How to Treat the Sprained Ankle in Kids – Let me Show you the Most Supportive Shoe Styles!
Do you have a child who sprained his/her ankles? Did you know that an ankle sprain is a common injury in children? The most effective way of how to treat the sprained ankle in kids is to ice and rest the foot, and if there is no broken bone, allow your child to put weight on the ankle. If your child is ready to put weight on the ankle, there are certain shoes that provide firm heel counters that can help prevent this injury from happening again.
What Role Shoes Play in Preventing and Treating Ankle Sprains?
Wearing the correct type of shoes can prevent this condition from happening and they are also the best treatment if the condition is already present. However, if you provide your child with the wrong pair of shoes, then they can be a contributing cause to the problem.
Children are always running around and involved in high-impact activities, so you need to provide them with shoes that provide good support, cushioning, traction, and protection from the punishing effects of hard surfaces. If your kids are involved in sports, then they are stressing their feet and legs at a whole different level.
Are High-Top Shoes More Supportive than Regular Sneakers?
I want to clarify that high-top shoes don’t necessarily provide better support than regular sneakers. The first and most important feature that we must find in your kids’ shoes is a firm heel counter. Do you know what the heel counter of the shoe is? It’s the back part of the shoe that provides ankle support and below you can see an image for clarification:
We always want the heel counter of the shoes to be firm, as the firmer it is, the better ankle support it provides. A firm heel counter also helps prevent your kids’ ankles to move too much inside the shoes.
Best Shoes to Treat and Prevent Ankle Sprains – Key Features!
1️⃣ Supportive Outsoles: A shoe that provides the correct amount of support helps minimize the impact that your kids’ feet take every time they come in contact with the ground. When children are running or jumping their feet take a beating, and the ankles are one of the areas that get affected the most. Let me show you the difference between a shoe that provides good support versus one that doesn’t:
2️⃣ Flexible and Lightweight: The shoes must be supportive but lightweight and flexible at the same time to prevent your kids’ feet and legs from easily getting tired. Your kids’ shoes should always bend at the ball of the foot but no further.
3️⃣ Firm Heel Counters: We already went over this feature at the beginning of the article. Here is the image again just in case:
4️⃣ Shoelaces vs Velcro: I always recommend parents provide their children with shoelaces instead of velcro closure, especially if you want to prevent sprained ankles. Shoelaces will hug your kids’ ankles and allow your child to get full support from the shoes. They will also reduce any remaining gap between your kids’ feet and the shoes.
Can we find a pair of shoes for your child that provides all of these features? Yes, we can! I have fitted shoes with all of those features before and I will show them to you shortly.
Are you 100% Sure of Your Child’s Foot Size? – Let’s Find Out!
Keep in mind that the shoes must fit the shape of your child’s feet perfectly, which involves getting the correct shoe length and the correct shoe width. It’s extremely important for the shoes to not be too wide or loose around the ankles, as too much ankle movement can lead to injuries and foot issues.
I created a virtual shoe fitting service that will help you retrieve your child’s shoe size from home. In that article I help parents determine their child’s exact foot size and whether the child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. I also will be able to tell you whether your child has a high instep or not.
Below you can find a selection of the best kids’ shoes to prevent and treat sprained ankles. 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.
Supportive Shoes to Help Treat and Prevent Sprained Ankles
These shoes can fit children with narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet.
Little Kid Shoe Sizes (10.5 to 3)
- Order the shoe style 2022 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Durance rubber outsole technology provides superior durability in high-wear areas to help get more out of the shoes
- Non-marking outsole
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 2022 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Durable leather/suede mesh upper
- Stability Web outsole technology provides added arch support
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Axon by Saucony on Zappos
- Available in medium and wide widths
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Cushioned footbed
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Axon by Saucony on Zappos
- Available in medium and wide widths
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Padded tongue and collar
- Cushioned footbed
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 880V12 by New Balance on Amazon
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 880V12 by New Balance on Amazon
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style GT-1000 by Asics on Zappos
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability
- Firm heel counter
- Supportive outsole
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Contend 8 by Asics on Amazon
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Firm heel counter with supportive outsole
- Removable insoles
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Contend 8 by Asics on Amazon
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Removable Insoles
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 1440v1 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lightweight EVA foam cushioning in the midsole and padded heel increases comfort
- Firm heel counter
- Supportive heel for active kids
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 1440v1 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Fits medium and wide feet
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Leather/mesh upper
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 1906 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Fits medium and wide 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
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
Big Kid Shoe Sizes (3.5 to 7)
- Order the shoe style 527 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Supportive outsole with firm heel counter
- Lightweight and flexible
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 527 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Supportive outsole with firm heel counter
- Lightweight and flexible
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style FuellCell Propel by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style FuellCell Propel by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Hoops Mid 3.0 by Adidas on Zappos
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Gel-Cumulus 25 by Asics on Zappos
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Removable Insoles
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style GT-1000 12 by Asics on Zappos
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Removable Insoles
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Dynasoft 520 by New Balance on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Lightweight mesh upper
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe size Dynasoft 520 by New Balance on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Lightweight mesh upper
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 1080 v13 by New Balance on Amazon
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 2022 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium and wide widths
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Durable leather upper
- Stability Web outsole technology provides added arch support
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Axon by Saucony on Zappos
- Available in medium and wide widths
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Cushioned footbed
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Axon by Saucony on Zappos
- Available in medium and wide widths
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Padded tongue and collar
- Cushioned footbed
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
The Importance of Lacing Your Kids’ Shoes Correctly
I want to expand a little more on the importance of tying your child’s shoes properly. There is actually a specific shoe tying technique that if done correctly will secure your kids’ ankles by pushing them against the back of the shoe, and filling any remaining gap around that area, this will also reduce ankle movement and prevent injuries.
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
Do not hesitate to contact me directly via my e-mail if you have any further questions or if your child happens to have narrow feet and you need different shoe recommendations. My e-mail address is:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Signs and Symptoms of an Ankle Sprain – Take Note!
If you notice that your child is having a hard time walking, mild to severe pain around the ankle area, or less movement in the ankle, then it’s very likely that your child has a sprained ankle.
Has your child been complaining about ankle pain? Pay close attention to any of these signs:
- Swelling and bruising around the front and side of the ankle.
- Tenderness around the areas of the bones.
- Little or no tenderness over the bony prominences.
There are a couple of simple methods that you can start taking at home as soon as your child has sprained his or her ankles:
- Rest the ankle for the first 24 hours.
- Put ice packs onto the swollen or sore area for 30 minutes every four hours for three days.
- Raise your kids’ ankle above the level of the heart to help reduce the swelling.
