Footwear is a very important part of creating a successful treatment plan for your child and their orthotic needs.  To accommodate your child’s orthosis, we recommend shoes which are 1 to 1.5 sizes larger than the size we measured during the casting appointment.

SHOES-

An ATHLETIC type shoe which is a WIDE width, or WIDE looking will be helpful.  The shoes should be LACE-UP or have a 2 STRAP Velcro closure. Please NO ZIPPERS, ELASTIC BANDS, or “Z” straps. These shoes do not need to be expensive or orthopedic in nature. Unfortunately, dress shoes usually do not open wide enough to fit the orthosis.

Because all brands and styles of shoes are a little different and change frequently, it is difficult to be sure which size or brand will work best for your child. Please feel free to bring as many pairs of shoes as you would like to the fitting appointment. We will try to select the best fitting shoes for your child and the other pairs can be returned.

At the fitting appointment, we will have some final trimming and adjustments to make on your child’s orthosis.  We plan to leave some space for growth within the orthosis and will plan to fit the orthosis into the shoes you bring as well. Once we determine that a particular shoe will work, we usually remove the insoles from the shoes to make a little extra space for the orthosis and your child’s foot.

Also, it is important that your child always wear shoes while wearing their orthosis. The plastic of the orthosis can be very slippery when in contact with the floor and your child should never try to stand or walk without wearing shoes.

SOCKS-

We recommend a thin, smooth sock which is made of a synthetic/cotton blend to wick moisture away from the skin.  For your child’s comfort, it is best to have a sock which is taller than the orthosis to create air flow between the skin and the plastic. Socks should not be too loose or wrinkles will occur. Wrinkles create pressure areas and discomfort within an orthosis.