Research on Family Based Exercising Program for Children with Idiopathic Toe Walking

Gülhan Uzun Eren, Research on Family Based Exercising Program for Children with Idiopathic Toe Walking, Hasan Kalyoncu University Institute of Postgraduate Education, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Master's Thesis, Gaziantep 2024. Idiopathic toe walking is the continuation of the habit of walking on the toe instead of the heel for an unknown reason in healthy children. Idiopathic toe walking is a common walking disorder of pediatric population and often diagnosed after the age of 3. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a family-based exercise program on the children with idiopathic toe walking in the aspects of the walking parameters (the number of heel stepping's and total steps), the sense of ankle joint position and the quality of life. 24 children in total, 12 are idiopathic toe walking and 12 that have shown normal growth, participated in the research. The participants were evaluated with the inspectual analysis of the walk, the ankle joint position sense test and the survey for the quality of life, both in the beginning of the program and in the end. A program made of various exercises aiming to improve the walking pattern and the quality of life was administered. After the family-based exercise program, the children with idiopathic toe walking have shown significant improvement of heel contact on the ground, the sense of ankle joint position and the quality of life. In the end of the research, it was seen that the children with idiopathic toe walking came closer to their healthy peers in the parameters of child growth. As a result of our research, we have determined that the family-based exercise program for the children with idiopathic toe walking managed to create a significant statistical difference in the number of heel stepping's, the angle of ankle dorsiflexion, the sub parameters of life quality, two-point discrimination test and the sense of position of left ankle joint (p<0.05). Family based exercise programs are pioneers as effective treatment methods for the children with idiopathic toe walking. These programs are improving the motor functions by helping the children to return to the normal walking pattern and increasing the quality of life. These findings are highlighting the importance of the family-based approaches to the treatment protocols to be developed.