We have an Idiopathic toe walker...

(Brynley got to pick these out...pink straps with horses)

Walking on Both Tip Toes

"The most cause common is idiopathic toe walking (no known cause), also called habitual toe walking. Walking on tiptoes is quite common between 10 and 18 months when children are learning to walk. In some children it simply becomes a habit, when asked to walk normally they put their heel down on the ground before their toes. It's just that when they're not concentrating they seem to revert to walking on their toes."

"Doctors may try serial casting to weaken the muscle and then continue with the brace. If the Achilles is physically tight, then a lengthening procedure would be used."

This has been a frustrating thing for us. Brynley has been walking on her toes since she could walk. We took her to Shriner's hospital when she was about 3 years old, and they determined that it wasn't neurological, but didn't give us any clear answers on why she was doing it. They put casts on both of her legs for 4 weeks to try and weaken the muscle. When they took the casts off, she was right back up walking on her toes. VERY frustrating...

The doctor's decided to put her in casts again when she was 5. This time leaving them on for 6 weeks. When they took them off, she could hardly walk, and one of her ankles was turned in. I was so worried...but after a few weeks, it seemed like she was walking normal (heel to toe). They gave her braces to wear at night to keep her muscles stretched out. We have fought to have her keep them on at night, and now they are just too small and hurt her ankles. So, it looks like we'll be making another trip to Shriner's soon.

She can walk heel to toe, but it is probably uncomfortable for her. Her Achilles seems really tight again. I just don't want it to cause problems for her. I've kind of come to my own conclusion that it is hereditary (on Ric's side). He is constantly having muscle spasm's in his calf, and he kind of has a "forward" gait. And VERY strong calf muscles. I think that Brynley's calf muscle is short, and it CAUSED her to walk up on her toes. But most doctor's will say that because she started walking on her toes, her tendon got shorter...

Chicken before the egg, or egg before the chicken??

I just want some answers...someone who knows what to do. In the meantime, we will try doing the braces at night and more stretching. Especially since she's involved in soccer and dance. Maybe she'll just grow out of it. I'm just hoping to get this behind us soon...