The Best Shoes for Kids with Hypermobility – Extra Arch and Ankle Support!

Has your child been diagnosed with hypermobility (HJS)? This condition is also referred to as “loose joints” and can cause foot, leg, and lower back pain as well as discomfort after exercising or having an active day. The feet are the most significantly affected area for hypermobile children, due to their complex mixture of bones and soft tissues. This condition only becomes a problem when it’s symptomatic. I am going to show you a list of the best shoes to help treat hypermobility based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.

Most medical professionals are hesitant to diagnose a child with hypermobility unless the child starts complaining about joint pain or fatigue. Taking early action is crucial to help treat this condition because something so simple such as providing your child with the correct pair of shoes can make a world of difference.

If you have a child with hypermobility you will have limited options on the type of shoes your child can wear, since the shoes must provide targeted arch and ankle support. There are only certain shoes that help treat hypermobility, but the good news is that I will help you find them.

I know exactly which shoes these are from having fitted them before. I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store for over 10 years now. The correct type of shoes is not only going to help improve your child’s posture, but they will also help decrease your child’s fatigue.

Pro Tip: If you’re pressed for time here is a list of the best shoes for hypermobility.

Should Children with Hypermobility Walk Barefoot?

I want to clarify that walking barefoot is not recommended for children with hypermobility. Children who have this condition have a harder time balancing, and when they go barefoot their over-used muscle groups are further over-used, which often leads to foot, leg, and back pain.

Hypermobile children should not be told to take their shoes off at their daycare or school, since their physical capabilities will be impaired. Would you ask a child who wears glasses to take them off while performing a physical task?

Once hypermobile children are fitted in the correct pair of shoes, their balance and posture usually improve considerably.

Do More Expensive Shoes Automatically Translate Into Better Shoes for Your Child?

I want to point out that higher-priced shoes don’t automatically translate into better shoes for your child.  You might buy an expensive shoe assuming that it will be more effective in improving your child’s posture or walking gait, while in reality, it might make the condition worse.

On the other hand, you can pay a small amount for a shoe and it might actually enhance your child’s walking gait. This is where I came into play since I know which shoes have proven to be the most effective ones in treating children with hypermobility.

The cost and the brand of the shoes are not relevant factors. Within brands, you will find shoe styles that vary considerably in characteristics. Even among the same shoe brands, certain styles provide better support than others.

Effective Ways to Help Treat Your Child’s Hypermobility

To treat your child’s hypermobility, you will need to help your child maintain good posture. This can be accomplished through exercises, but the correct type of shoes and orthotics are the most effective ways to improve your child’s overall posture. Providing your child with supportive shoes is an absolute must.

Kids are considered hypermobile if their joints move beyond the normal range of motion. The other two terms to refer to hypermobility are “loose-jointed” or “double-jointed”. It’s estimated that 10-15% of children have it. To help treat hypermobility you will need to improve your child’s muscle tone and muscle strength.

The 3 most effective ways to help treat your child’s hypermobility are:

1️⃣ Exercises

2️⃣ Supportive Shoes

3️⃣ Orthotics

Children with hypermobility are more prone to experiencing foot and leg pain, as well as developing poor posture habits. Certain shoes provide targeted support in the arch and ankle, which helps strengthen and straighten your kids’ feet and legs.

What a Difference the Correct Pair of Shoes Can Make!

Hypermobile children are likely to have impaired joint position sense, weak and rolled ankles, as well as flat feet. Take a look at the image below, does it look familiar? Do you notice how the child’s feet are collapsing and the ankles are rolling inwards?

Before Image

Now let’s take a look at an image of the same child wearing a pair of supportive shoes. Do you notice how the child’s feet are not collapsing anymore? The substantial outsole of the shoes and the firm heel counter are aligning the child’s feet. These are the type of shoes I will recommend shortly.

After Image

What Makes the Shoes that I Recommend Effective for Treating Hypermobility?

Your children’s shoes must provide the correct amount of support and they must also fit properly. These are the 3 key features that the shoes I recommend provide that make them the most effective ones for treating hypermobility and preventing foot and leg pain:

1️⃣ Ankle/Heel Support: Shoes that provide targeted ankle support help prevent your child’s ankles from rolling inwards/outwards. In addition, shoes that provide good ankle support help minimize the impact that your kids’ ankles take when they come in contact with the ground. This helps significantly reduce or fully eliminate your child’s ankle pain.

2️⃣ Arch Support: This feature helps prevent your child’s feet from collapsing, improving your child’s overall posture by helping your child walk and run straighter.

3️⃣ Lightweight/Flexible: While we want the shoes to be supportive, we also need them to be lightweight and flexible at the same time. This will prevent your child’s feet and legs from easily getting tired.

Now that you know what features the shoes I recommend provide you are ready to take a look at a selection of the best shoes for kids with hypermobility.

Keep in mind that I only review shoes that I have fitted before, as that is the only way for me to be able to tell how well-made they are, the amount of support that they provide and how they fit. 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.

The Best Shoes for Kids with Hypermobility

Below you can find a selection of the best shoes for kids with hypermobility. These shoes are capable of fitting children with narrow, medium, wide, and extra wide feet.

Please note that children with hypermobile joints don’t need as much growing room. If you leave too much growing room in your kids’ shoes, your child won’t get the full support that the shoes have to offer and you will also be compromising your child’s stability.

For your child to get the full benefits that the shoes have to offer, you need to make sure that you provide your child with the correct shoe size.

Are You 100% Sure of Your Child’s Foot Size? – Let’s Find Out!

I always recommend parents take their children to be properly fitted for shoes at their local children’s shoe store. The issue is that most stores have been closing down and parents are confused about where to take their children to be properly fitted for shoes.

If after looking at that resource you still can’t seem to find a shoe store in your area, please proceed to take a look at an article I created where I describe the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your child’s foot size from home.

Please limit the wear of other types of unsupportive footwear such as boots or sandals. If you are looking for a pair of sandals for your child with hypermobility, there are certain styles that provide better support and stability than others.

Get in Touch With Us for a Personalized Suggestion

Without a doubt, children’s shoe needs can vary depending on their age, activity level, and any specific foot conditions they may have. If you have any questions or need any further assistance, you can also contact us via email and we will get back to you as soon as possible. We are happy to help you find a different pair of shoes for your child so don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

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Can Your Child Benefit from Wearing an Orthotic?

Some children in addition to wearing supportive shoes require orthotics to help improve their foot posture, walking gait, and stability. However, I usually recommend to try a pair of supportive shoes first before investing in a pair of orthotics.

Common Signs That Your Child Might Be Dealing with Hypermobility

Let’s take a look at the most common symptoms of children with hypermobility:

• Your child complains about stiffness in the joints and muscles.
• Your child complains about his feet or legs feeling tired.
• Your child has visible signs of poor balance and coordination.
• Your child is reluctant to participate in sports.

Have you tried any of the shoes that I recommend? Is there any other shoe style that has been effective in treating your child’s hypermobility? Please share your findings below so other parents can benefit from your experiences.