Hypermobility - sandals for the summer?

[maggie75]

Hi - my 18 month old dd is hypermobile and wears supportive boots for her ankles (v similar to Piedros - she just refused the Piedros so the Orthotist gave us an alternative).

She is meant to wear them all the time, but I wondered if there was an alterntaive for the summer months, or if there are supportive sandals out there that anyone has tried?

She has just started to walk unaided in teh past few weeks.

Many thanks

My son is very hypermobile and walked at about 23 months. We have got him sandals in the last couple of years (from about age 4.5 onwards) but didn't before that, as his ankles just pronated so severely, sandals clearly didn't provide the required support. If you are supposed to have your daughter in piedros or their equivalent all the time at the moment, I wouldn't recommend doing otherwise for this summer, unless your physio thinks she is ready to spend some time in slightly less supportive shoes or boots (I seriously doubt she would OK sandals if she's still providing NHS supportive boots). In future years, you could maybe try more lightweight boots or shoes, eventually trying out sandals when her muscle strength is sufficient to support her loose joints more safely. Buying her sandals or lighter shoes for this year may well just result in her tiring incredibly quickly, expecting to be carried and possibly falling over awkwardly and hurting her knees or ankles. Basically, if she still needs piedros or their equivalent, she isn't really ready for any type of sandal.

did you know that you can get piedro sandals?? they are really nice and do them for boys and girls-they really dont look much different to the high sandals you buy from clarks and start right. There are one or two alternatives to piedro and they are all about the same price-if you need the boots replacing in summer anyway it might be worth asking your orthotist for them instead of boots. you can get open and closed styles-they may say that the open ones are not protective enough for her if she falls but the closed style may be ok.

There is another brand called memo which are similar to piedros but a lot cheaper and they also do sandals. Another more supportive sandal is made by echo - quite sweet too, but not as supportive as the others mentioned. Our physio said DD was fine to wear normal sandals occaisionally - so long as she was in her boots about 80 - 90% of the time. Maybe see what your orthotist says

I didn't know you could get piedro sandals, I'm making a note to ask at our appointment next week. I hope they do boys ones as well.

Ooh just had Alfie's fitting for boots today, I didnt know that they did sandals for summer. He has been given some huge looking boots. How would it work? do you have to forfeit the boots, as sandals wouldnt really be any good for school. Sorry if very dim question, just had another major meltdown experience in asda

going follow this one a sno way ds would be able to walk in normal sandals but could be so hot wearing his boots all summer

going to bump this one as quite relevant to a few of us, hope thats ok

here

Have a look for next step sandals/sandals in the stabilityrange. Your hospital orthotist should help you measure and order if you want to pay for them yourself. Ours wouldnt give open sandals instead of boots as they didnt think they were protective enough for his toes, but I did get a closed pair from a different company (cant remember what they are called, will post back when I do) have a look here for alternative boots- www.ortho-europe.co.uk

Ken Hall Orthotics!!! Thats who I got his sandals from. Sorry I cant find website for them bit they ate based in Kettering I think. They have an NHS contract with Bedford Hospitals. Your orthotic team will probably have a catalogue for them-they usually exhibit at the big disability shows.

a small note re piedro type sandals... sometimes better to get sandal types with covered toes lol - some kids who are used to support boots/ who scissor/ fidgeters end up with bleeding toes as they bash their (open) toes into the solid support heel of the other sandal lol... or kids who drag their toes like dd2 and routinely wear through the toes of piedros...

some independent retailers do some reasonably supportive sandals for teenies (not past 4 lol) - european makes with good heel cups and ankle support. we had some lovely ones but now she is a heifer schoolgirl it's ortho or nothing. bah.

off to check out the links though

Fantastic thanks for the links Monstermansmum, I will have a word with the orthodist. Thanks also for the advice Madwoman. at wearing holes in the boots, ouch.

Thanks for the info and advice. I shall see what the Orthotist says - but some closed Piedro type sandals might be the way forward as an alternative to boots for the summer.

btw - the link for Ken Hall mentioned above is: www.kenhall.co.uk/ and you can view some Memo boots here: estore.websitepros.com/1564693/Categories.bok?category=Orthopedic+Footwear

Thanks maggie. Ds had Toni in navy blue-they were lovely (he had 2 pairs consecutively). they only go up to a 30 which is only little (ds is a 33=1.5 ish )

Hi

I am new to the forum but when I saw your post I knew I had seen Support Sandals on the net don't know if this is any help but hopefully it will be to someone.

www.gilbert-mellish.co.uk/products/footwear/Piedro/stability/sandals.php