New ultrasound technique sheds light on why some children walk on tiptoes
NCT ID NCT07163520
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This study used a special ultrasound technique called shear-wave elastography to measure stiffness in the calf muscles and Achilles tendon of children who walk on their toes for no known medical reason. Researchers compared 46 children—half with idiopathic toe walking and half healthy peers—to see if muscle stiffness differs between the groups. The goal is to better understand the physical changes in the muscles that may contribute to this walking pattern.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help doctors better understand muscle changes in idiopathic toe walking, potentially guiding future treatments.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed observational study with only 46 participants. It does not test a treatment, so it cannot directly lead to a cure or therapy.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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46 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Oct 2024
- Finished
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May 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
Children aged 4 to 12 years diagnosed with bilateral idiopathic toe walking and healthy age-matched controls.
- Ages
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4 to 12 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: Children aged 4 to 12 years with a bilateral idiopathic toe walking pattern Absence of neurological, orthopedic, or psychiatric conditions that could explain the toe walking gait pattern (e.g., cerebral palsy, myopathies, autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders, neuropathies) Healthy volunteers matched for age and sex (for control group) Child and parent/guardian who were willing to participate in the study and provided written informed consent. \- Exclusion Criteria:Presence of neurological, orthopedic, or psychiatric conditions that could explain the toe walking gait pattern (e.g., cerebral palsy, myopathies, autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders, neuropathies) \-
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital
Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
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