Disability & Mobility

Walking difficulties describe any challenge a child has with learning to walk or walking smoothly. You might notice:

• Late walking compared with peers
• Wobbliness, frequent falls, or uneven steps
• Toe walking or dragging a foot
• Fatigue during short walks
• Feet that roll inward or look very flat

These signs are common in children with low muscle tone, motor delays, or neurological conditions. Many children improve with the right support and time.

Walking difficulties can occur for several reasons. Common causes include:

• Global Developmental Delay — slower progress across several developmental areas
• Cerebral palsy — differences in muscle tone, strength, or coordination
• Low muscle tone (hypotonia) — making standing and balance harder
• Foot posture issues — such as flat feet or hyper-pronation
• Weakness or delayed motor planning

Sometimes there’s no clear cause. What matters most is understanding what your child needs now. Seek urgent review if your child suddenly cannot bear weight, develops a fever with a limp, or has severe pain.

Some children simply need more time, and mild walking delays often improve as strength and coordination develop. However, if your child has persistent instability, significant flat feet, or difficulty progressing past standing, extra support may be helpful. Orthoses don’t change the structure of the foot but can make movement easier and safer while your child learns new skills. Many children gradually rely on less support as they grow stronger.

Assessment may include:

• Watching how your child sits, stands, and walks
• Checking balance, tone, strength, and endurance
• Looking at foot posture and alignment
• Reviewing development and milestones

Seek help if your child:

• Isn’t walking by 18 months
• Loses skills they previously had
• Has ongoing imbalance or falls
• Shows significant fatigue or pain
• Suddenly cannot bear weight (urgent review)

Referrals aren’t necessary for a number of appointments. If you’d like your child assessed for head shape, toe walking or mobility, you can simply book an appointment online or by phone on 03 9836 4480.

Some conditions do need a referral however. For conditions such as hip dysplasia, scoliosis or pectus, or for management of fractures or acute injury, you’ll need a referral from your GP or other medical specialist.

If you’re unsure, feel free to contact us and we can help out.

Yes we do! We’re able to assist with a number of funding options and can help with funding applications and support documentation.

If your child isn’t eligible for NDIS funding, there are other options that might be available to you.

Feel free to contact us to discuss your needs.

Most orthoses we provide are custom-made to suit your child’s shape and needs, with comfort and function in mind.

Once we’ve assessed your child and confirmed the prescription, we’ll take a 3D scan or an impression mould. Our technical team designs and makes the orthosis locally in our Surrey Hills manufacturing lab in Melbourne.

Click here to find out more about the process.

Making an appointment is easy. You can book online for many different types of appointments. Otherwise, feel free to contact us if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

We have a number of locations across Melbourne and beyond, with our main facility and manufacturing lab located in Surrey Hills.

We also visit over 20 Specialist Schools and attend clinics in major hospitals around Melbourne.

Click here for a list of locations.