How to Treat Toxic Synovitis – Best Shoes for Kids with Hip Pain!

Has your child been limping and complaining about hip pain? Has your doctor diagnosed your child with Toxic Synovitis? Toxic Synovitis is more prevalent in boys than girls and is mostly seen in children between the ages of 3 and 8. This is a temporary condition that causes pain and inflammation in the hip. I am not a medical professional, but I have been fitting children’s shoes and orthotics for many years, so I am going to show you how to treat Toxic Synovitis and prevent hip pain by fitting children in the correct pair of shoes.

Be Proactive!

Your child might have to deal with this condition for up to 5 weeks, so it’s important to not leave this condition untreated. While this condition doesn’t cause any long-term complications, it’s important that you act fast to prevent other issues from happening.

For example, children who experience hip pain tend to change their walking gait to cope with the pain and this can lead to your children putting pressure on parts of their bodies where they are not supposed to, and this can affect their overall posture.

Child with knee pain wearing a pair of supportive Asics shoes.

Children with Toxic Synovitis might have a hard time walking as they might experience pain whenever the hip is moved. Many children who have this condition refuse to walk long distances, play sports or participate in high-impact activities.

As doctors don’t know what causes toxic synovitis of the hip, it can’t be prevented or avoided, but the good news is that it can be treated by wearing the correct type of shoes and in certain cases orthotics as well.

How to Treat Toxic Synovitis: Rest – Medicine – Shoes

Most doctors recommend two common treatment options for Toxic Synonivitis:

  • Resting the hip joint.
  • Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxyn.

I have found that the correct type of shoes and in certain cases orthotics can be extremely effective in treating and preventing toxic synovitis. When children’s feet strike the ground, that shock travels through the feet to the legs, all the way up to the hips and lower back.

When children are involved in sports or high-impact activities, they tend to hyperextend their legs or fall and land on their hips. They can have pulled muscles or pulled hamstrings which can attack the pelvis and present as hip pain. To minimize the trauma, you need to make sure that your child is wearing supportive shoes at all times.

How to Treat Toxic Synovitis with Supportive Shoes

1️⃣ Substantial Sole with Shock Absorption: This feature helps reduce the impact that your kids’ feet take when they become in contact with the ground. To help treat your child’s hip pain it’s important for your child to not put any stress or extra weight on the hip. This is why it’s so important to wear shoes with extra padding and cushion.

supportive-shoes-for-children-with-flat-feet

2️⃣ Firm Heel Counters: The heel counter is the part of the shoe that provides ankle support, and the firmer it is, the better. If you are not sure where the heel counter of the shoe is located, please take a look at the picture below for clarification:

Shoes that come with a firm heel counter are going to minimize the impact that your child’s heels take every time they become in contact with the ground. Always press on the heel counter of your kids’ shoes before buying them to make sure it feels firm and not soft. Below you can find the difference between a shoe with a soft heel counter and one with a firm heel counter:

children's-shoes-with-heel-support

Please note that I only review shoes that I have fitted before, as that’s the only way for me to tell the amount of support that the shoes provide, how well-made they are, and how they fit. 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 for Kids with Toxic Synovitis to Prevent Pain

The shoes below are available in different widths such as medium (M), wide (W), and extra wide (XW). 

Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?

If your child has narrow feet please do not hesitate to contact me directly and I will recommend specific shoe styles that are capable of accommodating a narrow foot: fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com

How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape

I created a virtual shoe fitting service that will help you retrieve your child’s shoe size from home.

The fact is that hip pain may be caused by many things, including overuse, a fall, or a twisting movement. Other causes include a viral infection or a problem with the bones in the hip.