Guide to hypermobile joints
What are hypermobile joints?
Some children are born with extra soft and flexible joints. This means that their joints have greater mobility than what is typically considered normal in a child. This is referred to as hypermobility. 17% of children are hypermobile, and it is often hereditary. It is important to remember that it is in no way a disease or disorder but simply a condition.
Hypermobility does not necessarily cause any problems for children, but may in some cases result in delayed motor skill development. One way to minimize the effects of hypermobility on motor development is to make sure your child wears the right shoes. Below are some things to consider when buying shoes for children with hypermobility.
Solid support
The shoe should fit snugly around the foot and fit well in length and width. Feet differ in shape, length and width, and the degree of hypermobility also varies from child to child. The thing to keep in mind is the importance of your child having a good pair of shoes that provide firm footing and solid support. We recommend choosing a shoe that can be adjusted, such as Velcro or laces, to help ensure the shoes are on tight and fit as they should.
Solid heel cap
As children with hypermobile joints require added support around the heel and ankle, the shoes should have a closed, solid and ideally high heel cap. One way to check if the heel cap is solid is by pressing your thumb against the back of the shoe, approximately 1 cm above the sole. If you cannot make a dent with your thumb, the shoe has a solid heel cap and is therefore appropriate for your child.
Soft sole
The sole should be flexible and easily bendable so that the shoe constantly follows the foot's natural movements. It is important that the shoes do not have any arch support so that the musculature of the foot can function without any artificial constraints. The shoes should be light enough that your child doesn't struggle with added weight when moving around. Every season bisgaard produces many different kinds of shoes with soft, natural rubber soles. None of our shoes have arch support, making them great for children with hypermobile joints.
Room for growth
Children with hypermobile joints need shoes with less room for growth than is typically recommended. If there is too much room, it is difficult to make the shoes fit correctly. The shoes should fit closely to the whole foot. We suggest aiming for the lowest recommended room for growth, which is 0.5 to 1 cm.
Finally, we recommend limiting the use of rain boots and shoes that cannot be correctly adjusted to the size and shape of the feet.