I see kids with valgus feet quite often in my office. What recommendations do they come with? Most often they come to me after already buying the first shoes recommended by someone, and unfortunately these are orthopedic shoes with a high, stiff heel counter, a stiff sole and are usually very heavy. And exercise? And strengthening specific muscle groups that will support these little feet?
Parents say: "we were only offered these orthopedic shoes, we've been walking for 3 months and there is no improvement, or it's even worse". And where would the improvement come from? With the foot inserted into a stiff shoe, where the shoe passively supports the foot, where the foot is unable to properly and actively work, strengthen itself. With the absence of appropriate exercises, it is impossible for the previously observed defect or its suspicion to correct itself. Orthopedic shoes are recommended for very specific and severe cases.
In neurologically healthy children, where this valgus is most often caused by the weakening of specific muscle groups, an orthopedic shoe is like a cast in which we put our toddler's delicate foot. Before buying the first shoes, especially when there is a suspicion of a defect, be sure to consult a good physiotherapist who will help us choose the right footwear that supports the feet and the general development of our child, because poorly selected shoes can negatively affect not only the structure of the feet, but also body posture. The same applies to corrective insoles, most often for valgus feet, even if there are recommendations for insoles by an orthopedist or physiotherapist, do not buy whatever you see, universal ones in a shoe store, the insoles must also be properly selected for our child's foot, each foot is different.
And do not think that using corrective insoles for shoes, we can skip regular exercises, because in the case of properly conducted rehabilitation, we cannot do that. Exercise is the most important part of therapy. Without this element, when you stop using the insoles, the foot will return to its valgus position, because the muscles will be weakened by passive correction.