Can’t Keep Heels Down? Try Wall Slides 👦🏽🦶🏾 | Toe Walking Pediatric Physical Therapy #46

🎯 Wall Slides for Heel Contact & Ankle Mobility | Toe Walking Practice 🎯🦶🏾 Pediatric Physical Therapy | Mykael #46 👋🏾 Meet Mykael Mykael is an 8-year-old child with persistent toe walking. His toe walking increases when he is tired, anxious, sick, or emotionally dysregulated. He walks more on his toes when barefoot or in less supportive shoes, and less when wearing supportive athletic shoes 👟🦶🏽. Toe walking runs in his family — his grandfather, uncle, and father are also toe walkers. Hinged plantarflexion-stop orthotics had been recommended; at this visit, his family shared he has not been wearing them. 🦶🏾 What We’re Working On In this session, Mykael practices wall slides to improve heel contact and ankle mobility. The goal is to: 🔹 keep the heels down 🔹 allow the knees to move forward over the feet 🔹 maintain back contact with the wall 🔹 control the descent and return This targets: 🔹 ankle dorsiflexion 🔹 leg strength and control 🔹 coordination through hips, knees, and ankles 🟦 The Setup Mykael stands with his back against a wall and heels slightly away from it. He: 🔹 slides down the wall 🔹 keeps his heels down 🔹 aims to touch his bottom to my forearm I lower my forearm to increase difficulty. We filmed outside: 🔹 the fence adds friction 🔹 the slight slope makes it easier 👀 What You’ll Notice 🔹 heels try to lift as it gets harder 🔹 knees move forward over the feet 🔹 back stays in contact with the wall 🔹 control improves with repetition 🧠 Why This Helps Toe Walking Children who toe walk often lack: 🔹 ankle range 🔹 heel contact control 🔹 forward movement over the foot This activity supports: 🔹 heel contact 🔹 ankle mobility 🔹 controlled lowering and rising 🏡 Ideas for Home Practice Try using: 🔹 a wall or door Focus on: 🔹 heels down 🔹 slow movement 🔹 back against the wall Make it easier: 🔹 heels farther from the wall 🔹 higher target Make it harder: 🔹 heels closer to the wall 🔹 lower target 🕒 Timestamps (Chapters) 0:00 – Intro 0:30 – Setup 0:55 – First attempts 1:15 – Adjustments 1:35 – Lowering the target 2:05 – Wrap-up ⚠️ Disclaimer This video is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. It would be unethical for me to provide specific treatment recommendations for a child I have not personally evaluated. 📧 Contact amysturkey@gmail.com 🦶🏾 Toe Walking Video Series (Mykael) 🔗 Watch the full series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAkJbMrHyKjP470frDXaGDv2XrtEqPEUx 📚 Books by Amy Sturkey “A is for Autism” → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071F4FFTB “D is for Down Syndrome” → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079P8HH49 “C is for Cerebral Palsy” → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088TSJCYP “A is for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder” → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QH9H5HR “A is for Anxiety” → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09LXQ3W6V “P is for Poop and Pee Accidents” → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLSRJ483 “Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Hips” → https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998156736 “Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Knees” → https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998156760 “Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Ankles” → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TX2ZCFD 🌍 Captions & Translations Subtitles are available and can be auto-translated 🌍👧🏽👦🏿👩🏾‍🦱👨🏽‍🦱