Pronation Vs Supination Foot – The Most Effective Method to Improve the Way Your Child Walks!
Has your child been complaining about foot and leg pain or have you noticed your child walking and running differently? Are you wondering whether your child is dealing with pronation or supination? Most parents can’t tell the difference between pronation and supination, but you must know which one your child has as the shoes a child with pronation needs are very different from those for a child with supination.
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.
Foot Pronation vs Supination – Do the Images Below Look Familiar?
➡️ 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.
Children with flat feet are usually the ones who deal with pronation issues.
➡️ 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.
Children with high arches are usually the ones who deal with supination issues.
Keep in mind that when your children are growing up, that is the time when their posture is determined for the rest of their lives, and it all begins with the foundation for their entire body, their feet!
Can the Right Pair of Shoes Improve Your Child’s Pronation or Supination?
Most definitely, but depending on the degree of pronation or supination that your child has, 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 them 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.
What a Difference the Correct Types of Shoes Can Make!
Let’s take a look at a picture of a child with flat feet who 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.
Key Shoe Features 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.
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.
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. Below you can find an image of a child who has flat feet and is 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 who pronates, while the shoe on the right hasn’t been worn. Do you notice how the left shoe is tilting to the inside?
The Best Shoes for Kids with Pronation to Improve Posture and Balance
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. 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.
- Order the shoe style 990V6 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Available in laces and velcro
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 990V6 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Available in laces and velcro
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Lace-up closure
- Fits toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- 100% leather made
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style SRT Emilia by Stride Rite on Amazon
- Lace-up closure
- Fits toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- 100% leather made
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Tracks by Timberland on Zappos
- Available for toddlers
- Double velcro straps
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Water-friendly
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 574 on the New Balance website
- Available for toddlers
- Available in velcro and laces
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 990V6 by New Balance on the New Balance Online Store
- Available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Available in velcro and laces
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Gabi by Memo on Amazon
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Double velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Genuine leather and breathable mesh
- Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and stabilization
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Gabi by Memo on Amazon
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Double velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Genuine leather and breathable mesh
- Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and stabilization
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Cohesion on Zappos
- Available for toddlers
- Velcro closure
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Bootie by Timberland on Amazon
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Double velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Padded collar for a comfortable fit around the ankle
- Water-friendly
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Mary Jane by Memo on Amazon
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Double velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe
- Rigid heel counter
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Cohesion KDZ on Zappos
- Available for little and big kids
- Velcro closure
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Cohesion KDZ on Zappos
- Available for little and big kids
- Velcro closure
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Synthetic and mesh upper
- Heel grid system for stable cushioning
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 650 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Mesh upper material features no-sew overlays for a sleek fit and feel
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 650 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Mesh upper material features no-sew overlays for a sleek fit and feel
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 2002 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Available in laces
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 2002 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Available in laces
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style New Balance Fresh Foam 650 on the New Balance website
- Available for little and big kids
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Velcro closure
- Synthetic and engineered mesh upper
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Ankle Support by Memo on Amazon
- Available for little and big kids
- Triple velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- This is an orthopedic shoe
- Thermoplastic rigid heel counter
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Chicago Corrective by Memo on Amazon
- Available for little and big kids
- Triple velcro straps
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- This is an orthopedic shoe
- Thermoplastic rigid heel counter
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Own the Game 2.0 by Adidas on Amazon
- Available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Supportive outsoles and firm heel counter
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Non-marking outsole
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Oder the shoe style Kinvara LTT by Saucony on Zappos
- Available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Cushioned footbed
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Shadow 6000 by Saucony on Zappos
- Available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Cushioned footbed
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 574 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- ENCAP midsole cushioning provides good arch and heel support
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 327 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for little and big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam X 1080v13 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam X 1080v13 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available for big kids
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half 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. Below you can find an image of a child with high arches who is supinating:
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.
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.
The Best Shoes for Kids with Supination to Improve Posture and Balance
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)
- Order the shoe style 990V6 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and cushioned midsoles
- Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 990V6 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in laces and velcro
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- 100% leather made
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style SRT Emilia by Stride Rite on Amazon
- Lace-up closure
- Strong rubber outsole and a cushioned midsole
- 100% leather made
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 574 on the New Balance website
- Velcro closure
- Generous toe box and instep to accommodate and support your toddler walker’s needs
- Extra deep
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 990V6 by New Balance on the New Balance Online Store
- Velcro closure
- ABZORB midsole absorbs impact through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance
- Removable insoles
- Extra deep
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Gabi by Memo on Amazon
- Genuine leather and breathable mesh
- Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and stabilization
- Stiff and high ankle support
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Gabi by Memo on Amazon
- Genuine leather and breathable mesh
- Thermoplastic asymmetric stiff heel counter for proper feet protection and stabilization
- Stiff and high ankle support
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
Little and Big Kid Shoe Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Order the shoe style GT-1000 by Asics on Amazon
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Velcro closure
- Padded collar and tongue for added comfort
- GEL Technology – Cushioning provides excellent shock absorption
- Removable insoles
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style GT-1000 by Asics on Amazon
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Velcro closure
- Padded collar and tongue for added comfort
- GEL Technology – Cushioning provides excellent shock absorption
- Removable insoles
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Contend 8 PS by Asics on Zappos
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Velcro closure
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Removable insoles
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style GT-1000 11 PS by Asics on Zappos
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Velcro closure
- Supportive leather and mesh upper for breathability and durability
- Removable insoles
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Kinvara LTT by Saucony on Zappos
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Cushioned footbed
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Shadow 6000 by Saucony on Zappos
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Cushioned footbed
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 574 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- ENCAP midsole cushioning provides good arch and heel support
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order th shoe style 327 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam X 1080v13 on the New Balance website
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam X 1080v13 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Lace-up closure
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Suede and mesh upper
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
If you provide your children with the correct type of shoes, their feet and leg pain might decrease since you will be distributing the pressure and stress across their entire feet like it’s supposed to be.
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.
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 that describe the best orthotics for kids with pronation or supination.
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
Do not hesitate to contact me directly via e-mail if you have any further questions or if you need a different pair of shoes for your child.
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 in the comments section below so other parents can benefit from them!
