Anyone's toddler/preschooler have orthotics in their shoes?

KrisBriMcBunny

Michelle's PT girl is suggesting these for Michelle.  She hascome along ways but still has some toeing in going on.  She's alot stronger now so she is not as clumsy & falling down as much.

She recommended that we talk to the pedi first and to find out if our insurance covers it.  Well our insurance covers it...the initial consultation and then 1 pair each year.

Well I'm reading up on this and I reading lots of conflicting things.  Some say orthotics are not good for preschoolers since their feet are still developing/growing.  And another says its a good thing because it will help their feet develop more properly.

I've already decided to wait to talk to the pedi at Michelle's 4 yr visit in Sept.  But I wanted to hear some personal stories from you.

 

 

KoriBrett

Dude, that's part of what we do at work.  Mostly for adults, but..

Generally speaking if a kid walks " normally " and has " normal " feet, it's better to leave them alone, that's true.  They are still forming and growing and tend to grow to the shape of the shoe or insert, and not into whatever is normal for their feet.  Make sense? 

BUT -  If there are issues like rotation or varus/valgus (tipping) and the issues are impairing normal walking, etc, then yes they can be a huge help along with PT.  The insert and/or shoe makes up the difference so that when they go to take a step, every part of the foot, ankle, leg.. is doing it normally and lined up correctly. 

You can also call orthotic/prosthetic places and ask if they do free consultations without a prescription so you can get their opinion - they'd watch her walk, talk it out with you, and help you decide if it might or might not be the way to go with her.  (if they're good, if they won't, call another one)  They might think it'd be silly and say no, they might agree and say try it, or they may have another type of device they'd want to try out on her that would help more.  All depends.

docmay25

Jack has supports built into his shoes when he was a toddler.  He was born with his feet turned in.  he started physical therapy at birth and got the supports as soon as he starting standing/walking.  He stopped using them around 2.5 years old.  we would get hem changed every few months as his feet grew.  Jack saw an orthopedic pedi who prescribed these and followed up with us every 4-6 months.

PinkPiano

My dd has had two pairs.  One pair at about 18 months and the 2nd pair when she was 3.  (She went for awhile with none in between.)  Anyhow, I think they helped my dd a lot.  I don't know much about them beyond our experience but my best friend is a PT and highly recommended a certain place that did them custom.  They were expensive but I guess that's one of those things you don't want to be cheap about.  Our insurance initially was not going to cover them so we paid $700 out of pocket but ended up getting reimbursed for almost the entire amount.