Toe-walking: new perspectives

Abstract

To explore the hypothesis that toe-walking offers certain advantages for people with upper motor neuron related impairments, the authors performed biomechanical comparisons of toe- vs. heel-toe walking in non-disabled subjects. Using traditional joint biomechanical analysis, the authors showed that toe-walking is associated with less net peak torque and power at the ankle and knee implying that less distal strength is needed to toe-walk. They also found, utilizing linear power analysis, that the lower limb can deliver power to the upper-body as effectively in toe-walking as in heel-toe walking.