tension is the most common cause of tiptoe walking. She is the easiest to handle. American pediatricians believe that if a child walks on tiptoes up to three years of age, there is no cause for concern. After all, the baby is just learning, because he tries to walk in various ways, he experiments.
Walking on tiptoes can be the cause of serious children's psychological deviations, it is better to entrust the diagnosis and subsequent therapy to specialists, we recommend the doctors of the Alliance clinic (https: // cmzmedical.
Why does he walk so strange
There are several answers to the question of why a child walks this way and not otherwise:
- Uneven muscle tension or muscular dystonia. It happens that it goes away by itself (it is possible to do without medical intervention) as the child moves more and more. This is facilitated by climbing, crawling, walking on all fours, standing up.
- There is an opinion that walking on toes is due to ... the curiosity and thirst for knowledge of the baby. If a child stands on tiptoe, he simply strives to be taller, grow up in order to see everything, learn about everything. In this case, the child can independently and at any time stand on the entire foot.
- Children often stand on their toes when choosing the most comfortable and appropriate way to walk.
- Excessive activity of the child. In an effort to throw out excess energy, children stand on tiptoe and start running. For such active children, it is recommended to simply increase physical activity, send them to play sports.
- Sometimes, tiptoeing may indicate the onset of cerebral palsy. The disease, in addition to a strange way of movement, is accompanied by a host of other symptoms. Any therapist can diagnose an ailment.
- The consequences of birth trauma. In this case, you cannot do without medical intervention and special procedures.
The ballet dancer's gait is fraught
It is not worth solving the problem on your own - in any case, it is worth showing the child to a specialist (pediatrician and neurologist) who can accurately determine the reasons.
Only a doctor can assess the development of motor functions for a variety of signs. If necessary, the child will be provided with timely assistance, and the mother will be provided with professional advice. In the fight against the disease, you will have to be patient. It's worth it, because the consequences of an uncorrected gait on time:
- Poor posture
- Clubfoot;
- Torticollis;
- Delayed physical development.
While walking on toes, the foot loses support on the heel, which no longer has any function. The heel does not develop or grow. The forefoot grows, increases disproportionately, trampled on. Due to improper gait, the gastrocnemius muscle and the Achilles tendon cannot contract normally.
Pediatrician, neuropathologist and physiotherapist to help
The reasons for walking on the forefoot are different. Comprehensive treatment is not always required. Treatments include many treatments:
- Physiotherapy - procedures after examination and consultation should be prescribed by a specialist doctor;
- Electrophoresis - along with physiotherapy, helps to solve the problem of muscle hypertonicity;
- Professional massage. It is simple, the basics of baby massage can be learned to help the child at home;
- Relaxing baths with the addition of herbal infusions: lavender, motherwort, string or chamomile;
- Paraffin boots (gauze dressings soaked in paraffin or ozokerite). This is a serious procedure and is prescribed by a doctor. The procedure is strictly contraindicated in children who are at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, as well as babies with diabetes;
- Physiotherapy. It is necessary to deal with the child constantly. Develop the ankle, stretch the desired muscles.
Over time, the child will begin to lower himself on his heels, use them in support, and walk normally.
Massage and gymnastics at home
Gymnastics and massage are what you need to do on your own and constantly, for a mother whose baby went on tiptoes.
Therapeutic gymnastics includes a set of simple exercises that will help the baby cope with improper walking. Play outdoor games with your child: jump, walk on an inclined plane, on a soft surface, walk like a duck, squat down, on the inner and outer sides of the feet. This is how all the necessary muscle groups, calf muscles, ankle, and Achilles tendon are involved and developed.
If possible, register your child for swimming. Taking care of orthopedic shoes is the first thing to look out for. For babies whose feet and leg muscles are just forming, it is extremely important to have the right comfortable shoes. Such shoes can cost a pretty penny, but this investment will pay off thousands of times, because we are talking about the future of the child.
Some tips on how to massage yourself
- Write out the figure eight with your finger on the sole of the child;
- Stretch the calf muscle with your thumb and forefinger;
- Move the child's foot towards and away from you;
- Place the child on a fitball (a large rubber ball) and roll the ball back and forth. This simple lesson is best done with dad - in this case, dad will hold the child, and mom roll the ball under the baby's legs, forcing the little one to walk on the ball.
We read further:
- How to teach your child to walk (10 tips)
- If a child is afraid to walk
