Vibration Threshold and Toe Walking in Children
Pediatric Physical Therapy published research comparing distal vibratory perception threshold and sensation in 11 children who toe walked and 15 controls. The mean vibration perception threshold at the metacarpal and metatarsal phalangeal joints was calculated for each participant. In addition, the Short Sensory Profile was completed by each participant’s parent or caregiver. The results indicated the following:
- the mean vibration threshold was highly correlated in both groups – it was higher in toe walkers compared to controls.
- toe walkers were more likely to have a total Short Sensory Profile score in the “probably difference” or “definite difference” categories.
The researchers concluded that sensation should be evaluated in toe walkers.
Reference: Ganley, Kathleen J. PT, PhD; Behnke, Claire PT, DPT. Distal Vibration Perception Threshold in Children Who Toe Walk. Pediatric Physical Therapy: Summer 2016 – Volume 28 – Issue 2 – p 187–191. doi: 10.1097/PEP.0000000000000241
Read more about toe walking:
- Motor Skills, Sensory Processing and Toe Walking
- Prevalence of Toe Walking
- Idiopathic Toe Walking and Left Handedness
- Toe Walking and Autism
- Idiopathic Toe Walking and Botox
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