Walking on your toes could be related to autism or another developmental condition. However, it’s common in young children, and even persistent toe walking may not indicate an underlying condition.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental conditions that affect a person’s ability to communicate and interact socially. In addition to other symptoms, it’s not uncommon for an autistic person to walk on their toes.

Toe walking is a walking pattern in which the heel does not connect with the ground. While common in very young children, walking on your toes could be an early indicator of autism if it persists beyond age 3.

Yes, toe walking can be one symptom of autism. But toe walking is also typical in children learning to walk, and many outgrow it by age 2.

For some, persistent toe walking continuing beyond age 2 could potentially indicate an underlying developmental condition, such as autism. Toe walking might also mean your child has tight Achilles tendons, or it could possibly be a symptom of cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy. However, persistent toe walking is not always due to an underlying condition.

Toe walking could be a possible indicator of autism if:

The reason why autistic children sometimes walk on their toes is still unknown. Still, it may have to do with the underlying differences in sensory responses that experts often see in autistic people.

Is toe walking bad?

Autistic people may experience a great deal of social stigma and shame over the differences between themselves and neurotypical people. So it can be helpful to stay away from giving body processes moral labels, like “good” or “bad.”

However, if toe walking becomes someone’s primary way of moving around, it can lead to long-term balance issues, muscle weakness, and joint problems.

Unusual movement patterns are common in autistic people. In addition to toe walking, autistic children often have a wide stance and varied stride lengths in their walking pattern.

Autistic children and some adults may develop a unique gait pattern, which can be identified by:

  • a reduced stride length
  • an increased walking cadence or a bouncy pace
  • an increased variation in stride width

This movement strategy may be used to compensate for weaker muscles in the knees of autistic people. These gait differences can lead to less stability while standing or walking and an increased risk of fall-related injuries.

Occupational therapy helps people work on the physical, social, cognitive, and motor skills needed in everyday tasks. It aims to help people become more independent and participate in different activities.

Occupational therapy can help develop motor skills and improve balance and coordination. Occupational therapists may use several different approaches to help improve autistic gait issues, including:

  • Exercise programs: These programs aim to improve gait patterns and coordination. They can include lower limb strengthening, gait reeducation, balance, and proprioceptive training. Proprioceptive training helps increase awareness of the body’s position and movements.
  • Sensory integration techniques: These strategies can help regulate sensory input and encourage more efficient movement. They may include activities like deep pressure touch, vestibular stimulation, and proprioceptive activities.
  • Behavioral interventions: Occupational therapists can use visual prompts, verbal cues, and positive reinforcement to promote a desired walking behavior.

Certain exercises may encourage stability and improve posture for autistic people. A few exercises to try at home include:

  • Bear crawls: This exercise can develop body awareness, build trunk strength, and improve shoulder stability. To do them, start on all fours, then extend the hands and knees slightly and crawl forward. If this is too difficult, the yoga position downward facing dog is another alternative.
  • Heel walking: This exercise can increase balance and coordination of the lower limbs. It can be done on a gymnastics bench or any narrow plank. Walk slowly forward, placing one foot in front of the other, heel to toe.
  • Star jumps: Jumping exercises can improve body awareness and strengthen the legs and core. To do this exercise, begin in a crouched, squatting position, with the knees and arms tucked in. Then, jump up, extending all your limbs into an X shape, and return to your starting position. If this is too difficult, try jumping laterally, or sideways, from one leg to another.
  • Stork stands: These can improve balance and coordination. To do this, stand on one leg for about 10 seconds per leg. To make it more challenging, try slowly moving the free leg to the front, to the side, and then behind the body without touching the ground.

Several other types of exercises can benefit autistic people and improve their posture and body awareness. Full-body exercises are best for autistic kids to increase strength and body awareness. Try to find exercises your child can do regularly and without stress.

Toe walking could be an early indicator of autism, but it is also common in very young children still learning to walk. If toe walking persists beyond age 2 or 3, it may be a symptom of a neurodevelopmental condition. Persistent toe walking does not always indicate an underlying condition, but it does warrant professional evaluation.

Toe walking past this age can affect balance and lead to issues with the muscles and joints.

When walking on toes and autism are connected, it is usually in combination with other symptoms of autism. Occupational therapy and various at-home exercises can improve gait and posture in autistic children or adults.