shoes for flat feet?

Maybeanotherday

Hi guys,
Just wondering if anyone can help? My daughter has flat feet and Im having troubles getting shoes for her.
We've been to clarks but all of there shoes have a slight heel on which she cannot walk in,obviously with her feet being wide she needs a genourous fitting shoe....

Has anyone had this problem, and can they reccomend a brand? thanks

princessamy86

Have you had a look at Start-Rite? I worked for them a few years ago and all the staff are geared up to fit "difficult" feet. I know it's pricey, but we used to fit all sorts such as prosthetic limbs and splints, and we could always find something. They also do wider sizes than Clarks.

Mini_Bear

Also have you looked at getting specially made insoles to help support your daughters feet in normal shoes? my friends dad had some made for trainers, others for work shoes etc. it gave him far more choice.
although i guess its difficult if her feet are still growing. start-rite were great for my problem feet a few yrs ago!

Maybeanotherday

Thankyou for your responses I can't put insoles in as Ive been told while feet are still growing they can damage her feet
Trip to start-rite it is then

McKneff

skellett wrote: »

Thankyou for your responses I can't put insoles in as Ive been told while feet are still growing they can damage her feet
Trip to start-rite it is then

Did a doctor tell you that. All the special soles for this sort of thing only
lift the arch up. I would maybe take some advice from the nurse at your surgery or a pharmacist.
Good Luck

skintchick

I've got flat feet and found that the arch supports made it impossible to wear normal shoes anyway.

i ended up as an adult having Egoscue http://www.egoscue.com/ work which has changed the way I walk and made quite a difference (although I do also have a congenital hip problem so not quite the same).

I've never understood why flat feet are considered such a problem, though. I can pick things up with my feet, I wear heels, I don;t have pain in my feet.

belfastgirl23

Flat feet can lead to knee and hip (also lower back) problems later in life if not supported. The foot pronates (ie rolls inwards) and this puts additional strain on the joints. It's well worth getting her fitted with orthotics when she's old enough to prevent this.

skintchick

belfastgirl23 wrote: »

Flat feet can lead to knee and hip (also lower back) problems later in life if not supported. The foot pronates (ie rolls inwards) and this puts additional strain on the joints. It's well worth getting her fitted with orthotics when she's old enough to prevent this.

That's what the Egoscue and learning how to walk differently sorted out for me - the rolling over of the foot.

I don;t think the only solution is arch supports, is what I'm saying.

It is possible to learn to walk without pronating, which allieviates the hip/knee issues, and as a result if she did it now instead of leaving it late in life like me, it may be that she never gets the joint pain.

Egoscue isn;t cheap but I only had a few sessions to learn the stuff and it's been great ever since - I hardly ever have knee pain any more.

susiesue_2

I would maybe take some advice from the nurse at your surgery or a pharmacist.

as a podiatrist i really take offense at this.
IF you had tooth ache where would you go???

IF you struggled to see who i wonder would you think about going to visit?

mmm problem with feet?? ill ask the nurse? why not ask the man down the pub?
the levels of training in bio mechanical assessment and treatment of pediatric flat foot will be about the same im guessing.
go with your child to a HPC registered podiatrist for an assessment. we don't just cut toenails you know.

Did a doctor tell you that. All the special soles for this sort of thing only
lift the arch up.

this is so far from the truth its unbelievable! bespoke custom fitted orthotics do not just lift up the arch.

orthotics will not damage childrens feet if they have been prescribed and fitted by a professional (i.e. a podiatrist). and if the problem is treated correctly whilst the child is still growing can sometimes be completely corrected.

phew! ill get off my soapbox now.

http://feetforlife.org

for details of your nearest HPC registered chiropodist/podiatrist. look at the website and there is lots of really useful information about this subject.

chivers1977

At 32 I have finally got orthotics fitted for my back/knee/hip pain. When children are little I think that it would be easier to get shoes to fit them as they need straps over really to keep your foot in the shoe. You can get referred to a podiatrist through the NHS but I have had much better results with these orthotics that I got privately as they are tailored to my requirements - they are actually called Talormade!!

Maybeanotherday

Thankyou for all the replies, my daughter is currently seeing a peadiatrition and she has suggested at the minute there is no need for any interventions.

She has just told me to purchase well fitting shoes, this is why I wasn't asking for advice on a medical format just where to buy well fitted shoes.
I've already been to clarks but all the shoes they have in stock in the minute have heels which are highly unsuitable for my little one.