Pigeon toes medical correction and flat feet best ortho shoes kids

In toeing and outtoeing kids shoes

Knocked knees best medical shoes for toddlers

PRONATION

FLAT FEET

Flat feet is a genetic condition that it is passed in the family genes (not necessarily from mother or father). Flat feet occur because the tissues holding the joints in the foot together (called tendons) are loose. In infants and babies, the fat in the foot is also a factor. As children grow older, these tissues tighten and form an arch, most often by the time the child is 2 or 3 years old. By adulthood, most people have normal arches. However, in some people this arch may never form. Aging, injuries, illness or cheap footwear without any arch support may harm the tendons and cause flat feet to develop. Therefore, quality supportive footwear is especially required for little feet that are growing and developing a shape. Only European quality footwear made out of leather or canvas with leather orthopedic innersole will help a child to form proper arch and correctly shape little feet. Flat feet do not cause pain in children but later in life as an adult it might be a factor in posture defects, back and knee pain.

IN TOEING AND OUT TOEING

If a child has an in-toeing gait, it means that their feet turn inward instead of pointing straight ahead when standing, walking or running. In-toeing is seen in children of different ages for different reasons. The problem may be due to the way the bones are formed or the way the muscles in the hips work or plainly because they wear not supportive shoes with good arch support. Out-toeing is an opposite condition where child's feet are pointed excessively outwards.  In-toeing and out-toeing usually does not cause pain or interfere with the way your child learns to walk.  Although, severe in-toeing can cause young children to stumble or trip. Therefore, high supportive shoes with arch support are needed to minimize the condition. If in-toeing continues special orthodics (made by podiatrist) are needed to line up the feet and improve the condition. 

KNOCK KNEES

A child who stands with their knees touching but their ankles apart is said to have knock-knees. Knock-knees usually become apparent when a child is two or three years old and may increase in severity until about age of four. Concerns only really arise if the condition is first noticed after the child is six years old or if one leg is more affected then the other.  Knock knees may appear to be present in children who have flat feet or who are overweight or are weak or tight around the hips.  To improve the condition special orthodics along with high supportive leather shoes are needed.  Also, strengthening and stretching exercises will help to improve the posture.

TIPTOE WALKING

Many toddlers walk on their tip-toes because as babies (learning to walk) they never wore high supportive, quality shoes. High, rigid, ankle supportive shoes with arch orthopedic support are needed to correct the condition. The shoes will profile the foot, stabilize the back foot joints and over time minimize and stop tip-toeing over time. Make sure that child wears only quality shoes at all times and that they are high in a back and supportive. The stiffer, sturdier in a back the better! Remember you can only make any difference in child's foot when they are small and growing once grown no surgery exists to fix the issues.

AMERICAN BOARD OF PEDIATRICS VS EUROPEAN MINISTRY OF HEALTH

They are significant differences in footwear recommendations posed by American Board of Pediatrics vs European Ministry of Health.

American Board of Pediatrics Recommends:

Barefoot or soft sole shoes

Low quality none orthopedic footwear imported from low cost production countries is allowed

Foot develops naturally with no restrictions nor support

Shoes does not play any role in child's foot and posture development

Once child's feet become deformed (pronation or pigeon toes) expensive custom orthodics are made (average cost $800 and up)

Pigeon toes, ankle pronation, flat feet will cure by themselves as the child grows (no they will NOT!)

Foot surgery in adulthood is performed to relive the pain and discomfort

As an adult person with deformed feet will always experience knee and back pain, deformed feet, posture problems

Medicine in USA if for profit, so more kids and adults with deformed feet, more profit for medical practice

European Ministry of Health Recommends:

Barefoot in protected environment (beach or sand only when foot contours to soft surface) 

Supportive slippers or leather shoes (proper heel support, orthopedic arch support, flexible rubber soles)

Cheap shoes from low cost countries are NOT allowed for import and sale in Europe

Footwear is regulated by European Orthopedic Ministry of Health so local orthopedic shoes are only allowed for sale in any European country

Foot develops due to formation and type of shoes child wears (watch the video)

Shoes form and shape kids feet and posture so quality, supportive shoes are recommended to wear at all times

high quality, durable orthopedic footwear, produced locally in Europe out of best quality materials

Viewed as body developmental tool that would affect child's feet, posture, knees, back/spine through entire adult life

Quality orthopedic shoes prevent a need for any uncomfortable orthodics or surgeries person might need in a future

Medicine in Europe is not for profit so less kids and adults with deformed feet, cheaper for the country

Quality shoes (we call them there orthopedic) act as a tool for prevention of all orthopedic problems kids might experience when growing

They correct any deformity child might have from birth and protect and shape healthy feet

They help to improve pigeon toes, ankle pronation, weak ankles, flat feet, supination, in-toe, out-toe conditions

That is why they are called supportive, foot forming shoes, we in Europe call them orthopedic since that is a correct medical terminology

The statistics between those two recommendations differ greatly since in Europe number of children with deformed feet is basically none existent. Children wear only quality, leather supportive shoes at all times and their feet and posture is perfectly formed. There is simply no need for orthodics or surgeries since quality shoes act as developmental and preventive tool.  In USA majority of children display various feet deformities since local shoes allowed for sale in department stores are low quality and not supportive. There is no quality control since majority of shoes are produced in low cost production countries out of low quality materials.

QUALITY AND AVERAGE PRODUCTION COSTS

European shoes are expensive in general since labor, quality materials and manufacture costs are high. Average pay or any leather worker in Europe ranges from 10.20EU to 25EU an hour (varying from country to country) therefore, locals gets paid living wages for quality products they produce. The footwear they produce is made out of best quality leathers (no harmful CFC's), has orthopedic support, it is well measured and fitted on average child's foot. The quality of the products is superior and designs of the shoes are one of a kind.  Average production cost of the child's pair of shoes is about 25EU to 50EU per pair plus importing costs, adult shoes range from 60EU to 120EU per pair plus importing costs. (designer shoes costs much more since designer label has its own value in eyes of worldwide customer). European local department stores and major chains sell kids shoes for an average 69EU to 150EU per pair and adult shoes for 150EU - 350EU per pair (varying from country to country). However, customer is guaranteed quality, comfort and durability every time. 

In contrast to the shoes mass produced in China, the average pay of a leather worker is $0.60 an hour. (city worker makes an average $1.04 an hour but in the province is $0.41 and hour). The shoes that every Chinese factory produces are made out of low quality leather that contains various dye chemicals including Lead and Mercury (read the article about Chinese leather imports to USA, tainted kids shoes imported to USA) The shoes are never measured nor fitted, have no orthopedic support of any kind and they heavily deforming child's feet during wearing process. The average cost of the child's shoes produced in China is $2 to $4 dollars per pair and that is including import costs. Local stores and major chains in USA sell them for an average of $50 to $60 dollars per pair. Well, talking about 600% profit! The average production cost of an adult shoe in China ranges from $9-$13 per pair including import costs. The local USA department stores and major shoe chains sell them for $150 to $300 per pair. Again, talking about huge profit and zero quality for USA client!

Now, ask yourself what kind of quality product are you getting when average production cost of the shoe your child wears is $3 and $11 for an adult? Why the shoes that you buy every season smell, fell apart, and give you discomfort? More importantly, how would they form and benefit your child's feet when quality is none existent? Is that maybe a corporate greed that outsources production jobs to China and forces local customers to settle for pure junk? Why USA footwear brands that used to produced locally closed down moved to China but are still allowed to sell and profit in USA?

If the shoes were produced in USA (let's just hope we will see that in our lifetime) the average cost of a shoes will be the same or even higher then European one's however, the shoes will be quality, well made locally by workers who would be paid living wages. Let's just hope America returns to pre-China product invasion where we the customers have a choice to buy local products that are functional, quality and do not fall apart after seasonal wear.       

LOW QUALITY FOOTWEAR

Low quality footwear that will cause foot pronation, decrease the arch support, cause pigeon toes and over time completely deform child's feet. It is all caused by cheap shoes folks! Any shoe brand sold on USA market is made in China and it is NOT ORTHOPEDIC. Orthopedic means supports and form kids feet and posture correctly. Only shoes manufactured in Europe are supportive for kids feet. We call them orthopedic shoes there and every child wears them. Children start with good shoes and wear them till teen years (feet grow till age 15) and end up with well formed feet and posture. That is why avoid buying local shoes (all made in China) since they destroying your kids feet and posture in more ways then you can imagine. Orthodics will not help either and doctors visits since the system is USA to sell you orthodics in a first place and profit from child orthopedic problems. Child will NOT outgrow knock knees, pigeon toes, ankle pronation - it is not going to happen without proper supportive European made shoes.

Children with deformed feet will develop feet and back pain, spine and posture defects not to mention sore, deformed and ugly feet. Therefore, Europeans buy only quality, orthopedic shoes for their children and when they became adults themselves they do not display any feet deformities. Is it worth paying $80-$100 on average for a pair of quality, orthopedic shoes? YES it is, since buying quality shoes is like buying "developmental health product" that your child definitely needs! Child only needs 2 pairs of good shoes per season for rotation. Do not rotate them with local cheap shoes becasue you never see any difference. Whatever quality shoe improves and resets the foot, the cheap one destroys the foot line up. So, in conclusion the type of shoes you have as a child that is how your feet and posture will develop.