Insoles for Flat Feet – Say Goodbye to Foot Pain

February 3, 2023 Flat Feet Juan Valenzuela 24 - Comments

Do you have a child who is complaining about foot or leg pain? Have you taken your child to your pediatrician or physical/occupational therapist and were told that your child is flat-footed and needs a pair of insoles to be fitted inside the shoes for extra support? An insole is a shoe insert that is specifically designed to provide cushioning, support, and stability, and to relieve pressure areas of the foot. I know which are the most effective insoles for kids with flat feet from having fitted them before.

How Do I Know Which Insoles Work Best for Children with Flat Feet?

I work at a children’s shoe store in the United States where we fit children’s shoes and orthotics. The staff is trained and qualified to fit shoes and orthotics to children who have foot issues, and while I have been fitting children’s shoes and orthotics for over 10 years now, some of my co-workers have been in the shoe business for over 25 years.

Image of a child with flat feet standing barefoot.

I always recommend parents be proactive and don’t take the wait-and-see approach when it comes to treating their kids’ foot conditions, especially if they want to avoid future foot, leg, and back problems.

Does Your Child Have Flat Feet and Overpronation?

When children have flat feet and overpronation, they tend to put pressure on parts of their bodies where they are not supposed to, which usually leads to foot and leg pain.

Children with severe cases of pronation might show visible signs of their feet turning inwards and their shoes caving in, and might complain that their feet and legs hurt.

Before Image: Child with Flat Feet Standing Barefoot

Let’s take a look at the image below. Does it look familiar? Do you notice how the feet of the child are collapsing and turning inwards? This is due to the child being flat-footed.

child-with-flat-feet

After Image: Unsupportive Insoles

If we have that child stand on a pair of unsupportive insoles you will not see an improvement in the way the child walks, and the pain will persist. Notice how in the image below the child’s feet are still collapsing and turning inwards:

child-with-flat-feet-standing-on-unsupportive-insoles

After Image: Supportive Insoles

The picture below shows the same child standing on a pair of supportive insoles. Do you notice how the child’s feet look a lot straighter?

supportive-insoles-for-kids-with-flat-feet

What is the Cause of Flat Feet?

The issue of flat feet is believed to be hereditary or genetics. Physical therapists and pediatricians refer children who have flat feet and are experiencing leg or foot pain to the store I work for on a daily basis. We are one of the few children’s shoe stores in the country that carries specialized insoles for children that might have the following conditions:

  • Overpronation
  • Flat Feet
  • Knock Knees
  • Weak Ankles
  • Hammer Toes
  • Low Muscle Tone
child-with-leg-pain

What Shoe Company Manufacturers the Best Insoles for Flat Feet?

Have you heard of the company Superfeet before? These insoles have proven to be one of the most effective ones for children that are flat-footed and are experiencing foot or leg pain. If fitted in the correct type of shoes, these insoles will significantly reduce or fully eliminate your child’s foot or leg pain.

There are different types of Superfeet insoles (they are differentiated by colors), and some of them will cater to your child’s needs better than others. I will make things simple for you and show you which are the most effective ones.

The Advantages of Superfeet Insoles – STOP Foot and Leg Pain!

Superfeet insoles are important in realigning your child’s body posture as well as strengthening the muscles. They reduce or eliminate common foot pain, arch pain, heel pain and plantar fasciitis. Superfeet insoles are affordable (since children’s feet are constantly growing) and offer professional-grade orthotic support, performance and comfort.

The two particular styles that have proven to be the most effective ones are the Green and Blue Superfeet.

Superfeet Insoles: Green or Blue?

1️⃣ The green Superfeet will provide your child with maximum support, stability, balance and shock absorption. The green ones are better for children who have medium arches and suffer from arch, heel and knee pain.

2️⃣ The blue Superfeet will work better for children who have low to medium arches that cannot tolerate maximum support. The arch shape accommodates most foot types while the moderately deep heel cup provides control and comfort. This style will fit in lower volume or tight-fitting shoes, that is the main reason why they work so well with sport shoes such as cleats.

Take a look at the chart below which further explains the benefits of each Superfeet insole:

superfeet-insoles-for-kids

Another feature that I love about these Superfeet insoles is that you will be able to switch them from your kids’ running shoes, to their dress shoes, to their hiking boots and even their sport shoes. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.

Best Superfeet Insoles for Kids with Foot Pain

  • Deep heel cups help position the heel to naturally absorb and soften impact from the ground
  • Stabilizer cap acts as the base of the insole that supports the rearfoot
  • They can be trimmed to fit your kids’ shoes
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  • Features the widest and deepest heel cup help that offers maximum cushion and support
  • Stabilizer cap acts as the base of the insole that supports the rearfoot
  • They can be trimmed to fit your kids’ shoes
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Do You Need to Remove the Original Insoles of the Shoes?

Yes, which should not be a problem since most children’s shoe styles now come with removable insoles. If you leave the original insoles of the shoe inside, the shoe will feel really tight on your child’s foot, and you will be raising your kids’ feet too much, giving them the impression that their feet are coming out of the shoe.

Once you purchase your first pair of Superfeet insoles for your children, they should start wearing them for 1 to 2 hours the first day, 2 to 3 hours the second day, and then increase the number of hours until their feet are accustomed to the support that they provide. The whole process of getting used to the insoles should not take more than a week.

How to Fit Your Kids’ Superfeet Insoles Properly? – Get It Right!

You will use the original insoles of your child’s shoes to make sure that the Superfeet insoles match that same length.

Fit Instructions:

1️⃣ The first thing you need to do is remove the original shoe insole from your kids’ shoes.

2️⃣ Turn both the original insole and the Superfeet insole face down. Place the original insole on top of the Superfeet insole:

a) line up both the backs of the heel and

b) the inside edges, and then

c) use a pen to trace the outline onto the Superfeet.

3️⃣ Trim: Cut along the outside of the trace line, that way if it is still too long, you will be able to trim it a little more.

4️⃣ Insert and Test. Put the trimmed Superfeet into the shoe.

By the way, children should replace their Superfeet insoles between 5 to 9 months, depending on how fast they are growing.

What Shoes Should Your Child Wear with Superfeet Insoles?

I think it’s worth mentioning that shoes that come with shoelaces  provide better support and stability than velcro closure. I do understand that some children might not be ready to learn how to tie their shoes yet, that is the reason why I will provide you with a selection of shoes that come with shoelaces and also velcro closure.

The most effective shoes for children who wear orthotics/insoles iare the ones that are supportive and deep to accommodate the insoles.

How to Clean Your Kids’ Superfeet Insoles – Let’s Find Out!

You should never machine wash the insoles. If you want to clean them, you should hand wash them with mild soap in lukewarm water, make sure you rinse them well, and allow them to air dry.

What can affect your child’s Superfeet experience?

  • Footwear brand, model and size
  • Shoes with non-removable insoles
  • Lacing method
  • Thickness of the sock.

Have you tried the green or blue Superfeet for your child’s feet? Did you find one more effective than the other one? Please share your experiences below so other parents can benefit from them.