[Idiopathic toe walking (ITW)--normal or pathological?]

Idiopathic toe walking ITW appears to be a clinical problem in otherwise healthy children after 3 years of age. The definitions includes patients walking on toes permanently and temporally. Goal. definition of kinematical and kinetic determinants of ITW and the use of gait analysis determinants of ITW according to Alvarez. Material and methods. 8 patients, mean age 7 (4-11), were assessed in Motion Analysis Laboratory with clinical examination use of Vicon 460 (Vicon U.K.) and force plates AMTI (Newton USA). Presence of 1st rocker, early 3rd rocker, and predominance of first ankle dorsal flexion moment was assessed.

1st rocker was observed in 2 patients--group I, early 3rd rocker in 2 patients group II, and predominance of ankle flexion moment in 3 patients--group III, 1 patient was not classified due to presence of 1st rocker combined with predominance of dorsal flexion moment.

thanks to motion analysis we have a tool to differentiate between behavioral and fixed deformities and adjust treatment--physiotherapy, BTX, serial casting or surgical orthopaedic treatment.