Pediatric Physical Therapy For Toe Walking in Chicago: Helping Your Child Take Confident Steps
Why do children walk on their toes?
We understand the concern this can cause when seeing your child walk on their toes. While it can be a normal part of development for some toddlers, persistent toe walking may signal underlying issues that can affect your child’s balance, coordination, and long-term joint health. At Eyas Landing, we provide specialized physical therapy to address the root causes of toe walking, partnering with your family to build strength, improve walking patterns, and foster lasting confidence.
Our evidence-based, compassionate approach is tailored for your child’s success. We don’t just see a walking pattern; we see your child’s unique potential.
Pediatric Physical Therapy: Your Partner in Your Child’s Developmental Journey
We understand that navigating developmental concerns can feel overwhelming. Your observations as a parent are valid, and seeking support is a proactive step toward ensuring your child thrives. Our dedicated physical therapists in Chicago specialize in pediatric conditions like idiopathic toe walking. We are committed to providing answers, support, and a clear path forward for your family.
Our approach begins with a comprehensive evaluation to understand the “why” behind your child’s toe walking. This may include assessing:
- Muscle strength and flexibility
- Range of motion in the ankles and feet
- Sensory processing preferences
- Balance and coordination skills
- Overall motor development
Together, we’ll create a personalized therapy plan that fits your child’s needs and your family’s goals.
The Benefits of Early and Expert Intervention
Addressing toe walking early can make a significant difference in your child’s physical development and self-esteem. Timely, targeted physical therapy helps prevent long-term complications and supports progress in other areas of life.
With our specialized therapy, your child can:
- Develop a Proper Heel-to-Toe Gait: We use therapeutic play and targeted exercises to retrain muscles and encourage a natural walking pattern.
- Improve Balance and Prevent Falls: Strengthening core and leg muscles leads to better stability and reduces the risk of injury.
- Increase Flexibility and Range of Motion: Gentle stretching and activities help lengthen tight calf muscles, which is often a key factor in toe walking.
- Build Confidence in Movement: As children gain control over their bodies, they feel more secure and willing to participate in physical activities at home, at school, and on the playground.
- Support Long-Term Health: Correcting walking patterns helps protect your child’s joints in their feet, ankles, knees, and hips from undue stress over time.
What to Expect from Our Toe Walking Program
At Eyas Landing, therapy is designed to be engaging, effective, and family-centered. We partner with you every step of the way, empowering you with strategies to support your child’s progress at home.
Our sessions are held in our state-of-the-art clinic, which is equipped with sensory-rich gyms and specialized equipment designed just for kids. This fun, motivating environment encourages children to participate fully in activities that build strength and skill.
Our treatment plans may include:
- Therapeutic Exercises: Fun, play-based activities that strengthen key muscle groups.
- Stretching Routines: Gentle techniques to improve flexibility in the lower legs.
- Balance and Coordination Training: Activities that challenge and improve your child’s stability.
- Sensory Integration Strategies: For children whose toe walking is related to sensory sensitivities, we provide activities to help their nervous system better process input.
- Parent and Caregiver Education: We provide you with the knowledge and tools to continue progress between sessions.
Take the First Step Today
You are your child’s best advocate, and you don’t have to figure this out alone. If you have concerns about your child’s toe walking, our team is here to provide clarity and support. Let’s work together to help your child move forward with confidence.
Schedule a Physical Therapy Consultation
Click the button below to schedule an initial consultation with one of our pediatric physical therapy specialists. We look forward to meeting your family.
Are you interested in learning more ways physical therapy can help your child? Click the links below to learn more about pediatric therapies at Eyas Landing.
“Our daughter, Sophia, has cerebral palsy and, for years, every step was a challenge. After working with the physical therapy team at Eyas Landing, we started seeing her stand longer and even take steps using her walker. The therapists celebrated her wins and made every session a positive experience for all of us. Today, she’s moving more independently, and her confidence shines. The team has truly partnered with us at every turn.” Eyas Landing Chicago Parent
Physical Therapy—When and Where You Need It
Consistency creates lasting progress. That’s why Eyas Landing offers flexible service delivery options designed to meet your family’s needs and reduce daily barriers:
- In-Clinic Therapy: Our West Loop facility offers a supportive, accessible environment with specialized equipment and space.
- In-Home Therapy: We bring expert care to your doorstep, helping your child practice skills in their own space.
- School/Daycare-Based Therapy: Collaboration with educators ensures your child’s therapy supports academic and social participation.
- Telehealth: Secure, interactive sessions so your child can engage with our therapists from anywhere.
We work together to determine which setting will help your child get the greatest benefit—and adjust as your family’s needs change.
Diagnoses We Most Commonly Support
Our therapists have expertise in a wide range of pediatric diagnoses that benefit from targeted physical therapy, including:
- Cerebral Palsy – Working on muscle tone, posture, functional mobility, and coordination to empower your child’s independence.
- Spina Bifida – Addressing movement limitations and supporting safe mobility, balance, and endurance.
- Muscular Dystrophy – Promoting muscle strength, flexibility, and adaptive skills for everyday activities.
- Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) – Improving overall coordination, postural control, and confidence in movement.
- Torticollis and Plagiocephaly – Providing gentle stretching and positioning guidance for head and neck alignment.
- Down Syndrome – Supporting gross motor skill development, balance, and joint stability.
- Gait Abnormalities – Treating conditions like toe-walking, in-toeing, or balance issues to ensure safe and effective walking patterns.
- Developmental Delays – Helping children achieve key milestones such as sitting, crawling, standing, and walking.
We also support children with genetic syndromes, acquired injuries, post-surgical needs, low muscle tone (hypotonia), and pediatric sports injuries.
Our Treatment Approaches: Evidence-Based, Child-Centered, and Engaging
Progress is possible—no matter your child’s diagnosis. We blend science-backed interventions with play and everyday routines so therapy is enjoyable, meaningful, and sustainable for your family. Our therapists draw from leading approaches, including:
- Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT): Hands-on techniques to promote normal movement patterns and functional skills for children with neurological challenges like cerebral palsy and spina bifida.
- Sensory Integration: Fun, purposeful activities that help children process sensory input, often essential for those with DCD, SPD, or autism, to improve balance, coordination, and self-regulation.
- Strength Training and Endurance Building: Age-appropriate exercises that promote muscle growth, joint stability, and overall fitness, crucial for conditions like muscular dystrophy, hypotonia, or recovery from injury.
- Motor Learning Strategies: Breaking skills down into manageable steps, using repetition and feedback to help your child master everyday movements like walking, jumping, or climbing stairs.
- Orthotic and Equipment Assessment: Evaluating the need for supports such as braces, walkers, or wheelchairs, with training for safe use both at home and in the community.
- Family Coaching: We empower you with guidance, techniques, and progress-tracking tools that help build your child’s skills in daily life—not just at therapy appointments.
Our physical therapy team is also exceptional at meeting the needs of your child in the environment that is best for them. Therapy can be completed in your home, at our clinic, at your child’s school or daycare, at the park, or even bicycle riding up and down the sidewalks near your home. Our therapists are skilled at teaching children the skills they need so they can play and explore the world around them.
Take the Next Step with Confidence
You are not alone in this journey. Let’s work together to help your child reach tomorrow’s milestones, one step at a time. Your next step is to schedule a complimentary consultation with our caring team. We’ll listen closely, answer all your questions, and create a tailored plan so your child’s strengths can shine—every day, in every environment.
Our Physical Therapy Team:
Together, the Physical Therapy team seamlessly collaborates with each child’s entire therapeutic team to address best practices and individualized treatment plans. This collaboration between our highly-educated, compassionate staff maximize therapeutic outcomes and help support our clients to reach their fullest potential. At Eyas Landing, we value evidence-based practice, client-centeredness, community, diversity, collaboration, and flexibility.
Why Choose Eyas Landing?
We don’t just treat “toe-walking.” We treat the whole child, and we support the whole family. We believe therapy should reduce family stress, not add to it. That’s why flexibility is the foundation of our approach. We meet families where they are—emotionally, developmentally, and physically.
Flexible Therapy Settings
We offer evidence-based interventions in the environment that works best for your child:
- Clinic-Based: Our state-of-the-art facility in Chicago’s West Loop is designed for sensory play and skill-building.
- Home-Based: We work on skills in your natural environment, making daily routines easier.
- School-Based: We collaborate with teachers to support academic success and social inclusion.
- TeleHealth: Accessible support for adolescents or families needing remote flexibility.
A Multi-Disciplinary Team
Your child isn’t one-dimensional, and their care shouldn’t be either. Our physical therapists collaborate closely with speech therapists, occupational therapists, behavioral therapists (ABA), and social workers. This ensures that every part of your child’s development is supported under one roof.
Family-Centered Care
We partner with your family every step of the way. We don’t just work with your child for an hour and leave; we provide coaching and strategies you can use at home. Your goals become our goals.
Next Steps to Starting Physical Therapy
Evaluation And Outcome Measures
Initial Evaluations are completed with standardized measures, clinical observation and parent report components. Re-evaluations are completed every six months to determine progress. Eyas Landing therapists proactively collaborate with families and other professionals to increase positive outcomes
Plan Of Care
Eyas Landing treatment plans are individualized to meet each child’s unique strengths, interests and goals. Goals are reviewed weekly and daily treatment notes are emailed directly to parents. Eyas Landing therapists are skilled in utilizing the client’s interests and motivations to increase participation in challenging therapeutic activities.
Billing Options
Eyas Landing offers a variety of billing and payment options to support your child’s treatment. There is a dedicated and knowledgeable on-site staff that are here to answer any of your questions. Eyas Landing is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois PPO, Blue Choice PPO, and Aetna PPO plans. Eyas Landing also accepts most out-of-network PPO plans, including United Healthcare and Cigna. Claims are submitted directly to your insurance company and staff can assist in disputing any denied claims.
Frequently Asked Questions About Physical Therapy for Kids:
Do I need a doctor’s referral?
In many cases, yes, for insurance purposes. However, you can contact us directly to start the conversation. We can help guide you through the process of getting the necessary paperwork from your pediatrician.
My child has an IEP at school. Can we still do private therapy?
Absolutely. Many families find that school services are helpful but may not offer the 1:1 attention or frequency a child needs to make rapid progress. We often collaborate with school teams to ensure our goals align with their IEP, maximizing your child’s success.
Do you take insurance?
We accept a wide range of insurance plans and also work with families on Early Intervention funding. During your initial consultation, our intake team will verify your benefits so you know exactly what to expect.
What does an initial assessment look like?
A: It is a low-stress, play-based evaluation. We observe how your child moves, plays, and reacts to sensory input. We also spend time talking with you to understand your primary concerns and goals.
Center-Based Physical Therapy in Chicago
Kids love our sensory friendly clinics equipped with the best sensory equipment and engaging therapy resources.
Our Play-Based Therapy Clinics are located in:
- Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood
- Chicago’s Avondale neighborhood
In-Home Physical Therapy in Chicago
Eyas Landing therapists offer in-home therapy for early intervention and family convenience.
Our in-home therapy services are offered in the following Chicago neighborhoods:
- Lincoln Park
- Lakeview
- Gold Coast
- Roscoe Village
- North Center
- Ravenswood
- Ukrainian Village
- West Town
- Streeterville
- Loop / Downtown Chicago
- Bronzeville
- Wicker Park
- Logan Square
- Bucktown
- West Loop
- South Loop
- River North
- Hyde Park
- Near North Side
- Oak Park
School-Based Physical Therapy in Chicago
Eyas Landing partners with private schools throughout Chicago to support children in their schools. We provide services in the following schools:
- British International School of Chicago – Lincoln Park
- Francis W. Parker School
- Ancona School
- St. Clement School
- Intercultural Montessori
- City Elementary
- British International School of Chicago – South Loop
- Rainforest Preschool – South Loop
- Old St. Mary’s Catholic School
- St. Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts
- The Place for Children with Autism
- Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School
- Frances Xavier Warde Catholic School – Cathedral Campus
- The Nook
- Frances Xavier Warde Catholic School – Old St. Patrick’s Campus
- UIC Children’s Center
- Metropolitan Schoolhouse
- St. Josaphat School
- St. Ann School
- Chicago City Day School
- Bennett Day School
- University of Chicago area – Bernice E. Lavin Early Childhood Education Center
- Chicago Jesuit Academy
- Children of Peace Catholic School
- Immaculate Conception – St. Joseph School
- St. John Berchmans School
- Stride Autism Center
- The Trails School for Early Learning
- Easter Seals Gilchrist Marchman Child Development Center
