What are the best shoes for AFO's?
If your child wears AFO’s (ankle foot orthosis), you will know that the struggle is real when it comes to finding shoes that fit comfortably and without difficulty over the top of them. First, you need to find a pair of shoes that are wide enough to fit the foot brace into, then there is the challenge of tying or buckling the shoes. It can be a nightmare. Thankfully, there are now shoes for AFO splints available to make life much simpler.
Adaptive Shoes For AFO’s
Adaptive shoes consider the needs of splint wearers and what is needed for the perfect fit –
● Width
● Depth
● Easy opening
● Easy fastening
● Stability
● Lightweight,
● Size
● AND style.
At SpecialKids Company, we understand the demand for adaptive products and how much they can make a difference. We sell two different brands of adaptive footwear and you will find lots of variety on our website, from smart school shoes to Ugg and Converse style boots.
Our top brand for adaptive shoes
1. Billy Footwear
Billy Footwear is a popular brand of adaptive shoes with a range of styles. The range
incorporates zippers with ‘fliptop technology’, which means that they go along the side of all of their shoes, zipping around the toe and allowing the upper part of each shoe to fold over completely. This allows the person wearing them to place his or her foot directly into the bed of the shoe, unobstructed. Once the foot is in, the shoe can be zipped with the zipper pull and the shoe is on without any struggle.
The shoes are sized from toddler to adult and even consider that different splints require
different widths. The DR range comes in medium fit, wide fit and extra wide fit with each fit having two removable 3mm insoles for adaptable depth. If your child wears AFO’s, Billy Footwear certainly has you covered.
2. Friendly Shoes
We are also proud suppliers of Friendly Shoes, which were designed by an Occupational
Therapist with adaptability and comfort in mind – not compromising on style. These shoes are a lightweight yet sturdy shoe with a discreet zipper located in various positions
dependant on the style of the shoe, ensuring that they always suit your child’s individual needs. We have a range of Friendly Shoes trainers on our website in various sizes and colours – be sure to check them out!