Has your child been complaining about foot and leg pain? Have you noticed your child walking and running differently? If your child has been experiencing foot or leg pain, it might be caused by pronation or supination. It’s important to identify which of the two your child has, since the shoes a child with pronation needs are very different than those for a child with supination.
Please keep in mind that foot and leg pain in children is never normal, and the first step is to always check the type of shoes that your child is wearing. The shoes that your child wears must be supportive, but lightweight and flexible at the same time.
When children have pronation or supination, their feet might turn inwards or outwards, which leads them to put pressure on parts of their bodies where they are not supposed to. This is what normally leads to foot and leg pain.
Most parents can’t tell the difference between pronation and supination, but you must know which one your children have to provide them with the right pair of shoes.
Pronation VS Supination Foot
➡️ Pronation
Pronation refers to the inward roll of the foot. We all have a certain degree of pronation but the issue comes when it’s excessive which is normally referred to overpronation. Let’s take a look at an image of a child with pronation.
➡️ Supination
Supination (or under-pronation) is the opposite of pronation and refers to the outward roll of the foot. Let’s take a look at an image of a child with supination.
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes – Over a Decade of Shoe Fitting Experience!
I have been fitting children’s shoes and orthotics for over 10 years, and I work for a specialized kids’ shoe store where we specialize in helping children who have foot and leg problems, but provide regular shoe fittings as well. I am familiar with the best shoe brands and the best shoe styles for children, from actually having fitted them before.
We carry only supportive shoes made from good quality that are also available in different widths such as narrow (N), medium (M), wide (W), and extra wide (XW), since this is the only way to guarantee that we can fit all type of children feet, no matter the shape.
We also carry some of the best orthotics for children. I have seen the positive impact that orthotics have on helping children walk and run straighter, and if they are fitted properly, they will help reduce or fully eliminate your kids’ foot and leg pain.
Keep in mind that when your children are growing up, that is the time when their posture will be determined for the rest of their lives, and it all begins with the foundation for their entire body, their feet!
I will provide you with a selection of the best shoes and orthotics that will help correct and treat your child’s pronation or supination, but let’s first identify which one of the two your child might be dealing with.
Can the Right Pair of Shoes Improve Pronation and Supination?
Most definitely, but depending on the degree of pronation or supination that your child might have, you might also need to fit an orthotic inside the shoes. But it all starts with trying a pair of supportive shoes.
I have seen the positive impact that good supportive shoes can provide to a child who pronates or supinates. The correct type of shoes helps prevent your children’s feet from collapsing and turning inwards/outwards and allows your children to walk and run straighter, improving their overall posture. However, there is a limited selection of children’s shoes that provide more support and structure, but the good news is that I will help you find them.
Did you know that something so simple as providing your child with the correct pair of shoes can help treat and correct this condition?
Let me prove it to you!
What a Difference the Correct Types of Shoes Can Make!
Let’s take a look at a picture of a child with flat feet that is dealing with pronation and is wearing two different pairs of shoes. The first picture shows a child wearing a pair of unsupportive shoes made by Nike. Do you notice how the feet are still pronating and turning inwards?
Before Image
Now let’s take a look at a picture of the same child wearing a pair of supportive shoes made by New Balance. Do you notice how the child’s feet look a lot straighter?
After Image
These are not orthopedic shoes, they are regular running shoes that simply provide better support and better structure than the rest.
What Makes the Shoes I Recommend Ideal for Kids with Pronation or Supination?
To help treat and correct your child’s pronation or supination, there are 3 key features that the shoes must provide:
1️⃣ Arch support: This feature won’t mold your kids’ arch, but it will help prevent your child’s feet from collapsing and it will help straighten your kid’s feet and legs.
2️⃣ Ankle support: This feature helps straighten your kids’ ankles and support them.
3️⃣ Shock absorption: This feature helps attenuate the impact that your kids’ feet take every time they come in contact with the ground.
Shoes that come with shoelaces are always more effective as they provide better support and more stability than shoes that come with velcro closure. This is because the shoelaces will hug your kids’ feet better, secure their heels, and allow them to walk and run with more confidence.
There are other important features the shoes must provide such as being lightweight, flexible, breathable, and durable. If you want to stop your child from pronating or supinating, it all starts with wearing the correct type of shoes and I will describe these shoes shortly.
How to Figure Out If Your Child Has Foot Issues?
It’s important to know which type of signs we must look at to figure out whether your kids have foot problems or not. Pay attention and check if your child has any of the signs below:
- Your kids complain that their feet and legs feel tired.
- Your child asks to be carried or pushed in the stroller.
- Your child refuses to walk.
- Your child seems to be clumsy or uncoordinated.
- Your child refuses to participate in sports.
- You notice an unusual wear pattern on your kids’ shoes.
What Signs Should We Look for a Child that Pronates or Supinates?
If your child is complaining of pain in any of the areas below, it might be a sign that your child might be pronating or supinating:
- Pain in the back of the ankle (Achilles pain).
- Arch Pain.
- Lower back pain.
- Heel Pain.
- Knee Pain.
- Shin Splints.
Let’s first discuss what steps to take once your child has been diagnosed with pronation.
Has Your Child Been Diagnosed with Pronation? – Steps to Take
Just so you know, the main cause of pronation is believed to be hereditary. Pronation can be defined as a congenital defect that causes your kids’ muscles and ligaments of the foot to become more loosely held in place, which results in their feet turning inwards when they walk or run.
Children with low muscle tone, flat feet, or rolled ankles are the ones that tend to pronate. The main issue with pronation is that every time your kids take a step when walking or running their foot collapses, twisting their feet, legs, and knees and forcing their body out of proper alignment.
The other issue with pronation is that it leads your kids’ toes to work harder for each step, which leads them to put more pressure on their toes which creates calluses, blisters, and corns, among other foot issues.
How Can You Tell if Your Child is Pronating? – Learn the Symptoms!
The first step is to pay attention and notice any changes in the way your child walks or runs. If you notice your children walking or running differently with their feet and legs turning inwards, that means they might be pronating.
The other way (and the easiest one) is to check the shoes your child has been wearing for the last month or so. Please keep in mind that this method will only work if your child has been wearing the shoes for a month or longer.
Pay close attention and check if your kids’ shoes are caving into the inside.
Take a look at the image below for clarification. The shoe on the left has been worn by a child that pronates, while the shoe on the right hasn’t been worn. Do you notice how the left shoe is tilting to the inside?
When it comes to a child that pronates, supportive and sturdy shoes with a substantial outsole are the most recommended ones. There are not that many of these shoe styles available. However, I have fitted these types of shoes for over 10 years now so I have gotten familiar with which styles are more effective than others.
I only write reviews of shoe styles that I have fitted before, otherwise, I wouldn’t know how well-made they are, the amount of support that they provide, and how they fit. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
The Best Shoes for Kids with Pronation ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Below you can find a selection of the best shoes for kids with pronation that can fit children with medium (M), wide (W), or extra wide (XW) feet. These shoes are also capable of accommodating an orthotic.
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
Keep in mind that I have fitted all of these shoe styles and they have proven to reduce foot and leg pain, as well as to improve the way children walk and run. All of these shoe styles come with a very firm heel counter, good arch support, and a substantial outsole to provide your kids with shock absorption.
Has Your Child Been Diagnosed with Supination? – Steps to Take!
The first thing you must understand about supination is that it is the opposite of pronation and refers to the outward roll of the foot during normal motion. Simply speaking, supination occurs when your kids’ feet roll outward as they walk.
Keep in mind that your children don’t consciously supinate, it happens naturally as they walk and run. The main issue with supination is that all of your children’s weight and the stress of their gait are placed on their ankles and the outside edge of their feet as they walk or run.
When children don’t supinate or pronate, their body weight is evenly distributed throughout the width of the foot. The problem comes when they place weight on the inside or the outside of their feet when walking or running since it creates stress points that will affect their feet, ankles, knees, hips, and even their lower back.
How Can You Tell if Your Child Is Supinating? – Learn the Symptoms!
Children with high arches are more likely to have supination. Having a high foot arch tends to force children to walk on the outer edge of their feet. However, supination can also be caused by weakness in certain muscles of your kids’ feet and this lack of strength might be a result of wearing shoes that don’t provide enough support or that don’t fit properly.
For example, if you notice a wear pattern on the outside of your kids’ shoes from heel to forefoot, it’s likely that they supinate. Follow the steps below to figure out whether your child has supination or not:
1️⃣ Take a look at a pair of your kids’ everyday shoes —it can be an old pair or a pair he/she has been wearing for over a month.
2️⃣ Notice the wear pattern on the outsoles of your kids’ shoes. If you notice excessive wear on the outer edge of the sole of the shoe, your child may likely be a supinator.
Below I explain another popular method that you can use to figure out whether your child is a supinator or not.
1️⃣ Start by taking off your kids’ shoes and socks.
2️⃣ Make sure you wet your kids’ feet and with their entire weight make them step on a surface where you can see their foot print (such as a brown paper bag).
3️⃣ If very little or none of the arch is outlined, your child is most likely a supinator.
If your child wears shoes that are too rigid all the time that increases the likelihood of your child developing foot and leg problems. Please remember that your kids’ feet are the foundation for their entire body, which means that ill-fitting shoes can throw their entire body out of alignment.
The type of shoes that we want to provide for children with supination are the ones that have a high arch since that will help distribute the pressure on your kids’ feet more evenly.
I only write reviews of shoe styles that I have fitted before, otherwise, I wouldn’t know how well-made they are, the amount of support that they provide, and how they fit. I have fitted all the shoes I recommend below, and they have proven to reduce or fully eliminate the pain the children were experiencing.
The Best Shoes for Kids with Supination ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Below you can find the best shoes for kids with supination that can fit children with medium (M), wide (W), or extra wide (XW) feet. These shoes can also accommodate an orthotic.
Toddler Shoe Sizes (0 to 10)
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- 100% leather made
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide feet
- 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 and wide feet
- 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
Little and Big Kid Shoe Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Fits medium feet
- Mesh upper allows for breathability
- Supportive outsole and firm heel counter
- Velcro closure
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium feet
- Padded collar and tongue for added comfort
- AmpliFoam midsole provides good lateral support
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- TPU heel clip for stability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable Insoles
- Order this shoe a whole a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable Insoles
- Order this shoe a whole a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable Insoles
- Order this shoe a whole a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- 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
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Lace-up closure
- Removable Insoles
- Rearfoot and Forefoot GEL® Technology Cushioning System lessens the amount of shock during impact
- Order this shoe a whole a size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- TPU heel clip for stability
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s foot size
If you provide your children with the correct type of shoes, their feet and leg pain will decrease since you will be distributing the pressure and stress across their entire feet like it’s supposed to be.
Are the Shoes Not Improving Your Child Walking Pattern?
Depending on the degree of pronation and supination of your child, a pair of supportive shoes might not be enough to improve their posture and correct the way they walk.
If this is the case with your child, you might need to try a pair of orthotics inside your kids’ shoes. Orthotics will help redistribute your kids’ body weight and correct the abnormal placement of the foot, which will make their gait balanced and efficient.
Please keep in mind that all of the shoe styles that I described above are capable of fitting an orthotic.
Best Orthotics for Children with Pronation or Supination
The right type of orthotics will help improve your kids’ posture and reduce or completely eliminate the stress your kids are putting on their knees and hip joints. While I can’t get into too much detail about the importance of providing your child with the correct type of orthotics in this article, take a look at the articles below that describe the best orthotics for kids with pronation or supination:
The Best Orthotics for Pronation – STOP Your Kids Foot and Leg Pain!
Best Orthotics for Supination – STOP Your Kids Foot and Leg Pain!
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
Do not hesitate to contact me directly at my e-mail if you have any further questions or if you need a different pair of shoes for your child. My e-mail address is: fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Has your child been diagnosed with pronation or supination? Have you found a particular shoe style that has improved the way they walk and run? Please share your thoughts and experiences below so other parents can benefit from them!
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