Should you see a doctor if at 2 years a child walks on socks? What diseases can such a gait talk about? How to help the baby with classes and exercises? Read about this in our article.
Content
A kid at the age of 2 years is already quite confident, actively explores the world around him and shows increasing independence. At the same time, some mothers with concern notice that the child more often steps on a sock, like a small ballet artist. Can this be considered a norm or a serious reason for a visit to a doctor?
Why does the child tiptoe at 2 years old: Reasons
If the baby moves quickly, wants to get to any high object located high or something, then in such cases, walking on tiptoe is a quite ordinary phenomenon caused by emotional excitement. In other situations, a child at the age of 2 should go normally, stepping on the full foot.
The following factors can become the reasons for the wrong gait:
- Muscle hypertonicity - The most common reason for walking on tiptoe. With muscle dystonia, the tone of the calf muscles is distributed along the leg and foot of the baby unevenly. Most often, such a violation is eliminated as they grow older. You can help a child with the help of special exercises, gymnastics, swimming.
- Pyramidal failure - Such a “diagnosis” of the doctor indicates the problems of the motor apparatus without establishing a certain reason. In fact, in early childhood, the brain parts that control motor functions may not be well developed. The doctor may recommend further observation and assistance in the form of physiotherapy exercises.
- Long -term use of "jumpers" and "walkers". Such devices often like kids and make life easier for adults, but constant stay in the walkers can provoke improper setting of the foot. The baby gets used to relying when moving only on the fingers and in the future should be a developed habit.
- Imitation of adults family members - Sometimes the child wants to be taller, trying to keep up with older children or copies the mother, who wears heeled shoes.
- Psychological climate in the family - If the house has a conflict atmosphere, the baby can feel discomfort, he subconsciously tries to “hide”, become inconspicuous, stepping, barely touching the floor.
- Excessive excitability and hyperactivity - Children born prematurely, easily excitable and too active often move on tiptoe. In such cases, a consultation of a neurologist is required.
- Discomfort when walking. If the baby steps on something sharp or his legs are freezing on the cold floor, he instinctively tries to reduce the area of \u200b\u200bcontact of the foot with the floor.
The child is 2 years old, walks on socks: what to do?
With this type of movement, the foot does not receive support to the heel area, so this part of the foot does not develop, the calf muscles are in hypertonicity, the front of the foot increases disproportionately, atrophy of the tendons and muscles of the ankle joint occurs, deformation of the arches of the foot may be observed.
Parents cannot independently establish the reason for the incorrect gait of the child. To exclude the presence of pathology, you must consult the following specialists:
- pediatrician
- orthopedic
- children's neurologist
- neurologist
According to the identified diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe treatment and give the necessary recommendations. Any medications are used only under the supervision of a doctor.
In case of incorrect or untimely therapy, quite serious consequences may occur:
- violation of posture
- flat feet
- clubfoot
- development of the foot
How to help a child?
Regardless of the cause of the incorrect gait, parents should not constantly pay attention to it, pull and report the baby. This behavior of adults will not help eliminate the problem and create a stressful situation in which the child will be fear of new reproaches.
You can help fix the gait using special classes, games and regular exercises.
Physiotherapy
LFK exercises help increase blood circulation and decrease in muscle tone:
- landing with landing on both feet
- alternating walking on the inner and outer side of the foot
- "Duck" gait
- walking in a semi -shower
- squats
Such exercises can be repeated by alternating, several times a day for 10-15 minutes.
Massage
Massage activates blood flow, improves the elasticity of ligaments, muscles and tendons. A child needs to do massage at least once a day, with smooth movements, hypoallergenic baby oil can be additionally used. It is best to carry out the procedure after evening bathing before bedtime, when the body is as relaxed as possible.
- Perform circular movements of the baby’s feet alternately in one and the other.
- Knead the foot, drawing the “eight” with your finger.
- Grind the calf muscles gently, moving from the bottom up.
Swimming
Classes in the pool are useful for children from a very young age. Swimming helps to improve coordination of movements, development of motor skills, stimulate the work of all muscle groups.
Special shoes
The use of medical orthopedic shoes in children is possible only after consulting with a specialist.
- If the reason for walking on socks is not associated with serious impaired motor function, it is better to allow the child to walk barefoot at home, which is much more useful for its development.
- For walks, you should purchase shoes that are suitable in size, from natural materials, with good fixation of the lifting of the foot and a closed heel.
Playing
Glass classes help not only in the physical development of babies, but also establish an emotional connection with adults, strengthen trust.
- Jumping. Invite the child to jump from a small height - benches or stool, dropping exactly on both feet.
- Heron. Ask the baby to stand up and jump first on one leg, then on the other.
- Steps. Walking, in which body weight is completely shifted from one leg to another, helps to improve the coordination of movements and the formation of the correct gait.
- Fitball. Put the child on a gymnastic ball and roll it under the baby’s legs, asking to walk. It is better to do this to the 2nd adults together so as not to drop the baby.
- Walking on various types of surface - solid, soft, inclined, textured (grass, sand, small pebbles, shells).
- In the cold season, you can conduct such classes at home by preparing a special massage rug. You can make it from different pieces of fabric - smooth, vile, fur, sew small smooth buttons, beads, braid, glue beans, coffee grains, smooth pebbles.
Video from Dr. Komarovsky: What to do if the child walks on tiptoe?
