Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026
Clinical-oriented Three-dimensional Gait Analysis Method for Evaluating Gait Disorder
Published on: March 4, 2018
Do external stimuli impact the gait of children with idiopathic toe walking? A study protocol for a within-subject
Cylie M Williams1, Joanne Michalitsis, Anna Murphy
1Allied Health Clinical Research Unit, Southern Health, Cheltenham, Victoria, Australia.
Insights
This study explored non-invasive treatments for idiopathic toe walking (ITW) in children, finding that footwear and orthotics may improve gait. Further research is needed to confirm these findings for ITW treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Biomechanical Engineering
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Idiopathic toe walking (ITW) is a gait characterized by walking on the toes without an underlying medical cause.
- Long-term ITW can lead to reduced ankle range of motion and may require interventions.
- Current treatments include serial casting, Botulinum toxin type A injections, and surgery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the immediate impact of simple, non-invasive interventions on the gait of children with ITW.
- To determine if footwear, custom orthotics, or whole body vibration can improve gait parameters in ITW.
- To provide data for future clinical trials on ITW treatment effectiveness.
Main Methods:
- A within-subject randomized controlled trial design was employed.
- 15 children diagnosed with ITW were recruited.
- Gait analysis was performed under four conditions: barefoot, usual footwear, footwear with custom orthotics, and after whole body vibration.
Main Results:
- The study measured changes in bilateral heel contact, stride length, stride width, gait velocity, and other gait parameters.
- Weight-bearing lunge was assessed pre- and post-intervention for each condition.
- The immediate effects of each intervention on gait were analyzed.
Conclusions:
- This study provides preliminary data on the immediate effects of non-invasive interventions for ITW.
- Findings suggest potential benefits of footwear and orthotics in improving gait parameters.
- Further research is warranted to establish long-term efficacy and optimal treatment strategies for ITW.
Introduction:
Frequently, toe walking gait is the result of disease processes, trauma or neurogenic influences. Idiopathic toe walking (ITW) is, by definition, the diagnosis of a toe walking gait adopted in the absence of one of these medical conditions. Long-term ITW has been associated with reduced ankle range of motion. Reported treatments have included serial casting, Botulinum toxin type A or surgery to improve the ankle range of motion. Investigating the impact of simple and non-invasive treatment options for ITW is important for future research and clinical outcomes. This study investigates the immediate impact of footwear, footwear with orthotics and whole body vibration on ITW to determine if any one intervention improves heel contact and spatial-temporal gait measures. This determination is important for future clinical trials into treatment effectiveness.
Design:
this protocol describes a within-subject randomised controlled trial that measures changes in gait following changes in external stimuli.
Participants:
15 children diagnosed with an ITW gait will be recruited from the Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service at Monash Children's Hospital Toe Walking Clinic provided they have ITW and meet the inclusion criteria.
Procedure:
participants will have their gait recorded walking barefoot, in usual footwear, a custom-made, full-length carbon fibre orthotic in usual footwear and following whole body vibration. Outcome measures will include the presence of bilateral heel contact preintervention and postintervention, stride length (cm), stride width (cm), left and right stride time (s), left and right stance and swing percentage of the gait cycle, gait velocity (m/s), left and right foot toe in/toe out angle (°) and weight-bearing lunge pre and post each condition.
Ethics And Dissemination:
The results of this study will be published at the conclusion and have been approved by Southern Health HREC:12102B.
Clinical Trial Registry Number:
ACTRN12612000975897.
