Does anyone's teen walk on tiptoes?

[Quarar]

My 15 year old DC walks on tiptoes, only around the house barefoot. He doesn't when outside with shoes on. We've mentioned it before to a GP before and they weren't concerned. Is this unusual in a teen?

My DS did this. Someone will be along to give you the correct medical name for it but basically it’s to do with growing fast. He saw a physio and was given exercises to stretch out the back of the lower leg, and inserts for his shoes. It corrected itself eventually and he's fine now. I remember it caused him pain, though. A lot of GPs will let you self refer for physio (I’m in Scotland, though..).

He has short achilles tendons. This needs to be sorted ASAP before items to serious gait problems and injuries. He needs to be assessed by MSK podiatry or physio.

He's been like it since he was little, It doesn't cause him any pain from what I know. It seems to be just when at home, he likes to walk barefooted! Thank you for your reply.

Is he autistic as it's very common with ASD?

I used to, short Achilles tendons. Mine were so bad I'd scream when the gp pressed them.

Physio stretched them out and made my life a lot less painful.

Walking on tip toes didn't hurt a bit I should clarify.

My DS does it. He’s also duck footed. He’s being assessed for ASD currently.

If he stands barefoot can he put his heels on the ground? If so then tiptoe walking might be habit, if he can't I'd tend to agree with others about short achilles tendons. I had surgery but not sure if this still happens or if they just do physio nowadays.

I always did this. Short achilles tendons. I did get looked at by an nhs physio or foot person or something, and I got heel inserts (you can just buy them too) to help with walking better (I never had any problems walking but did tend to lope along rather as I didn’t put my heels down first).

I haven’t worn them for years and I’ve never had any problems associated with it, other than being terrible at touching my toes. I have always found wearing heels pretty easy though! Not that I do much these days.

I did that as a child. I'm not on the autistic spectrum, although a close family member is, and I have sometimes wondered if I had autistic traits. It wasn't painful to walk normally. I can't remember now why I did it or when I stopped. It's had no long-lasting effects at all as far as I'm aware, apart from the fact possibly that I do have arthritis in the big toe joints, but that might have been the case by now anyway (I'm in my early 60s).

Not my dc - but I have done this since learning to walk

Very high arches and I find very flat shoes incredibly painful to walk in

My two ASD kiddos do. They know they do it and make an effort off their own backs not to do their friends “don’t notice”, but relaxed around the house or when they’re stressed they still do it. V common with ASD and something they ask about/observe on during assessment.

Could also be the shorter achilles thing, or he could just prefer walking on his toes with no reason.

Both my ASD / adhd tiptoe walk

Both my daughters that should say

My DS always has also has ASD has insoles and physio exercises to do to stretch the muscles.

I do this because I like being barefoot but the floor is cold 😳

I think I'd push GP to do something. It should be corrected.

sometimes major motor skills development too

My 12 year old is having treatment for this - we’ve finally got it sorted! He’s always done it, (not autistic, it’s just idiopathic) and had his legs in casts for 6 weeks twice: once when he was 7 then again at 9.
Because of his habit of walking like this, his Achilles tendons became very tight and he couldn’t put his heels flat without bending over forwards. The casting did stretch his Achilles tendons out a bit, but he didn’t like wearing the splints afterwards so each time afterwards he tightened up again after a few months.
I think it’s really important not to constantly tell them off about it, because the urge is so strong, he does it without thinking, and it’s a part of who he is. To be constantly told that something you do naturally is bad, is not good for a child’s self esteem. My husband often felt worried and frustrated and found it hard not to tell him off about it. But there’s really no point as he couldn’t control it even if he wanted to - and I’m not sure he did as it felt like the most comfortable way of walking for him.
Anyway, a few months ago we were offered botox injections in his calves, followed by casts for 4 weeks, and effect has been really brilliant. The hospital timed it exactly right with his growth spurt (apparently it’s important to stretch them out before their 12 year old/teenaged growth spurt as after that it can be difficult to do). He’s now slightly starting to come up again on tiptoes in bare-feet, so we’re having another round of botox next month. On the NHS.
His walking in shoes for the first time in his life actually looks “normal”. It’s such a relief.
Before this I asked the hospital about surgery and they told me that it was too early, that that would be something they’d consider when he was a bit older only, but that they’d try botox first. I’m so pleased they did as now he can easily stand flat when he wants to, and can walk normally.
Just to say, in order to get the botox I did have to pay to see the NHS consultant privately. I’d been seeing the physios first who did the casting, but they then referred me to the consultant. The waiting list was so long and although I got to see a doctor after more than a year, it wasn’t the actual consultant and they just told me to come back in another year. When I paid to see the consultant privately she then referred me back to herself on the NHS for the botox.
Hope this is helpful for someone. Just wanted to share as we’ve had years of worry and now he’s getting sorted finally!

My autistic 7yo tiptoes everywhere I find it very cute. I hadn’t really considered whether it will continue into adolescence and adulthood until reading this thread 🤔