Shoes for flat feet

[Kaleidoscope]

DD, 9, is very flat footed. I need to buy her shoes that provide more support. Any suggestions on what would be good. I was supposed to get some info from the orthopedist on shoe brands and I walked out without it. I've called twice trying to get it but still nothing. Now it's after 9pm and we are going shoe shopping tomorrow so I'm searching the internet for info.

[Maverick_Mom]

Do her feet pronate (turn in)? This is what ds2's feet do (so says the pediatrician), and he recommended high-top sneakers (like Converse) for added support.

[mc26]

My very flat (and very narrow)-footed son has been wearing Asics Gel Kayano running shoes for the last year. They are pricey but the older models can sometimes be found on Amazon or 6pm.com. These are the only shoes that are comfortable enough for him to wear without complaining.

[Paintedlady]

My very flat (and very narrow)-footed son has been wearing Asics Gel Kayano running shoes for the last year. They are pricey but the older models can sometimes be found on Amazon or 6pm.com. These are the only shoes that are comfortable enough for him to wear without complaining.

 

:iagree: The high end Asics (I've had several different kinds) are the most comfortable for me. For sandles I really like my Keens.

 

I've also added fairly pricey, non prescription inserts that have also helped. I got mine at a kiosk in WalMart that you stand on and it measures your foot and figures out your pressure points and reccommends which of their products would work best. Cost me $50 but they are so worth it.

[PeterPan]

Guess you're probably back from your shopping trip, but I'll reply anyway. I just bought whatever I could find and made do for years with dd. This past year I finally took her to a *really good* running store in the big city. The store advertised they did more careful fittings than a regular store and would fit your feet perfectly. They measured you sitting, standing, and watched you walk both on the floor and on a treadmill to look at pronation, etc. Then they disappeared into the back, picked two boxes, put special arch support inserts in (because of course that's what he ACTUALLY needs) and put one of each pair on a foot. You walked around trying out those two shoes, one of each kind on a foot, and boom you had your shoes.

 

Pretty incredible, but they definitely helped. She liked the arch supports so much, so started pulling them out to wear in her other shoes too (winter boots, etc.). So I don't think it's so much that you need expensive shoes as you need properly fitting shoes and good arch supports. Apparently there's a difference between having flat feet and having feet where the arches are all the way *fallen*. I wish we had found these things earlier. Whatever, water under the bridge. Anyway, it was a good running store that gave us that service.

 

Hey, I didn't realize the store might be part of a chain! You can look it up and see if there's one near you. It was Fleet Feet. They were awesome for us.

[Kim in Appalachia]

Guess you're probably back from your shopping trip, but I'll reply anyway. I just bought whatever I could find and made do for years with dd. This past year I finally took her to a *really good* running store in the big city. The store advertised they did more careful fittings than a regular store and would fit your feet perfectly. They measured you sitting, standing, and watched you walk both on the floor and on a treadmill to look at pronation, etc. Then they disappeared into the back, picked two boxes, put special arch support inserts in (because of course that's what he ACTUALLY needs) and put one of each pair on a foot. You walked around trying out those two shoes, one of each kind on a foot, and boom you had your shoes.

 

Pretty incredible, but they definitely helped. She liked the arch supports so much, so started pulling them out to wear in her other shoes too (winter boots, etc.). So I don't think it's so much that you need expensive shoes as you need properly fitting shoes and good arch supports. Apparently there's a difference between having flat feet and having feet where the arches are all the way *fallen*. I wish we had found these things earlier. Whatever, water under the bridge. Anyway, it was a good running store that gave us that service.

 

Hey, I didn't realize the store might be part of a chain! You can look it up and see if there's one near you. It was Fleet Feet. They were awesome for us.

 

 

I was going to recommend the Super Feet as well. Fleet Feet carries them, as do other running stores. They have different colors for different types of support. They made a big difference for my dh.

 

I also want to add something else. My dh runs and tried a pair of the Vibram 5 Fingers. He uses them for short runs. He has been using them for close to 2 years and he says they have helped strengthen his feet. He doesn't need his Super Feet for shorter runs at all. That is a huge change. He grew up wearing orthotics and can't believe he now doesn't need them that much.

 

Vibrarm is not the only brand now making zero drop shoes. NB and others have them, and they may be worth trying.

[Guest mountainman1967]

My daughter play basketball and she has very flat feet we heard about arch supports. I would not have thought of supports for kids but we found a place that did fit kids also the best thing is as she grows they well adjust or give her refit for free for life! it was a few hundred bucks but for a lifetime fit that's nothing. She had them last summer and after about 3 weeks getting used to them she is doing great in them now. The place we went to is here in Texas called Ideal Feet.