Shoes for CMT – The Best Shoes for Kids with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease

April 2, 2023 Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Juan Pablo Valenzuela 2 - Comments

Did you know that CMT (Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease) affects 1 in every 2500 kids in the U.S.? This disease usually affects the nerves that control movement and sensation, which leads to children’s muscle tissue to begin to weaken. CMT is a hereditary disease, so if you have someone in your family who has had this disease, your child might have a higher risk of developing it. I am going to show you a list of the best shoes for CMT based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.

It’s important to understand that there is no cure for CMT, but there are different treatments that can be applied to relieve the symptoms your child might be experiencing and delay the start of physical disabilities.

While this disease cannot be cured, there is one important factor you must consider and that is taking good care of your child’s feet, as your child’s feet are at an increased risk of injury and infection.

I am going to show you a selection of the best type of shoes and orthotics that will help relieve some of the pain that your child might be experiencing. These shoes are going to provide excellent arch and ankle support, and at the same time improve your child’s walking gait and overall posture. The right type of shoes and orthotics will also help your child to stay mobile and prevent injuries.

At the shoe store that I work for, we get referrals from physical and occupational therapists for children to be fitted with the correct type of shoes and orthotics, and the shoes make a tremendous difference in the way children walk and run. They also help reduce the foot and leg pain that the child might be experiencing.

The Importance of Being Proactive – Don’t Take the “Wait and See Approach”

I have been told by different doctors how a treatment that is introduced early in children with CMT is most effective, as it will be easier to slow this disease progression than to reverse it once it’s already in place.

Wearing the correct type of shoes is really important for children with CMT, but many parents struggle to find well-fitting shoes for their kids because of their high-arched feet and hammered toes.

Symptoms of CMT – Keep an Eye on How Your Child Walks!

Some of the most common symptoms of CMT are:

  • Your child seems clumsier than his or her peers and more prone to falling.
  • Your child might develop foot deformities, such as high arches or hammertoes.
  • You will notice muscle weakness and decreased muscle mass in the feet and lower legs – it will also affect hands and arms as the disease advances.

If your child has any of these symptoms, you should take him or her to a physician who will look closely for evidence of muscle weakness, reduce muscle tone, high arches, or flat feet.

How to Treat CMT? – Supportive Shoes and Orthotics!

The 3 most common methods of CTM treatment are:

1️⃣ Physical therapy: This is very effective as it helps prevent your child’s muscle loss by helping strengthen the child’s muscles. Physical therapy also helps prevent further nerve damage and deterioration.

2️⃣ Occupational therapy: This disease usually starts with muscle weakness in the feet and legs – it can later move into arms and hands, and occupational therapy helps strengthen the muscles used for these tasks.

3️⃣ Orthopedic devices: Special shoes with good arch and ankle support as well as supportive braces help provide stability and make daily tasks easier for your children.

It’s important to note that the weakness of your kids’ muscles will lead to painful foot deformities, difficulty walking and climbing stairs, and injuries as a result of trips and falls.

What do all these issues have in common?

They involve your kids’ feet and legs.

The correct type of shoes and orthotics will help support the child’s feet for easier walking and running. The correct type of shoes can also help minimize the pain that your child might be experiencing – deeper and wider shoes will prevent the bunions from rubbing against the shoes, and allow him or her to walk and run straighter —preventing from putting pressure on parts of their feet and legs where they are not supposed to.

The Best Shoes for Kids With CMT

Below is a selection of the best shoes for children who have CMT – the shoes below can fit a child with medium (M), wide (W), or extra wide feet (XW).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.

New-Balance-shoe-for-toddler-with-flat-feet
  • The New Balance shoe style 990V6 is 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
  • Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
New-Balance-shoe-for-toddler-with-flat-feet
  • The New Balance shoe style 990V6 is 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
  • Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
  • The Stride Rite shoe style Elliot is available for toddlers
  • Lace-up closure
  • Fits toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
  • 100% leather made
  • Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
  • The Stride Rite shoe style Emilia is available for toddlers
  • Lace-up closure
  • Fits toddlers with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
  • 100% leather made
  • Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
Timberland-shoe-for-toddler-with-flat-feet
  • The Timberland shoe style Tracks is available for toddlers
  • Double velcro straps
  • Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
  • Water-friendly
  • Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
New-Balance-shoe-for-toddler-with-flat-feet
  • The New Balance shoe style 574 is available for toddlers
  • Available in velcro and laces
  • Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
  • Synthetic/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
  • Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
New-Balance-shoe-for-toddler-with-flat-feet
  • The New Balance shoe style 990V6 is 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
  • Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
orthopedic-shoe-for-toddler-with-flat-feet
  • The Memo shoe style Gabi is 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 
  • Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
orthopedic-shoe-for-toddler-with-flat-feet
  • The Memo shoe style Gabi is 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 
  • Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
Saucony-shoe-for-a-toddler-with-flat-feet
  • The Saucony shoe style Cohesion is available for toddlers
  • Velcro closure
  • Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
  • Heel grid system for stable cushioning
  • Compression molded EVA footbed for comfort
  • Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
Timberland-shoe-for-toddler-with-flat-feet
  • The Timberland shoe style Bootie fits 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
  • Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
orthopedic-shoe-for-toddler-with-flat-feet
  • The Memo shoe style Princessa fits toddlers and little kids
  • Double velcro straps
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • This is an ORTHOPEDIC shoe
  • Rigid heel counter
  • Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
Saucony-shoe-for-children-with-flat-feet
  • The Saucony shoe style Cohesion KDZ is 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
  • Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
Saucony-shoe-for-children-with-flat-feet
  • The Saucony shoe style Cohesion KDZ is 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
  • Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
New-Balance-shoe-for-children-with-flat-feet
  • The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam 650 is 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
  • Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
New-Balance-shoe-for-children-with-flat-feet
  • The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam Arishi v4 is 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
  • Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
New-Balance-shoe-for-toddler-with-flat-feet
  • The New Balance shoe style 2002 is available for toddlers and little kids
  • Available in laces
  • Fits children with medium and wide feet
  • Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
  • Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
New-Balance-shoe-for-toddler-with-flat-feet
  • The New Balance shoe style 2002 is available for toddlers and little kids
  • Available in laces
  • Fits children with medium and wide feet
  • Suede/mesh upper provides durability and breathability
  • Order this shoe half a size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
New-Balance-shoe-for-children-with-flat-feet
  • The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam 650 is 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
  • Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
orthopedic-shoe-for-children-with-flat-feet
  • The Memo shoe style Polo is 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
  • Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
orthopedic-shoe-for-children-with-flat-feet
  • The Memo shoe style Chicago is 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
  • Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
New-Balance-shoe-for-children-with-flat-feet
  • The New Balance shoe style Coco is available for little and big kids
  • Lace-up closure
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • NDurance rubber outsole technology provides superior durability in high-wear areas to help get more out of the shoes
  • Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
Adidas-high-top-shoe-for-children-with-flat-feet
  • The Adidas shoe style Own the Game 2.0 is available for little and big kids
  • Lace-up closure
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • Supportive outsoles and firm heel counter
  • Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
Adidas-high-top-shoe-for-children-with-flat-feet
  • The Adidas shoe style Cross Em Up Select is available for little kids
  • Lace-up closure
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • Non-marking outsole
  • Order this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
Saucony-shoes-for-children-with-flat-feet
  • The Saucony shoe style Kinvara LTT is available for little and big kids
  • Lace-up closure
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • Cushioned footbed
  • Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Saucony-shoes-for-children-with-flat-feet
  • The Saucony shoe style Shadow 6000 is available for little and big kids
  • Lace-up closure
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • Cushioned footbed
  • Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
New-Balance-shoe-for-children-with-flat-feet
  • The New Balance shoe style 574 is 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
  • Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
New-Balance-shoe-for-children-with-flat-feet
  • The New Balance shoe style 327 is available for little and big kids
  • Lace-up closure
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • Suede and mesh upper
  • Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
New-Balance-shoe-for-children-with-flat-feet
  • The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam X 1080v13 is available for big kids
  • Lace-up closure
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • Suede and mesh upper
  • Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size
New-Balance-shoe-for-children-with-flat-feet
  • The New Balance shoe style Fresh Foam X 1080v13 is available for big kids
  • Lace-up closure
  • Fits children with medium or wide feet
  • Suede and mesh upper
  • Order this shoe half a size larger than your child’s current foot size

If you will be fitting an orthotic inside any of these shoe styles – children with CMT normally need AFO braces which take a lot of room inside the shoes, you should consider going a whole size to a whole size and a half longer of the size that your child measured in the foot measuring scale. There is a different orthotic that I recommend for children with CMT and I will show you this orthotic shortly.

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

Before you order your shoes online you need to be sure of your child’s exact foot size. I created a different article that helps parents determine their child’s exact foot size and whether the child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide. I also will be able to tell you whether your child has a high instep or not.

The Best Orthotics for Children with CMT  – Extra Support  for Their Feet!

When it comes to orthotics, I always recommend parents to talk to their physical or occupational therapist to see what they can recommend.

I can’t stress enough how important it is to have your child to be evaluated for orthotics. Even if you must travel a long distance, it will be worth it! Some of our customers travel up to an hour to be properly fitted for shoes and orthotics.

If you don’t have one in your area, below you can find the most effective orthotic that I have fitted before. Do not hesitate to email me if you have any questions:

[email protected]

This orthotic mechanically supports the pieces of the foot that causes the foot to be flat such as the heels. I recommend this orthotic for children with flat feet, rolled ankles, overpronation, low muscle tone, hypermobility, toe walking, and knock knees.

1️⃣ Deep heel cup that helps control the alignment of the heel and lower leg.

2️⃣ Medial and lateral flanges to help keep the foot aligned over the orthotic.

Check Price

You Must Enter a Referral Code to Order this Orthotic

To place an order for littleSTEPS® Orthotics, you must submit a Referral Code in the Discount Window during the ordering process: JVFCS100121

You won’t have to remove the original insoles of your child’s shoes before placing this orthotic inside the shoes. Take a look at the chart below to figure out what size to order based on your child’s shoe size:

size-orthotics

If you decide to try this orthotic please take it to your local physical or occupational therapist along with the shoes, and see if the therapists agree with the shoes and brace as they watch your child walk.

Do you happen to have a children’s shoe store in your area that you trust? I get contacted by parents daily asking me if I know about a good children’s shoe store in their area. If you happen to have one, please let us know in the comments section below so we can all benefit from your experience.​