Best Orthotics for Hypermobility – Improve Your Child’s Stability and Reduce Fatigue and Pain!

Has your child been diagnosed with hypermobility leading your medical professional to recommend orthotics? Children with hypermobility tend to have stability issues and experience fatigue, foot pain, and leg pain. Several studies have shown that about 10% – 15% of children have hypermobile joints. The best orthotics for hypermobility will help align your child’s feet by improving your child’s walking gait and overall posture.

Assisting Kids with Hypermobility – Over a Decade of Experience

I am not a medical professional, but I have seen and helped many children with hypermobility. I have been fitting children’s shoes and orthotics for the last 10 years at a specialized children’s shoe store. Furthermore, I have been referred to help size shoes and orthotics for children with hypermobility by a physical or occupational therapist.

Through my years of experience, I have become familiar with the best shoes and orthotics for children with hypermobility. Some children with hypermobility have no medical consequences. However, hypermobility can affect the structure of joints, most commonly in the foot. I have seen several children with hypermobility who exhibited postural alignment issues.

What a Difference the Correct Pair of Orthotics Can Make!

Before Image

Let’s take a look at an image of a hypermobile child standing barefoot. Do you notice how the child’s feet are collapsing and turning inwards? Do you notice how the ankles are rolling inwards as well? This will throw the child’s whole body out of alignment and negatively affect their overall posture.

After Image

Let’s see what happens when we fit the same child in a pair of the orthotics I recommend. Do you notice how the alignment of the child’s feet is a lot straighter?

What a difference the correct pair of orthotics can make! A properly fitted pair of orthotics can make a world of difference in helping to stabilize your child’s gait pattern as well as reducing fatigue, foot and leg pain.

The Importance of Supportive Orthotics

Supportive orthotics for hypermobility help stabilize the joints, reduce discomfort, and prevent potential injuries. They provide the necessary support to maintain proper alignment, which is crucial for children who are still growing and developing. These are the benefits of using orthotic inserts:

1. Stability: Orthotics provide a stable foundation, helping to control excessive joint movement.
2. Pain Relief: By supporting the arches and heels, orthotics can alleviate pain associated with hypermobility.
3. Improved Posture: Proper foot alignment can lead to better posture and reduced strain on other parts of the body.

The Complications of Leaving Your Child’s Hypermobility Untreated

Did you know that children with hypermobile joints may be more prone to sprains, soft tissue injuries, and dislocations? Have you noticed your child falling more often? Hypermobile joints tend to be less stable, which can lead to increased sprains, trips, and falls. Over time, pain can result from injuries and instability.

Leaving your child’s hypermobility condition untreated might cause biomechanical problems later on, not just in the feet, but in the knees, hips, and back as well. All of the body’s structures and joints depend on the feet for a stable foundation! Wearing supportive shoes (that are sized correctly) along with orthotics is strongly recommended to provide children with stability and support, and to prevent future injuries.

Common Signs a Child Might Have Hypermobility

Many parents of children with hypermobility tell me their children prefer to sit or be lifted instead of walking independently. Some families of older children tell me how their children have a disinterest in physical activities such as playing sports. While some families believe these behaviors are due to their child being lazy, they are also common signs of hypermobility. I always suggest that families take their children to be evaluated further by their medical professionals.

Furthermore, some children with hypermobility do not openly report feeling pain, so it is important to look out for some of these other signs as this is a treatable condition.

What Makes the Orthotics I Recommend Effective for Treating Hypermobility?

I recommend the least restrictive orthotic for children with hypermobility as they allow for foot mobility along with stabilization. Also, this type of orthotic provides a deep heel cup (30mm deep) which improves their walking gait. This orthotic doesn’t only support the arch, it mechanically supports all parts of the feet that cause them to collapse inwards, such as the heels.

1️⃣ 30mm heel cup helps control heel alignment, lower leg alignment, and supports the arch.

2️⃣ Medial and lateral flanges help keep the foot aligned in the orthotic. I have noticed how most prefabricated children’s orthotics lack this feature. Without it, the feet can push through the orthotic and move around, making the orthotic ineffective.

In the correct pair of shoes and orthotics, children with hypermobility should see a clear improvement in their walking gait. Their walking gait should become more synchronized, with a reduction in their step length and width variability.

Best Orthotics for Hypermobility to Reduce Pain and Improve Stability

This is the best prefabricated orthotic on the market for helping to treat and control hypermobility. This orthotic will help correct your child’s foot posture and provide extra stability around the ankles.

Find Out How to Order the Correct Orthotic Size

Take a look at the chart below to figure out what size to order based on your child’s shoe size:

If you need further clarification on what size to order, I suggest that you take a look at that specific guidance.

What Are the Best Shoes for Children with Hypermobility and Orthotics?

The goal of providing your child with the correct pair of shoes is to stabilize their joint function and prevent foot injuries. We need to look for shoes that provide substantial outsoles, firm heel counters, and straight lasts. Take a look at the three images below as references:

1️⃣ Substantial Outsoles: Your child’s shoes need to provide a stable base of support at the medial arch and forefoot. 

2️⃣ Firm Heel Counter: This feature is going to help cushion and support your child’s heels and ankles.

3️⃣ Straight Lasts: This feature is going to help keep your child’s feet in the correct position. 

Where Can You Find Children’s Shoes that Provide Those 3 Important Features?

If you would like to see my recommendations of supportive shoes for children with hypermobility that are also appropriate to accommodate orthotics, you can refer to that specific article.

How to Tie Kids’ Shoes with Orthotics?

Shoes with shoelaces are always more effective for children with hypermobility as they provide better stability and support compared to shoes with velcro closure. I suggest that you apply the following shoe lacing technique once you fit an orthotic inside your child’s shoes.

Are Any Other Orthotic or Shoe Choices Available?

If you have any questions or need further guidance on selecting the best shoes or orthotics for hypermobility, feel free to reach out. I’m here to help you and your child take the first steps toward healthier, happier feet.

fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com

My Take on Diagnosing Children with “Growing Pains”

It is very important that a child’s foot or leg pain is not simply passed off as “growing pains”. Most of the time there is a reason why your child is complaining about having pain.

Many children can have foot or leg pain due to a foot condition that has been ignored. If your doctor diagnoses your child’s foot or knee pain as growing pains you may want to seek clarification or a further evaluation to ensure there is no underlying problem causing the pain.

If your child expresses foot or leg pain, try to find the source of their pain promptly, as many foot and leg conditions get worse without treatment. Keeping children involved with physical activity is extremely important for their health, and a treatable foot condition may be the cause of their reluctance to participate in such exercises. Furthermore, the correct type of shoes and orthotics will help reduce the likelihood of your child developing foot, knee, hip and/or lower back pain as they get older.

You can unquestionably better a child’s life by fitting them in the correct pair of shoes and orthotics.

“Hypermobile Joints.” ​Nationwide Children’s Hospital, www.nationwidechildrens.org/conditions.hypermobile-joints.

“Joint Hypermobility.” ​Versus Arthritis​, www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/joint-hypermobility/.