Can your child touch their toes?

[Watermelon2009]

My 10 year old DD can't, never has been able to. She can get down as far as her knees and beyond that is too painful. It's never been an issue but she's recently been suffering from low back pain and has been referred to a paediatrician. I'm now wondering if the two are linked and if she could have tight hamstrings/another issue.

Anyone have any knowledge or experience of this?

Sound like tight hamstrings and yes that can cause lower back pain. How are your hamstrings and those of your DP?

(I have very tight hamstrings and that has caused lower back pain and plantar fasciitis in my feet)

Thankyou for your reply. I can easily touch my toes, I'm not sure about her dad as we're not together.

She's very sporty and active but the fact she's never been close to being able to touch her toes i felt was a little unusual!

Touching your toes takes practice. But she should be able to go beyond her knees....

Could you get her to do some stretches for them? I’ve had tight hamstrings cause me knee and heel issues for years but stretching has pretty much sorted it. I do a mix of hip stretches.
It helps almost instantly.

heel drops off the stairs are good

DD can’t. She’s 14. I can, easily and so can her grandma who is 80 and disabled.

She got sent to a physio for this and various other physical limitations. She got given exercises to do - hasn’t done any of them

I have never been able to touch my toes, even as a child. I was always very sporty & fit though so I never thought much of it.
I am tall though & I do have lower back pain as an adult.

A minority of people will never get there - even with practice (although there will be improvement) grey12. The closest I have got is my ankle (despite zealous stretching routines)

Being sporty can make it worse - it tightens the hamstrings (stretching can counteract it)

There are lots of muscles and tendons that need to be stretched. Shoulders, upper back, glutes, hamstrings, backs of knees (tendons), calves. Some will be temporarily tight, and will release after a few minutes stretches. Others are short and will take about six weeks commited stretching regularly to grow longer. Every time the child's bones grow, the muscles and tendons have to catch up. The pain/ sensation of stretching can be weirdly unpleasant so kids need lots of support and encouragement to do the stretches. Find a pilates class or yoga with a teacher who works through all the different areas and makes it fun, and does not allow the children to compete or show off - there is nothing so discouraging as a teacher who praises the naturally flexible kids and scolds the stiffer ones for "not trying".
HTH
I am not a physiotherapist you may need professional advice specifically for your own child.