Best Orthotics for Kids with Moderate or Strong Pronation – Let’s Treat Your Child’s Foot Condition!

January 22, 2023 Orthotics/Insoles Juan Valenzuela 4 - Comments

Have you noticed your child walking or running differently lately? Has your child been falling more often? Some parents take their children to their medical professionals because they notice something is wrong with their child’s feet, but in most cases, parents are told not to worry as the condition might resolve on its own. I understand that you might still be worried. It is a fact that some children do outgrow having flat feet and their walking gait and overall posture improves as they grow, but many children don’t. Taking early action can save your child from developing so many different conditions along the line.

Please trust your parental intuition. You know when there is something wrong with your child, you are living with your child, not your doctor. I have helped hundreds of children with flat feet improve their walking gait and balance by simply fitting them in the correct pair of shoes and orthotics.

Is it Normal for Children to Have Flat Feet?

When children are between 1 to 5 years of age, it’s normal for their feet to be flat. Almost every child below the age of 4 has flat feet. However, not all flat feet are the same. There are different degrees of flat feet, and it can certainly be treated at any age. Why wait until age five when the child’s misalignment may well be more severe?

Image of a child with flat feet standing barefoot.

Children under the age of 5 don’t have pain, they don’t complain, but they have a treatable condition. At age of 6, children are not supposed to have flat feet.

Flat feet might cause your child a biomechanics problem at some point in your child’s life. It might not be on the foot, it might be the knee, the hip, the back, all of the structures and joints above the feet depend on the feet.

Can Orthotics Help Children with Flat Feet?

Orthotics are motion control devices that provide support to key areas of the foot. The correct type of orthotics can improve your child’s walking gait and overall posture tremendously. If we can isolate the foot structure early enough with the correct type of orthotics, we can save a child from many different conditions along the line.

Will Orthotics Make Your Child’s Muscles Weaker?

There is a common misconception when it comes to fitting a child in orthotics and supportive shoes.

Orthotics don’t make the muscles “lazy” or “weaker”. They simply provide the child with structural support which is not going to take away from the musculature. This means that orthotics allow the child’s foot and leg muscles to develop on their own while supporting them.

What a Difference the Correct Type of Orthotics Can Make!

Let’s take a look at a flat-footed child with rolled ankles standing barefoot. Do you notice how the child’s feet are collapsing and turning inwards? This child is also dealing with rolled ankles which are throwing the feet out of alignment:

Now let’s take a look at an image of the same child standing on a pair of the orthotics I recommend. Do you notice how the child’s feet are a lot straighter? The deep heel cup and medial and lateral flanges are aligning the child’s feet in the correct position:

Wow! What a difference the correct pair of orthotics can make!

What Makes the Orthotics I Recommend Effective for Flat Feet?

Most parents of children with flat feet make the common mistake of assuming that they need to find an orthotic that provides good arch support.

When a child has a flat foot, you don’t only support the arch, you mechanically support the pieces of the foot that causes the foot to be flat such as the heels.

The orthotic I recommend provides a deep heel cup that helps control the alignment of the heel and lower leg.
The orthotic I recommend provides medial and lateral flanges to help keep the foot aligned over the orthotic.

What Are the Best Orthotics for Kids with Flat Feet?

The best type of orthotic for kids with flat feet depends on the degree of your child’s flat feet and rolled ankles.

Take a look at the images below to check if they look familiar. They are examples of children with moderate and strong pronation.

Examples of Children’s Feet with Moderate Pronation

child-with-flat-feet
A child with a flat foot with moderate pronation standing barefoot.
A child with flat feet with moderate pronation standing barefoot.

Examples of Children’s Feet with Strong Pronation

A child with a flat foot with strong pronation standing barefoot.
child-with-flat-feet-and-a-strong-degree-of-pronation
A child with flat feet and rolled ankles with strong pronation standing barefoot.

There is one specific orthotic that I recommend that has proven to be the most effective one for helping children with flat feet who are dealing with moderate to strong pronation.

Best Orthotics for Kids with Moderate or Strong Pronation

1️⃣ Deep heel cup that helps control the alignment of the heel and lower leg.

2️⃣ Medial and lateral flanges to help keep the foot aligned over the orthotic.

Check Price

You Must Enter a Referral Code to Order this Orthotic

To place an order for littleSTEPS® Orthotics, you must submit a Referral Code in the Discount Window during the ordering process: JVFCS100121

Do You Need to Remove the Original Insoles of the Shoes?

You won’t have to remove the original insoles of your child’s shoes before placing this orthotic inside the shoes.

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:

size-orthotics

What Type of Shoes are Best for Orthotics?

Keep in mind that the shoes and the orthotics work together in helping treat and improve your child’s foot condition. It’s important that your kids’ shoes provide these 3 important features:

1️⃣ Substantial outsole: This feature is going to provide a stable base of support for your child’s feet.

supportive-shoes-for-children-with-flat-feet
Notice how the shoe on the right has a supportive outsole compared to the shoe on the left.

2️⃣ Firm heel counter: This feature is going to support your child’s heels and ankles.

children's-shoes-with-heel-support
Notice how the shoe on the right has a firmer heel counter compared to the shoe on the left.

3️⃣ Correct amount of flexibility: Your kids’ shoes should always bend at the ball of the foot but no further.

children's-shoes-with-the-correct-amount-of-flexibility
Notice how the shoe on the right provides the correct amount of flexibility while the shoe on the left flexes like a spiral.

Here you can access a list of supportive and deep shoes that work well with orthotics.

How to Tie Shoes with Orthotics? – Extra Support and Stability

I always recommend shoelaces over velcro closure for children who need to wear orthotics inside their shoes. Shoelaces provide better support, stability, and help keep the orthotic in place better than shoes with velcro closure. I know this might sound frustrating to some parents of children who don’t know how to tie their shoes just yet but trust me that it does make a difference.

There is actually a shoe tying method I use to tie shoes for children who wear orthotics.

Final Thoughts on Orthotics for Children with Flat Feet

Believe it or not, children with high arches tend to have more problems than children with flat feet. Remember that the earlier you start treating your child’s foot condition, the better!

Don’t take the “wait and see approach” when it comes to treating your child’s foot conditions. If you are not satisfied with your medical professional diagnosis get a second opinion! Waiting for your child’s foot condition to resolve on its own might only lead to the condition getting worse.

There are 3 different degrees of pronation:

  • Mild
  • Moderate
  • Strong

If you are unsure about the degree of your child’s pronation you can use a free resource I created.

Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?

Do not hesitate to contact me through the comments section below or via email if you are having trouble finding a particular shoe for your child with flat feet. I have fitted dress shoes, sandals, and winter boots for children with flat feet so I will be able to show you the most supportive styles.