Orthotics for Kids with Out-Toeing – Let’s Improve Your Child’s Foot Posture and Prevent Foot Pain

Has your child been walking with his or her feet pointing outwards instead of straight ahead? If your child’s out-toeing is associated with having flat feet there are certain orthotics that can help improve your child’s foot posture and improve his or her walking gait. I will show you which are the best orthotics for kids with out-toeing based on my 10 years of orthotic and shoe fitting experience.

Most parents feel anxious when they notice that their child’s feet are at an unusual angle and find out that their child might have out-toeing. Keep in mind that out-toeing is a common condition for young children and most of them grow out of it, but in some cases, it can worsen as the child grows up. Even though this is a common condition, parents should be proactive and address this condition from an early stage. Prolonged out-toeing might lead to your child putting extra pressure on joints in the hips, legs, and feet, which can lead to ongoing issues over time.

How Do the Feet of a Child with Out-Toeing Look Like?

Let’s take a look at the image below of a child with flat feet and out-toeing standing barefoot. Does it look familiar?

I have noticed that an out-toeing gait is often associated with having flat feet. Children who have flat feet and have out-toeing are also more prone to trip and fall. Keep in mind that out-toeing might also be caused by other factors such as:

• External tibial torsion
• External femoral torsion
• Genetics
• Tight muscles
• Low muscle tone
• Neurological issues
• Injury

Visiting your medical professional to find out the exact reason why your child is out-toeing should be your first step. Once you know the reason for your child’s out-toeing condition you will be able to decide what treatment will work best. For example, orthotics and supportive shoes can be very effective in helping treat and prevent out-toeing as long as it’s related to a neuromuscular condition instead of a neurological one.

Please note that children’s feet are constantly developing, and what happens to their feet during their childhood will affect their physique as they grow older. 

Several physical and occupational therapists refer families of children with out-toeing to the shoe store that I work for to be fitted for supportive shoes and orthotics. These medical professionals explain to me that children with out-toeing who don’t complain about foot pain still have a treatable condition, and the earlier that we intervene, the more manageable the condition becomes.

Do You Know Whether Your Child Has Flat Feet?

Children who have flat feet are more prone to having foot postural and gait issues since their feet are not as stable, so they naturally turn their feet outward to help them balance. Walking with the feet outwards temporarily improves the child’s balance and stability. This however is not normal and promotes improper muscle balance development and needs to be addressed.

Can Orthotics Help Prevent Out-Toeing?

Orthotics can help treat and prevent out-toeing by putting your child’s feet in a more stable position. It’s amazing what a difference the correct pair of orthotics can make in improving a child’s foot posture and overall walking gait.

What a Difference the Correct Pair of Orthotics Can Make!

Let’s take a look at an image of a child who has flat feet and out-toeing standing barefoot. Do you notice how the child’s feet are collapsing and turning outwards?

Before Image

Now let’s see what happens when we stand that same child on a pair of the orthotics that I recommend. Do you notice how the child’s feet are a lot straighter? The deep heel cup of the orthotic and the medial and lateral flanges are preventing the child’s feet from turning outwards.

After Image

What Makes the Orthotics that I Recommend Effective for Out-Toeing?

The orthotics that I recommend are effective in helping treat and prevent out-toeing as they provide the following features:

1️⃣ Deel Heel Cup

30mm heel cup helps control the alignment of the heel and lower leg, and supports the arch. Most parents of children with flat feet make the common mistake of assuming that they need to find an orthotic that provides good arch support. When a child has a flat foot, you don’t only support the arch, you mechanically support the pieces of the foot that causes the foot to be flat such as the heels.

2️⃣ Medial and Lateral Flanges

Medial and lateral flanges help keep the foot aligned over the orthotic. I have noticed how most children’s prefabricated orthotics lack this feature and the child’s foot pushes through the orthotic and does whatever it wants.

The orthotics that I recommend also provide a medium rearfoot posting and a medial skive for enhanced pronation control.

Best Orthotics for Kids with Out-Toeing

The orthotic below is the best prefabricated on the market for helping treat and control out-toeing due to flat feet. I have tested several different orthotics for children with out-toeing and this one has proven to be the most effective one.

This orthotic is going to help stabilize your child’s heels and keep the feet aligned rather than turning outward.

What Orthotic Size Should You Order?

Take a look at the chart below to figure out what orthotic size to order based on your child’s shoe size:

What Shoes Work Best with These Orthotics?

Keep in mind that the orthotics that I recommend will be effective for your child as long as they are fitted inside the correct types of shoes. Don’t forget that the shoes and the orthotics work together in helping treat and prevent your child’s out-toeing condition.

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 Shoes and Orthotics Capable of Treating and Preventing Out-Toeing?

Some medical professionals believe that orthotics and shoes are completely ineffective in helping treat out-toeing, but it’s unclear whether they have tried the correct types of shoes and orthotics to being with. Other medical professionals strongly believe that the correct types of shoes and orthotics are a must when helping treat and prevent out-toeing. How effective the orthotics that I recommended will be for your child depends on your child’s individual foot anatomy and the degree of your child’s out-toeing.

It doesn’t matter what treatment or approach you decide to take, your goal should be to encourage your child’s feet to move into a better position. Most families who allowed this condition to resolve on its own wished they would have acted sooner. If treatments such as physiotherapy or wearing supportive shoes and orthotics are not successful, your doctor may recommend surgery.

Help me make this resource even better by adding your orthotic and shoe recommendations as well!