Has your child been diagnosed with hypermobility (HJS)? This condition is also referred to as “loose joints” and can cause foot, leg, and lower back pain as well as discomfort after exercising or having an active day. The feet are the most significantly affected area for hypermobile children, due to their complex mixture of bones and soft tissues. This condition only becomes a problem when it’s symptomatic. I am going to show you a list of the best shoes to help treat hypermobility based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.
This condition tends to run in families, and its exact cause remains unknown. Hypermobility is more common than you think since it’s estimated that 10 to 15% of children have it. One interesting fact is that girls are usually more hypermobile than boys.
What Are Some Signs That Your Child Might Have Hypermobility?
Hypermobile children usually have the following symptoms:
- Pain or stiffness in their joints and muscles
- Flat feet
- Poor balance and coordination
- Frequent strains and sprains
Children with hypermobility tend to avoid being active due to pain and discomfort. They also tend to get tired easily and might need more time to rest during the school day and their participation in PE might be affected by pain and joint instability. This puts children at risk for obesity and I have also seen several cases of children who drop out of sports.
Once children’s participation in daily activities starts being affected by their hypermobility it’s time to start treating the condition. It all starts by improving your child’s posture, protecting and strengthening the muscles around their joints, and involving your child in physical therapy.
Should Hypermobile Children Walk Barefoot?
Allowing your child to go barefoot is not recommended. Children with hypermobility that have flat feet have a harder time balancing, and when they go barefoot their over-used muscle groups are further over-used. This leads to your child feeling exhausted and might also lead to foot, leg, and lower back pain.
If your child is attending a school that requires removing the shoes in the classroom, please request special accommodation due to your child’s foot condition. Removing the shoes might lead to your child’s physical capabilities being impaired. Would you ask a child who wears glasses to take them off while performing a physical task?
How to Treat Hypermobility? – Supportive Shoes!
Hypermobile children require extra support around the arch and ankle area.
The two most effective treatment techniques involve physical therapy and supportive shoes that provide good arch and ankle support. Depending on the degree of your child’s hypermobility your child might need to wear orthotics as well.
Maintaining a good posture while standing is extremely important. However, this is very hard to accomplish if your child has flat feet, weak ankles, or impaired joint position sense. When children have flat feet, their whole body is thrown out of alignment, which usually leads to poor posture habits.
What a Difference the Correct Pair of Shoes Can Make!
The good news is that wearing a pair of supportive shoes can help improve your child’s overall posture, but don’t take my word for it, let me prove it to you.
Let’s take a look at an image of a hypermobile child with flat feet. Do you notice how the child’s feet are collapsing and turn inwards when standing?
Before Image
Now let’s take a look at an image of the same child wearing a pair of supportive shoes I recommend. Do you notice how the child’s feet are a lot straighter?
After Image
The substantial outsole of the shoes is preventing the child’s feet from collapsing and turning inwards. This will allow the child to walk and run straighter, which will improve the child’s overall posture.
Let’s take a look at an additional example of a hypermobile child standing barefoot and then wearing a pair of supportive shoes:
How Do I Know Which Shoes Work Best for Children with Hypermobility?
There is only a small selection of shoes that help improve children’s posture. I know exactly which shoes these are from having fitted them before. I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store for over 10 years now.
This experience has afforded me many insights into children’s shoes and the way they fit. Our store specializes in fitting shoes for children with foot and leg problems, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well. From my experience fitting thousands of kids, I have become familiar with the best shoe styles for children with hypermobility.
The correct type of shoes is not only going to help improve your child’s posture, but they will also help decrease your child’s fatigue.
What Makes the Shoes that I Recommend Effective for Hypermobile Children?
1️⃣ Solid Heel Counters: This is the back part of the shoes that provides heel and ankle support. The firmer the heel counter is, the better support it provides. The heel counter is located in the back part of the shoe. Take a look at the image below to see the difference between a shoe that provides a firm heel counter versus one that doesn’t:
2️⃣ Substantial Outsoles: This feature helps prevent your child’s feet from collapsing and turning inwards/outwards, helping improve your child’s overall posture. Below you can see the difference between a shoe with a substantial sole versus a shoe with a sole that is too thin and doesn’t provide the correct amount of support:
3️⃣ Lightweight/Flexible: The shoes need to be supportive but lightweight and flexible at the same time. Your child’s shoes should bend at the ball of the foot but no further. This will allow the shoe to follow your child’s foot natural movements.
The shoes that I recommend below provide all of these 3 important features. In addition, the shoes must fit the shape of your child’s feet perfectly. I have noticed how a lot of children have wide or extra wide feet, which makes it harder to find shoes that fit properly. The shoes I recommend are available in different widths such as medium (M), wide (W), and extra wide (XW), so please make sure that you choose your child’s shoe width accordingly.
I only review shoes that I have fitted before, and these shoes provide targeted support in the arch and ankle area, which will help strengthen and straighten your child’s feet. Disclosure: We may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
The Best Shoes for Hypermobile Kids
Below you can find a selection of the best shoes for hypermobile kids. Please remember to choose your child’s foot width accordingly.
Toddler Shoe Sizes (0 to 10)
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- 100% leather made
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- 100% leather made
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Constructed with a breathable textile lining and an OrthoLite® comfort foam insoles provide moisture transport, antimicrobial function, and long-term cushioning
- Water-friendly
- Double hook-and-loop closure for easy on and off
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Removable insoles
- Extra deep
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Genuine leather and breathable mesh
- Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and stabilization
- Stiff and high ankle support
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Genuine leather and breathable mesh
- Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and stabilization
- Stiff and high ankle support
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort
- Toe cap for extra durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort
- Toe cap for extra durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Double velcro straps
- This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe
- Extra depth and width for orthotics
- Rigid heel counter
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
Little and Big Kid Shoe Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Removable insoles
- Extra deep
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Leather and mesh upper
- Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a comfortable fit
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe
- Extra depth to accommodate orthotics, AFOS, and internal modifications
- Triple velcro straps
- Thermoplastic rigid heel counter
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe
- Extra depth to accommodate orthotics, AFOS, and internal modifications
- Triple velcro straps
- Thermoplastic rigid heel counter
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Durable leather upper
- Stability Web outsole technology provides added arch support
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits wide or extra wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- Supportive outsoles and firm heel counter
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- NDurance rubber outsole technology provides superior durability in high-wear areas to help get more out of the shoes
- Lace-Up closure
- Non-marking outsole
- Order this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Cushioned footbed
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Breathable mesh and synthetic upper
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning in the heel
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Cushioned footbed
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Reinforced toe cap for durability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- ENCAP midsole cushioning provides good arch and heel support
- No-sew tip for durability where kids need it most
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- The ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
Unsure About What Shoe Size You Should Order?
Keep in mind that while I always recommend parents to allow a certain amount of growing room inside their kids’ shoes, a child with hypermobile joints doesn’t need as much growing room.
In each of the descriptions of the shoes, I indicate whether you need to order a half size or a whole size bigger than your child’s current foot size to provide the correct amount of growing room.
All of these shoes come with shoelaces instead of velcro closure. The main reason for this is that shoelaces provide better support and stability to your child’s feet.
The goal of these shoes is to significantly reduce or fully eliminate your child’s foot pain, prevent injuries, and stabilize joint function.
Families Testimonials – Get Inspired!
If you don’t notice an improvement in your child’s walking gait and posture after wearing these shoes for 1 to 2 months, you should strongly consider providing your child with a pair of orthotics.
The correct type of orthotics can be used to protect and support your child’s feet while improving your child’s overall posture.
Kids’ Orthotics for Hypermobility – Let’s Support Your Child’s Feet!
I have found one particular orthotic that has proven to be the most effective one in helping treat hypermobility. This orthotic will help reduce your child’s foot fatigue, joint pain, and improve your child’s posture and stability.
The orthotics I recommend for children with hypermobility are the least restrictive ones as they allow for the normal movement of the foot. One of the main reasons why this orthotic works so efficiently for children with hypermobility is that it provides a deep heel cup (30mm to be more precise) that provides stability and improves the child’s walking gait.
This orthotic doesn’t only support the arch, it mechanically supports all of the pieces of the foot that causes the feet to collapse such as the heels.
The Best Orthotics for Hypermobility
This is the best prefabricated on the market for helping treat and control hypermobility. This orthotic will help correct your child’s foot posture and provide extra stability around the ankles.
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.
You Must Enter a Referral Code to Order this Orthotic
To place an order for littleSTEPS® Orthotics, you must submit a Referral Code during the ordering process. Enter the referral code JVFCS100121 in the Discount Window and you will get 10% off your order.
Take a look at the chart below to figure out what size to order based on your child’s shoe size:
You don’t need to remove the original insoles of your child’s shoes before placing this orthotic inside the shoes.
Make sure that your child’s shoes are tied properly, or your child won’t get the full benefits that orthotics have to offer. You can refer to another article that I wrote where I describe the best way to tie shoes with orthotics:
How to Tie Shoes with Orthotics – Stop Heel Slippage
Now that you know which are the best shoes to help treat hypermobility, you are ready to improve your child’s posture and keep your child’s feet and legs healthy.
Have you found a particular shoe that has been effective in treating your child’s hypermobility? Please share your findings below so other parents can benefit from your experiences.
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Buenas tardes, encantado de saludarte. Soy Jose
Quería escribirte porque me ha parecido interesante comentar contigo la posibilidad de que tu negocio aparezca cada mes en periódicos digitales como noticia para posicionar en los primeros lugares de internet, es decir, con artículos reales dentro del periódico que no se marcan como publicidad y que no se borran.
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¿Podrías facilitarme un teléfono para ofrecerte un mes gratuito?
Gracias
Hola Jose,
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