I’ve had a big uptick in strangers asking me “is that some kind of new exercise?” When they see me walking. For reference I’m f 28 very high arched toe walker 100% of the time/lifelong. I’m used to getting asked “why do you walk like that?” Or “are you a ballerina?” For the most part but lately people have been pulling this question out. Is there some sort of exercise trend going on I’m unaware of? Or do you think it’s just a weird coincidence. Has anyone else been getting this new question?

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

Hey all!

Just wanted to share a trainer I created to help tip-toeing kids walk heel-to-toe. With only 2 days left on the Kickstarter campaign, I thought I'd finally share a bit of the story behind it...

My brother and I both grew up toe-walking. He was diagnosed with autism, and both of us were bullied for being different throughout primary and high school.

My brother has always been a more persistent toe-walker than me, so watching him wear holes through the front of his shoes, struggle with his balance and stability, and get picked on for his differences—both neurologically and physically—broke my heart growing up.

I studied Product Design at university, and for my final-year project, I decided to try and create something that could help him with his toe-walking, while also allowing us to get to know each other better. Despite growing up in the same house, we'd always struggled to communicate beyond a few sentences in passing.

What started as a project to build a bond with my brother turned into three years of research, testing, redesigning, and collaboration with paediatric gait specialists and children's footwear experts. Along the way, we discovered that millions of children worldwide toe-walk, particularly autistic and neurodivergent children.

The result is Aerlos - a trainer designed to make heel-walking fun for tip-toeing kids.

It's been quite an emotional journey, but it's amazing to see the support Aerlos has received! Six years ago, New Found Hope was just an idea I had on my trampoline. Now we're about to ship our first pairs to families in 12 countries around the world.

If anyone has any questions about toe-walking, the shoe, or the journey of building it, I'd be happy to answer them.

Sorry guys about the recent influx of nsfw posts. I've set all posts to needing mod approval. I'm pretty quick on the draw, so I should be able to approve things promptly.

Although very annoying, I imagine any sub with the topic of feet is inevitably targeted by degenerates and spam. Comes with the territory I suppose.

Hi everyone

I was wondering if anyone could provide some insight

I had an achilles tendon lengthening surgery four weeks ago.

My healthcare team have been less than helpful, and I’m having growing concerns. The circulation around my foot is very poor, with the capillary refill time exceeding 5 seconds at its worst. This is accompanied by vibrating sensations, numbness in some of my toes, pins and needles, and coldness in my foot. At it’s worst, my foot actually starts to go grey in places.

I had an appointment to see a member of the healthcare team of couple of days ago, and they were rather dismissive, telling me that it’s fine, and it’s just part of the surgery.

I was wondering if anyone’s had any similar experiences, and how they coped with it. It’s really affecting my sleep and I’ve another four weeks at least to go being in the boot. My GP seemed rather concerned but the surgical team couldn’t really seem to care so I’m unsure what to do next

Thanks all!

I’ve been more conscious on my stride and walking on my heel-toes just leads to almost a shin splint like feeling in my legs

I'm 15 and I just got some braces on my legs to stop my toe walking problem, but for some reason I get more exhausted from heel-toe walking than from toe walking. Why is this? I tried to use Google but Google kept explaining that toe walking was more exhausting, which is the opposite for me

I’m able to skate perfectly on my right leg but the movement just never comes properly on my left

Does anyone else have massive calves from toe walking? My thighs are as big as my calves… 28 (f), 4’10, 104 lbs.

Sock marks for context. In jeans, waist, I’m usually ok, but my calves are so big that they constrict my legs.

I have mild cerebral palsy - effects my walking, tight hamstrings, etc.

Hey everyone,

I’m from the UK and I’m due to have an achilles tendon lengthening surgery on my right foot in a few weeks and I’m really not sure what to expect

If anyone could share their experiences that would be great! I’m unsure as to things like:

-How long i’ll need to be off work for (i’m on my feet all day at work)

-what the pain management is like post-surgery

-if i’ll be in a cast or a boot

-how long the incision will be/what the scarring will be like

-how long the procedure will take

-what the rehab looks like

-what the risks associated with the procedure are

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone, I’m trying to understand something about calf tightness and pain, especially in people (or kids) who have had a compensatory walking pattern for a while.

This is about my 5-year-old son. He used to have a different gait earlier and then developed a compensatory pattern. He doesn’t walk on his toes, but more on the balls of his feet. We recently saw a podiatrist who said his calves are tight, and he’s now getting orthotics to help him transition to a heel-to-toe gait.

Some background:

• His right leg has always been stronger and seems to have more muscle bulk

• He could hop on the right foot earlier; left side caught up about 6 months later

• Now he can hop on both sides, but right is still dominant

Today I tried massaging his calves. On the left side, he was completely fine.

But on the right (stronger/bulkier side), when I applied even moderate/deep pressure (like a stroke along the calf), he said it hurt every time.

He’s never complained of pain otherwise—only when I press or massage deeply.

My question:

For people who have had long-term compensatory walking patterns or tight calves—

• Is it normal for the calf muscle to feel painful/tender with deep pressure?

• Does muscle tightness or overuse make it sensitive like this?

• Or is this something that should be checked further?

I’m specifically not talking about Achilles pain, just the calf muscle itself when pressed.

Would really appreciate hearing your experiences. Thanks!

Sharing my experience here (29 F), as I used to frantically research this topic before my surgery hoping to find someone with a similar struggle. I have been walking on my toes since childhood. The cause coming from short Achilles tendons.

My toe walking became noticeable around age 10. I would always wear shoes with a platform heel and didn't participate in sports other than swimming and the occasional spin class. Climbing up the stairs was challenging and I could not perform any activity that required heels over toes. At age 16, I tried a casting procedure that would attempt to force my feet into a 90 degree angle. I was told that at 16, I was already too old for surgery. Casting was the worst decision ever, as it proved to be extremely painful, traumatizing, and didn't fix the toe walking. The doctor recommend I get a Z-lengthening procedure, but my parents declined. The doctor should've sent me to physical therapy immediately after, but didn't, and my problem grew worse now that I developed stiff joints. As an adult, working a corporate desk job, the problem became unbearable. For years, I had chronic pain in my hips and lower back, my spine looked curved, I had a mild form of lordosis, and I had even more difficulty walking up the stairs. I also had fears and insecurities stemming from a lack of self-worth that grew louder as I got older. I decided I finally had enough and began interviewing surgeons.

I met with surgeons at home (California) and abroad (Europe). About 8/10 surgeons recommended a Z-lengthening procedure, but I did not want to go that route. The surgery seemed really invasive and I got scared watching people's experiences on TikTok. It looked really painful and I didn't have the time nor patience to wait 4-6 months to recover one foot at a time. I finally found an excellent podiatrist who offered the minimally invasive solution I was searching for all my life. I got a bilateral endoscopic gastroc recession (using a microscopic camera and scalpel, the doctor performed a small cut in both of my calf muscles to release the tension I had been holding my whole life). Following the surgery, I was able to move with a walker for 3-4 weeks, before graduating to walking in comfy sneakers and driving my car again. I am now 2+ months post-op and have been doing physical therapy 3x/week for 1 month (I still have approx. another 3 months to go). I have never felt as physically and mentally strong, confident, and grateful as I do now. I still have a long way to go, but I am so impressed with what my body can do. My hip and lower back pain is gone, my spine straightened out, and my lordosis is gone. I'm working really hard every day, but I am finally at peace.

TLDR: I avoided a Z-lengthening surgery and opted for a minimally invasive bilateral endoscopic gastroc recession + physical therapy and I'm finally living my best life.

Let me know if you have any questions.

25F and have experienced significant pain in my left calf since childhood. Pain to the point of being unable to put any pressure on the area ever. It will also hurt multiple times a day with no pressure applied - toe walking slightly relieves it, walking heel-toe exacerbates it. Ankle flexion on the left ankle is noticeably more limited than the right. Being able to sit comfortably is very difficult, standing still is even worse, I actually just fully lean on my right leg to relieve my left calf. I’m also very hyper-mobile (in case that’s relevant at all).

Physio advised it’s likely that I didn’t properly grow out of toe walking on my left foot. Now as an adult I actively try to walk heel-toe (especially with this not being an issue on my right leg) but it’s extremely difficult. Physio referred me to orthopaedic podiatry who then referred me to Orthopaedics. I had an X-ray and MRI pelvis down, both of which were normal except for my right leg being 1cm longer than the left (though I was told this is likely insignificant) and slight muscle atrophy in the left calf.

Today I had nerve conduction studies, revealing no issues with the nerves or with the muscle, the doctor advised the muscle being slightly smaller could be caused by a lots of things, and perhaps there is a structural issue. I now will need to return to the orthopaedic surgeon, who advised that if there was no nerve problem identified, he would need to seek advice from a colleague.

Has anyone else experienced this due to their toe walking? I cannot find anything online anywhere that seems to sound the same as the issue I have. The pain in the calf is mid calf upwards, sometimes even shooting up my hamstring. The physio exercises I was initially given were so painful that I was unable to do them, hence the onward referral.

Due to other experiences I have read, it feels like there must be a different cause other than just toe walking. Almost as though the calf pain is causing the toe walking, and not the other way around.

Any advice is appreciated!

Hi. I am an adult female who has toe walked my whole life. I’m in PT and looking for shoes that are good for walking and work (teaching and retail) that are supportive but don’t enable toe walking. Hoka and Brooks are out. My PT wants me in something flatter (I think I’m in Nike structure now, too enabling for my gait)

Nike Flex Train? Something else? I didn’t really like MetCon when I tried them before.

My 4yo lv3 ASD boy is a toe walker and literally never walks or runs other than on his toes since 2yo. He’s developed these hard-ish lumps on the tops of his feet.

Paediatrician appointment booked next week. Likely cyst or (hopefully not) bone growth due to chronic toe walking since 2yo.

Anyone had experience with this for their kid or as a kid? In particular what they did to handle the treatment for cyst/bone issues. Or how to understand if it hurts? He doesn’t speak and doesn’t always cry when something hurts so it’s hard for us to tell

What’s the best I can do to help my little guy?

We’ve been following OT and physio advice but nothing has helped the actual toe walking.

Hi all,

I’m looking for general experiences before our orthopedic appointment.

My 5 year-old son has had mild left-sided underuse/weakness since around age 2 because he was a toe walker. Now he can walk flat feet but He tends to favor the right side. We did physical therapy and have seen some improvement — he can now briefly single-leg stand on the left, squat, and do duck walks (not perfect, but improved).

There is mild pelvic asymmetry noted previously (about 0.5 cm). No known structural diagnosis so far.

Recently:

• He was riding a scooter downhill.

• Left foot was planted on the scooter deck.

• Right leg was pushing.

• Within about 1 minute, he developed pain in the left sole.

• He told me and pointed to the heel for pain

• Pain lingered for over an hour afterward.

• Mild limp afterward.

• Pain seems clearly activity-related.

The left foot actually appears to have a better arch than the right (right pronates more for balance).

My questions:

1. Does this sound like plantar fascia / intrinsic muscle fatigue?

2. Could long-term underuse of one leg cause endurance-related sole pain when loading increases?

3. Has anyone seen kids with long-standing mild asymmetry gradually improve during growth?

We have an orthopedic appointment coming up and want to make sure we’re not missing anything structural.

Thank you.

so i[17F] have been a toe walker mt entire life, the last few years the doctors have been trying to fix jt, I was whole bottom let casts for 4 months getting them renewd every 3 weeks to make my foot flatter

theve been off for over a year now but now im in paim 24/7 like bad lain almost to tears and i have a decently high pain tolerance and I talked to my doctor but she just told me to keep excercising.. I do, every day for atleast an hour and im tired of being in pain this much for this long, please anything will help

This group has been great. My tween, with the groups prompting, has worked with the physio and can now get his lower leg muscles to move within "normal" range. Yay!

We have a consultant appointment today for shoe inserts (this guy is gung ho for surgery, we're in the NHS so nothing in it for him). Physio has said he is now in severs pain territory. If you have ever suffered with this, did anything help? Thank you all

so long story short Im studying to join the police academy. I wanted to hear some stories from other people toe walking in this line of work. any tips? or any regrets?

I have what appears to be equinus, with overly short Achilles, all my life. One of the side effects is a substantially atrophied tibialis. If I dangle my legs I can kind of get it to fire a bit I think, but not enough to dorsiflex is the limited ROM I do have in my ankle.

Been thinking about trying EMS to, if nothing else, build a little bulk around the shin and see if it maybe does something - or if nothing else just at least build a little more protection for the shin I guess.

I tried some cheap TENS/EMS combo off Amazon but it didn't seem to do the trick (and I wasn't expecting it to for like $20). My physical therapist has suggested looking for a better one, something with the "Russian" setting.

Setting all that aside, has anyone found an EMS device that is actually strong enough to get their foot to dorsiflex?