Your Therapy Source Magazine for Pediatric Therapists April 2016 | Page 7

Vibration Threshold and Toe Walking in Children

Pediatric Physical Therapy published research comparing distal vibratory perception threshold
and sensation in 11 children who toe walked and 15 controls. The mean vibration perception
threshold at the metacarpal and metatarsal phalangeal joints was calculated for each
participant. In addition, the Short Sensory Profile was completed by each participant’s parent
or caregiver. The results indicated the following:
the mean vibration threshold was highly correlated in both groups – it was higher in toe
walkers compared to controls.
toe walkers were more likely to have a total Short Sensory Profile score in the “probably
difference” or “definite difference” categories.
The researchers concluded that sensation should be evaluated in toe walkers.
Reference: Ganley, Kathleen J. PT, PhD; Behnke, Claire PT, DPT. Distal Vibration
Perception Threshold in Children Who Toe Walk. Pediatric Physical Therapy: Summer 2016 –
Volume 28 – Issue 2 – p 187–191. doi: 10.1097/PEP.0000000000000241

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