Pediatrics
Your child walks on their tiptoes, sometimes or most of the time. In young toddlers this is often part of learning to walk. If it keeps going, or something else seems off, it is worth having it checked, and physical therapy can often help.
Toe walking is common in toddlers, and many children grow out of it. When a child keeps walking on their toes past the toddler years, their calf muscles can get tight, which makes flat-footed walking harder. Some toe walking has no clear cause. Other times it is a sign of something that needs a doctor's evaluation, so talk with your pediatrician first. A physical therapist can help with calf flexibility, strength, balance and walking pattern. At ARI Physical Therapy in Bakersfield, every visit is one-on-one with a licensed physical therapist, and parents are part of visits.
Many toddlers walk on their toes now and then while they learn to walk. Most move to a heel-to-toe pattern as they get steadier. If your child still walks on their toes most of the time after about age 2, it is worth talking with your pediatrician.
When doctors cannot find a cause, it is often called idiopathic toe walking, which means toe walking with no known reason. These children can usually stand with their heels down when asked, and toe walking sometimes runs in families. But toe walking can also be linked to other conditions, including problems with the nerves, muscles or development. That is why a doctor's evaluation comes first. ARI does not treat neurological conditions. If your pediatrician finds another cause, they will guide you to the right care.
In older, active kids, heel pain can also lead to walking on the toes. See our page on youth sports injuries.
For children whose doctor has checked them, physical therapy focuses on the parts of walking that toe walking affects:
Your therapist will also watch how your child runs, jumps and plays, since toe walking can go along with other movement challenges. See our pages on gross motor delays and coordination problems in kids. Some children need other treatments, which their doctor can discuss with you.
The first visit takes about 45 to 60 minutes. We ask about your child's birth, development and when the toe walking started, then check calf flexibility, strength, balance and how they walk, run and play.
Play-based stretching, strengthening, balance and walking practice at each visit, with you learning alongside, plus a home program of short, fun activities.
We track flexibility and walking over time, adjust the plan as your child improves, and keep your pediatrician updated on progress.
Talk with your child's doctor before starting therapy, or promptly, if your child:
Care at ARI is always one-on-one and in person with a licensed physical therapist at our Bakersfield clinic: 8200 Stockdale Hwy, Suite B2, in the Town & Country Village center next to Trader Joe's. Our clinic director, Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, is a board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist. We accept most private insurance plans and Medicare, and we have staff who speak Spanish and Hindi.
Ready to feel better?
Talk to a licensed physical therapist at ARI, one-on-one. Request an evaluation and we'll get back to you, usually within one business day.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you have symptoms, a licensed clinician should evaluate you.
Clinically reviewed by Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist · Reviewed October 2026