Why do I walk on the balls of my feet?

[u/[deleted]]

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[u/Substantial_Turn8731 → u/[deleted]]

I used to walk on the balls of my feet as a child . My ballet instructor once told me my Achilles tendons are short and that’s what pops my heel up. She had me do stretching exercises to help lengthen the tendon. I don’t do it anymore as an adult but two of my four kids do.

[u/ComposerBitter5353 → u/[deleted]]

NAD but look up equinus contracture and adult acquired flatfoot deformity.

[u/frostatypical → u/[deleted]]

That test is not science based. This guy just made it up by picking questions he liked from other tests that have since been found to be inaccurate.

PsyArXiv Preprints | Telepathy, anomalous experience and the relation to the autism spectrum (osf.io)

 

[u/_ghostchant → u/frostatypical]

I’m not going to debate whether that test is accurate or not. What I will say is that it is by no means a diagnosis, but if you score highly on it, it may be an entry point to discuss things with someone who is better trained to make assessments.

I do not think I would have achieved a doctor reviewed diagnosis if my experiences did not hold true. That said, there is way more to a diagnosis than a simple online test.

What bothers me is the lack of awareness people seem to have about the ability to seek proper treatment when you’re high functioning yet have sensory issues. At least in the US, there is a massive lack of resources. Anything that allows people an entry point to better understanding themselves and seeking help they need is a positive. This, overall, is a positive.

I just realized you are not a medical doctor, so I’m wasting my time on this response.

[u/_ghostchant → u/frostatypical]

Your entire post history is literally steeped in anger and frustration towards the autism diagnostic experience. Sorry for whatever you experienced. Please don’t dump it on others who are seeking help and information. It is clear you are not unbiased and have a side in the fight.

[u/frostatypical → u/_ghostchant]

I get positive feelings and reactions from people when I share this scientific information about these tests. You posted a misleading link to a bogus test and Im calling it out.

[u/_ghostchant → u/frostatypical]

Again, your comment and post history is nothing but negative and argumentative about diagnostic criteria. What is your background and profession? Are you a qualified doctor/psychiatrist/psychologist/specialist? It’s hundreds of comments second guessing various tests, assessment finds by professionals, etc. Your phrasing is nothing something a professional in these fields would ever say of another professional they know nothing about regarding patients you’ve never personally encountered.

By all means, what are your credentials?

[u/frostatypical → u/_ghostchant]

Sharing the science is all. Here is more!

Let's Be Clear That "Autism Spectrum Disorder Symptoms" Are Not Always Related to Autism Spectrum Disorder - PubMed (nih.gov)

Autism questionnaire scores do not only rise because of autism - PubMed (nih.gov)

Autism-spectrum quotient Japanese version measures mental health problems other than autistic traits - PubMed (nih.gov)

[u/_ghostchant → u/frostatypical]

I mean is any of this actually helpful? I think any trained professional knows all of this in relation to autism diagnostic screenings and assessments. This is why they’re quite long and thorough and require a number of steps…. My takeaway is you self admittedly have no real credentials to properly weigh in here. Any knowledgeable professional would be well beyond this stuff, and the average person has every right to explore their medical and mental health situations by going to an actual healthcare professional. Is your goal to persuade others to NOT explore this? Is it to make people question what their providers assess?

What is your goal here?

[u/_ghostchant → u/frostatypical]

I’m not against your beliefs or stance, I’m more annoyed that you’re belittling something that I personally have found incredibly valuable as a starting point.

I would be less annoyed if you perhaps posted a resource that you feel is better qualified to help OP. So what resource would you recommend?

I was once “if it’s not 100% science proven then I don’t accept it” until I lived long enough to watch science flip flop on a ton of topics (especially when it comes to health). It doesn’t bother me that you have your stance, and I would also argue it’s a fair one, but what bothers me is the level of holier than thou attitudes people tend to have.

Your response, at best, puts OP back to baseline with no actual input to help them. I’m not sure why I’m being downvoted here when I have literally lived this, shared my starting point, and then proceeded to get actual medical and professional consults/assessments with a 100% agreement rate that I am neurodivergent.

[u/frostatypical → u/_ghostchant]

Youre getting downvoted because youre pointing a person towards autism based on an internet quiz someone just made up.

[u/ColorMyTrauma → u/_ghostchant]

You're being downvoted because you're a layperson encouraging OP to take an internet quiz written by someone who thinks autism is linked to telepathy. You're being downvoted because you don't seem to understand the concept of science. Scientific consensus changes as humanity learns more which is why it appears to "flip flop." That doesn't mean anything goes and anything is valid, no matter how jaded you want to act. It's 2024 and you're on a medical subreddit, maybe consider that commenters want actual information.

You posted an internet quiz that is scientifically invalidated. The fact that it was your "incredibly valuable [...] starting point" doesn't make it valid. I'm sure some people's lived experiences began with psychics telling them to get assessed for ASD, are you going to recommend that OP see a psychic? MANY people started their lived experience on tiktok, are you going to recommend that OP download it and start scrolling?

Edit: Yikes on a bike, after reading more, this guy also believes that neurodiverse people are descended from Neanderthals and neurotypical people are descended from Homo sapiens, aka typical modern humans. This dude has dangerous views.

[u/happyhermit99 → u/ColorMyTrauma]

Boy this thread out of control. I didn't see the first comment with the quiz, but .. telepathy? Never heard that one before. Although 23 and me did tell me I have 75% more Neanderthal genes than others and I'm sensitive enough that you could assume it's telepathy.

Sensitive people are forced to absorb and analyze a ton of stimuli that the normals just don't even notice. Tiny cues in body language, facial expression, tone of voice. Pheromones for all I know.

[u/ColorMyTrauma → u/happyhermit99]

Sensitive people are forced to absorb and analyze a ton of stimuli that the normals just don't even notice. Tiny cues in body language, facial expression, tone of voice. Pheromones for all I know. [emphasis mine]

What the fuck

[u/happyhermit99 → u/ColorMyTrauma]

Yea..? I don't consider myself normal based on society's expectations in any sense of the word

[u/drewdrewmd → u/[deleted]]

This is not a validated test.

Toe walking is common among toddlers. Most people grow out of it.

OP, can you walk normally or can you only walk on the balls of your feet? Do you always walk like this or most in some situations? What about when you are wearing shoes?

[u/frostatypical → u/drewdrewmd]

Definitely not a science-based test, as you say. it was simply made up by this dude that thinks autism is a psychic condition.

PsyArXiv Preprints | Telepathy, anomalous experience and the relation to the autism spectrum (osf.io)

 

[u/frostatypical → u/[deleted]]

No its junk. it was pulled from the behind of this odd fellow:

PsyArXiv Preprints | Telepathy, anomalous experience and the relation to the autism spectrum (osf.io)

 All the online 'autism' tests are shown to be inaccurate in scientific studies.

[u/_ghostchant → u/[deleted]]

I scored very high as well and began looking into it more. Within 6 months I found and scheduled with someone who does assessments and scored very high on everything except cognitive disability. I would encourage you to explore this further, as I wish I would have known at your age!

[u/AskDocs-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Removed - incorrect

[u/Damn_Dog_Inappropes]

I walk on the balls of my feet because when I was a kid, my parents and grandmother would yell at me for “stomping” even though I was just walking normally. Maybe it’s also a learned behavior for you?

[u/bearface93 → u/[deleted]]

I do it for a similar reason to the comment you’re responding to. Whenever I walk without shoes on, I walk on the balls of my feet. I walk normally with shoes on though. I don’t remember ever starting to do it, but I do know I spent most if not all of my childhood doing it so I could walk quieter and avoid my family asking me what I was doing or where I was going.

[u/Lumentin → u/Damn_Dog_Inappropes]

I do it often for the same reason. And I hoped my upper neighbor would do the same.

[u/Consistent-Fox2523]

All toddlers walk on the balls of their feet. Some children retain that habit. If you do it long enough, your tendons shorten so a habit becomes the only way you can walk. Can you put your heels to the ground if you want to? You can try to work with a PT to see if you can get back that flexibility

You’ll find similar people in r/brosontoes

[u/Fine_Advantage_9229]

Are you in the spectrum by chance? Toe walking is common in those with ASD. Doesn’t mean you are on the spectrum though, just because you toe walk.

[u/_ghostchant → u/[deleted]]

I know I got flamed above for my reference, but I just wanted to say I relate to most of that. I would suggest seeing if you can find someone to talk to professionally and explore further, especially if you had feelings previously that it may apply to you. It doesn’t mean it does, but it never hurts to find out! Best of luck.

[u/_ghostchant → u/Fine_Advantage_9229]

Careful…. I got flamed for mentioning this above lol

[u/Exact-Back493 → u/Fine_Advantage_9229]

This is interesting to me- I have ADHD F35, and I walk on the balls of my feet randomly but only indoors and only if I’m barefoot. I know I would walk on my toes as a little kid but it didn’t ever turn into my permanent walk.

Is being on the spectrum linked to hyper foot sensory issues? Like surface temperatures/textures? Maybe certain floorings subconsciously make me do this? I don’t think I ever walk on my toes on carpet. I definitely can’t stand if my feet feel dirty and like to have socks or indoor slippers on at home on my hardwood flooring.