Why do Autistic children TOE WALK?
It is a Pattern of walking, only on TOES with the heel off the floor.
Causative factors:
- Tactile hypersensitivity
- Vestibular dysfunction
- Postural imbalance
- Achilles tendon tightness
- Retained tonic labyrinthine
reflex.
Tips to manage Toe walking at home :
√ Multi-textured pathway:
Provide sensory diet to the sole by making kids walk on pathways of different textures like grass, sand, wool, pebbles, and so on.
√ Balance board activities and using Swings will help to improve balance and equilibrium through vestibular input.
√ Compensatory Toe walking is reduced by Strengthening abdominal and back muscles.
√ structural: Calf muscle stretching improves flexibility.
√ Positioning: Prone on the elbow helps in the integration of the tonic labyrinthine reflex.