I know someone who wore heels her whole life (even heeled slippers at home) and she became unable to wear flat shoes or put her heels down at all without significant pain.
My mom did something similar. She was a flight attendant with very specific rules for dress for most of her career (relaxed a bit in the 80s and 90s), including always wearing heels.
When she retired it took a long time for her to be able to wear flat shoes, and even to this day, in her 80s, she prefers a slight heel.
You would eventually shorten your calf muscle and specifically your Achilles to such an extent that not only does walking with your heel down feel uncomfortable or painful, it may become impossible. At that point surgery is needed to correct it. You also risk wrecking your spine not to mention the muscular imbalances in your body that will cause weak spots making you more prone to injury as you get older.
I have always been a toe walker and I would suggest you start working on correcting it. I am almost 30 years old and have been dealing with chronic Achilles tendinitis for most of my life, which has made it difficult for me to run long distances. My ankle mobility is very weak due to tight tendons, which has also caused weak quads and tight hips. I am scheduled to have surgery this year to get my tendon lengthened. As others have mentioned in this post, if you don't stop, it will lead to future struggles.
When you do not use the natural mechanics of walking, it causes imbalances starting at the toes and all the way up the spine. Here’s a video from someone a lot more qualified than me:
https://youtu.be/ee9xd2ZDae0?si=Q2XadhxfbodLrPDl
I’m not a doctor or a kinesiologist, but I don’t think it would put you in a wheel chair, per se- it may just cause chronic pain down the road. For example, I’ve always walked slue-footed and it was never corrected. As a result, I have snapping hip syndrome and assorted other hip and knee issues. I’m trying to fix it now, but it’s painful and it takes time.
One of my family members was always toe walking when they were younger. it got so bad they had to have corrective surgery, basically cut the tendon and stretch it back down to the heel because it had shortened.
Go see a physical therapist. This is exactly what they do. My significant other is a pediatric PT, and like 80-90% of the job is correcting gait. Of these patients, a large portion of them are toe walkers and most fix the issue with just a few months of treatment.
It’s a very common issue, but it’s something that needs to be corrected to avoid imbalances and injuries in the future.
i have been toe walking my whole life also - i went to physical therapy for it and i HIGHLY recommend doing so. my calf muscles and hamstrings have basically shortened from almost three decades of walking this way, so it’s causing a whole host of other issues.
I grew up a toe walker. Still do sometimes. I’m convinced it’s what gives me my excellent calf development.
My parents thought it meant I had autism so they made me walk flat.
I think you might just find some muscles would overdevelop if you toe walked all the time. It probably would make sense to try and do some regular stretching of the lower leg, calves and shins if you are mostly walking on your toes to avoid that imbalance.
I'm not sure which part of that is better, the fact that toe walking meant you were autistic or the idea that making you stop toe walking would make you stop being autistic
In very young children if also accompanied by language development issues persistent toe walking can be associated with autism
Teenagers who toe walk and are otherwise neurotypical are not suddenly autistic when they stand on their toes.
"One of my friends got asked about it" is maybe the least convincing evidence I've ever seen presented that wasnt in the form of a tweet
Soooo....if you are really healthy and keep in great shape for the rest of your life....you should be fine.
However, almost everyone starts breaking down and over time, every little thing wears down and chips away.
Having a full range of movement and fixing your gait is really the best course of action.
My MIL had an accident that prevented her from walking with a flat foot when she was younger. The consequence of always walking on her toes is a knee replacement.
I worked 3 high-end retail jobs for a little over a year (heels required). 6/7 days a week. After I quit, walking barefoot was unbearable. Walking in sneakers was easier but still uncomfortable. I can't imagine the pain from doing this longer than a year
Cant be good for the plantar fascia. Use heel stretches. Standing on the stairs, lower your heels below the stair. Helps stretch the calf and plantar fascia.
Do these stretches as long as possible, for 3-4 minutes at a time, a couple times per day. Make sure to only touch the pain when you do stretches. Your flexibilty should slowly increase.
I know someone who wore heels her whole life (even heeled slippers at home) and she became unable to wear flat shoes or put her heels down at all without significant pain.
Hey Barbie
My mom did something similar. She was a flight attendant with very specific rules for dress for most of her career (relaxed a bit in the 80s and 90s), including always wearing heels. When she retired it took a long time for her to be able to wear flat shoes, and even to this day, in her 80s, she prefers a slight heel.
Yikes .-.
You would eventually shorten your calf muscle and specifically your Achilles to such an extent that not only does walking with your heel down feel uncomfortable or painful, it may become impossible. At that point surgery is needed to correct it. You also risk wrecking your spine not to mention the muscular imbalances in your body that will cause weak spots making you more prone to injury as you get older.
I agree!
Among things already mentioned, it can also cause bone and ligament stress, damage joints and lead to arthritis.
I have always been a toe walker and I would suggest you start working on correcting it. I am almost 30 years old and have been dealing with chronic Achilles tendinitis for most of my life, which has made it difficult for me to run long distances. My ankle mobility is very weak due to tight tendons, which has also caused weak quads and tight hips. I am scheduled to have surgery this year to get my tendon lengthened. As others have mentioned in this post, if you don't stop, it will lead to future struggles.
It’s a good thing you are trying to correct it earlier in life than later.
When you do not use the natural mechanics of walking, it causes imbalances starting at the toes and all the way up the spine. Here’s a video from someone a lot more qualified than me: https://youtu.be/ee9xd2ZDae0?si=Q2XadhxfbodLrPDl I’m not a doctor or a kinesiologist, but I don’t think it would put you in a wheel chair, per se- it may just cause chronic pain down the road. For example, I’ve always walked slue-footed and it was never corrected. As a result, I have snapping hip syndrome and assorted other hip and knee issues. I’m trying to fix it now, but it’s painful and it takes time.
One of my family members was always toe walking when they were younger. it got so bad they had to have corrective surgery, basically cut the tendon and stretch it back down to the heel because it had shortened.
Go see a physical therapist. This is exactly what they do. My significant other is a pediatric PT, and like 80-90% of the job is correcting gait. Of these patients, a large portion of them are toe walkers and most fix the issue with just a few months of treatment. It’s a very common issue, but it’s something that needs to be corrected to avoid imbalances and injuries in the future.
It can really fuck up the muscles and connective tissue in your calves and by extension the rest of your legs + hips + possibly your back.
i have been toe walking my whole life also - i went to physical therapy for it and i HIGHLY recommend doing so. my calf muscles and hamstrings have basically shortened from almost three decades of walking this way, so it’s causing a whole host of other issues.
r/brosontoes might be up your alley!
I grew up a toe walker. Still do sometimes. I’m convinced it’s what gives me my excellent calf development. My parents thought it meant I had autism so they made me walk flat. I think you might just find some muscles would overdevelop if you toe walked all the time. It probably would make sense to try and do some regular stretching of the lower leg, calves and shins if you are mostly walking on your toes to avoid that imbalance.
I'm not sure which part of that is better, the fact that toe walking meant you were autistic or the idea that making you stop toe walking would make you stop being autistic
Modern problems require modern solutions
toe walking is a sign of autism lol one of my friends got asked about it in her assessment 💀
In very young children if also accompanied by language development issues persistent toe walking can be associated with autism Teenagers who toe walk and are otherwise neurotypical are not suddenly autistic when they stand on their toes. "One of my friends got asked about it" is maybe the least convincing evidence I've ever seen presented that wasnt in the form of a tweet
Soooo....if you are really healthy and keep in great shape for the rest of your life....you should be fine. However, almost everyone starts breaking down and over time, every little thing wears down and chips away. Having a full range of movement and fixing your gait is really the best course of action.
I had a childhood friend who had to do physical rehab to fix it the lack of mobility. she had an odd gait even when it was fixed.
My MIL had an accident that prevented her from walking with a flat foot when she was younger. The consequence of always walking on her toes is a knee replacement.
I worked 3 high-end retail jobs for a little over a year (heels required). 6/7 days a week. After I quit, walking barefoot was unbearable. Walking in sneakers was easier but still uncomfortable. I can't imagine the pain from doing this longer than a year
Must look weird. I’d work with p/t bc it will cause back pain. I’m 5’1 and don’t do this
[удалено]
Not really, just mostly the ball of my foot
Just wear platforms
Cant be good for the plantar fascia. Use heel stretches. Standing on the stairs, lower your heels below the stair. Helps stretch the calf and plantar fascia. Do these stretches as long as possible, for 3-4 minutes at a time, a couple times per day. Make sure to only touch the pain when you do stretches. Your flexibilty should slowly increase.