Best Shoes for Kids with Leg Pain – What a Difference These Shoes Can Make!
Has your child been complaining about leg pain? It’s important that you don’t take the “wait and see approach” or assume that your child’s leg pain is caused by “growing pains”. Waiting for your child’s leg pain to magically disappear can only lead to your child’s condition getting worse, and there is no evidence that “growing pains” are linked to growth spurts. I am going to show you a list of the best shoes for kids with leg pain based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.
What Causes Leg Pain in Children?
There are many reasons why your child might experience leg pain, but the most common ones are:
- Muscle overuse
- Foot conditions such as flat feet or rolled ankles
- Low calcium level
- Osgood Schlatter Disease
- Viral infections
- Toxic Synovitis
- Growing Pains
Did you know that children with flat feet are more prone to developing leg pain? Flat feet can create a foot imbalance and alter the alignment of your child’s legs.
Problems with your child’s feet can affect your child’s entire body, from the legs to the back, neck, and even the shoulders. The entire human body is connected, which is why one affliction can easily affect a seemingly unrelated part of the body.
Can Shoes Help Children with Leg Pain?
If your child’s leg pain is due to muscle overuse or a neuromuscular condition such as flat feet or rolled ankles, providing your child with the correct types of shoes can make a tremendous difference in helping treat leg pain.
For example, children who have foot problems such as flat feet or rolled ankles are more likely to experience leg pain, as their walking gait is affected by these conditions. However, if you fit your child in a pair of supportive shoes, you can improve your child’s foot posture and walking gait.
Everything is connected, which is why having a foot condition can cause so many problems for the rest of your child’s body.
It’s amazing what a difference the correct types of shoes can make in helping reduce or fully eliminate your child’s leg pain.
How Shoes Can Help Children with Leg Pain?
Certain shoes provide firm heel counters, substantial outsoles, and straight lasts that can help improve your child’s foot posture and walking gait. The shoes can also help minimize the impact that your child’s feet take when they come in contact with the ground.
1️⃣ Substantial Outsoles: Supportive shoes that provide good arch support and shock absorption help minimize the impact that your kids’ feet take every time they come in contact with the ground.
Below you can see the difference between a shoe with a substantial outsole versus a shoe with an outsole that is too thin and doesn’t provide the correct amount of support:
2️⃣ Firm Heel Counters: The heel counter is the back part of the shoe that provides ankle and heel support. Before you buy your kids’ new shoes, I suggest that you make sure that the heel counter of the shoes feels firm and sturdy.
Now let’s take a look at the difference between a shoe with a soft heel counter, and one with a firm heel counter:
3️⃣ Straight Lasts: You need to stay away from shoes that have an excessively curved last as they lack heel stability. Take a look at the image below for better visualization purposes:
What a Difference the Correct Types of Shoes Can Make!
Wearing supportive shoes can help distribute your child’s weight evenly when the feet come in contact with the ground and they encourage a stable gait. Children with flat feet or rolled ankles often walk on the sides of their feet or have balance issues, so it’s essential to wear supportive shoes.
Let’s take a look at a child with flat feet and rolled ankles standing barefoot. Do you notice how the child’s feet are collapsing and turning inwards?
Now let’s take a look at an image of the same child wearing a pair of shoes that provide the 3 features that I mentioned above (supportive outsoles, firm heel counters, and straight lasts). Do you notice how the child’s feet are a lot straighter?
Wow! What a difference the correct types of shoes can make!
I have put together a list of the best shoes for kids with leg pain. Disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links and we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you click our links and make purchases.
Best Shoes for Kids with Leg Pain
The shoes below provide all of the 3 features that I mentioned before, and they are available in medium (M), wide (W), and extra wide (XW) widths. Take a look at the description below each shoe image to check whether that specific style can fit the shape of your child’s feet.
- The New Balance shoe style 990V6 is available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Available in laces and velcro
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style 990V6 is available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Available in laces and velcro
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The Stride Rite shoe style Elliot is available for toddlers
- Lace-up closure
- Fits toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- 100% leather made
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The Stride Rite shoe style Emilia is available for toddlers
- Lace-up closure
- Fits toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- 100% leather made
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The Timberland shoe style Tracks is available for toddlers
- Double velcro straps
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Water-friendly
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style 574 is available for toddlers
- Available in velcro and laces
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style 990V6 is available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Available in velcro and laces
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The Memo shoe style Gabi is available for toddlers and little kids
- Double velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Genuine leather and breathable mesh
- Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and stabilization
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The Memo shoe style Gabi is available for toddlers and little kids
- Double velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Genuine leather and breathable mesh
- Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and stabilization
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The Saucony shoe style Cohesion is available for toddlers
- Velcro closure
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The Timberland shoe style Bootie fits toddlers and little kids
- Double velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Padded collar for a comfortable fit around the ankle
- Water-friendly
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The Memo shoe style Princessa fits toddlers and little kids
- Double velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe
- Rigid heel counter
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The Saucony shoe style Cohesion KDZ is available for little and big kids
- Velcro closure
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The Saucony shoe style Cohesion KDZ is available for little and big kids
- Velcro closure
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Synthetic and mesh upper
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam 650 is available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Mesh upper material features no-sew overlays for a sleek fit and feel
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam Arishi v4 is available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Mesh upper material features no-sew overlays for a sleek fit and feel
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style 2002 is available for toddlers and little kids
- Available in laces
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style 2002 is available for toddlers and little kids
- Available in laces
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam 650 is available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Velcro closure
- Synthetic and engineered mesh upper
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The Memo shoe style Polo is available for little and big kids
- Triple velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- This is an orthopedic shoe
- Thermoplastic rigid heel counter
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The Memo shoe style Chicago is available for little and big kids
- Triple velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- This is an orthopedic shoe
- Thermoplastic rigid heel counter
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style Coco is available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- NDurance rubber outsole technology provides superior durability in high-wear areas to help get more out of the shoes
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The Adidas shoe style Own the Game 2.0 is available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Supportive outsoles and firm heel counter
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The Adidas shoe style Cross Em Up Select is available for little kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Non-marking outsole
- Order this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
- The Saucony shoe style Kinvara LTT is available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Cushioned footbed
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The Saucony shoe style Shadow 6000 is available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Cushioned footbed
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style 574 is available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- ENCAP midsole cushioning provides good arch and heel support
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style 327 is available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam X 1080v13 is available for big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam X 1080v13 is available for big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
Shoes with shoelaces provide better support and stability compared to shoes with velcro closure. Make sure that your child’s shoes are properly tied at all times so your child can get the full support and stability that the shoes have to offer.
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
You can ask your questions in the comment section below or send me an email in case you need a different pair of shoes to help treat your child’s leg pain. My e-mail address is: [email protected]
Read This Before Ordering Your Kids’ Shoes Online
You can provide your child with the most supportive pair of shoes, but if the shoes are not fitted correctly (proper length and width), your child won’t get any of the benefits that the shoes have to offer.
I suggest that you start by taking a look at a resource I created where I showcase the best children’s shoe stores by state.
If after looking at that resource you don’t find a specialized children’s shoe store close in your area, I suggest that you take a look at the resource below. In the article below I help parents determine their children’s exact foot length and shape (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide, high instep).
Does Your Child Need Orthotics to Help Treat Leg Pain?
Whether your child needs to wear orthotics inside the shoes depends on the degree of your child’s foot condition as well as the degree of your child’s leg pain.
If you believe that your child can benefit from wearing orthotics as well I suggest that you take a look at the article below:
Can Worn Out Shoes Cause Leg Pain?
Shoes that are worn out and don’t provide the correct amount of support can lead to minor pain in the feet, legs, and back. Children tend to outgrow their shoes anywhere between 3 1/2 to 6 months (depending on their age), so make sure that you replace the shoes accordingly.
The Final Fitting
If your child complains of ongoing leg pain, the best thing to do is to consult your medical professional.
The way that children walk is dependent on the shape of their feet and the shoes that they wear. These factors can affect your child’s entire body over the years.
Providing your child with the wrong shoe size or unsupportive shoes might make your child more prone to developing foot issues and your child might be more prone to developing joint problems, back problems, stiffness, fatigue, and strain. I suggest that you consult with your medical professional to rule out any other possible causes of the pain before assuming the diagnosis of growing pains.