Struggling to Keep Heels Down? Try This Low Sit-to-Stand | Toe Walking #42 🦶🏾

🎯 Sit-to-Stand from Lower Heights | Heel Control for Toe Walking 🎯🦶🏾 Pediatric Physical Therapy | Mykael #42 👋🏾 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 Mykael’s family — his grandfather and uncle are also toe walkers. Hinged plantarflexion-stop orthotics had been recommended by his therapist; at this visit, his family shared that he has not been wearing them. 🦶🏾 What We’re Working On In this session, we focus on sit-to-stand from progressively lower surfaces while keeping the heels down. The goal is not just standing up — it’s standing up with control: heels staying down knees moving forward over the feet feet facing straight ahead controlled forward weight shift no popping up with momentum We begin at approximately 12 inches high and gradually lower the surface to about 5 inches. As the height decreases, the demand increases significantly. 🟦 The Setup A series of low surfaces (“pots”) are used at progressively lower heights: starting around 12 inches lowered step-by-step down to approximately 5 inches At each height, Mykael must: 🫵🏾 Stand without lifting his heels 🫵🏾 Keep his feet facing forward 🫵🏾 Avoid using his hands for support If a heel pops up — even “just a teeny tiny snitch” — he repeats the attempt. Each height is practiced multiple times before progressing lower. 👀 What You’ll See As the surfaces get lower, you may notice: increased forward shin movement greater ankle dorsiflexion demand more knee travel over the toes subtle heel lift when effort increases improved control with repetition Lower surfaces require more strength, more control, and more ankle mobility — which is exactly why this task is so powerful for children who toe walk. 🧠 Why This Matters for Toe Walking Many children who toe walk can stand up easily from standard chair height. But standing up from a very low surface while keeping the heels down requires: functional ankle strength controlled forward weight shift proper alignment eccentric control through the ankles and knees This is real-life strengthening that directly supports flat-foot walking. 🏡 Ideas for Home Practice You can try this at home using: stacked books low stools firm cushions upside-down bins bottom stair steps Start higher and gradually lower the surface as control improves. Focus on slow, controlled movement — not speed. 🕒 Timestamps (Chapters) 0:00 – Intro to Amy and Mykael 0:18 – Overview of the sit-to-stand task 0:45 – First height (easier level) 1:10 – Heel cueing and repeat attempt 1:36 – Lower surface introduced 2:05 – Smallest surface challenge 2:30 – Why this works for toe walking 2:50 – Wrap-up (Please adjust timestamps as needed after final upload.) 🦶🏾 Toe Walking Video Series (Mykael) This video is part of an ongoing pediatric physical therapy series addressing toe walking through: balance strength motor control functional movement 🔗 Watch the full Mykael toe walking series here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAkJbMrHyKjP470frDXaGDv2XrtEqPEUx 📚 Books by Amy Sturkey Children’s Educational Books: “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 Professional Pediatric Physical Therapy Books: “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 into many languages 🌍👧🏽👦🏿👩🏾‍🦱👨🏽‍🦱