SMO orthotics- All you need to know about SMO braces, for adults, Toddlers, and shoes for orthotics and braces
People of varying ages could be prone to a number of foot-related issues, including toddlers as well. In order to support some foot conditions especially flat feet, specialized leg/ foot braces are prescribed by doctors. The one that we are specifically targeting here is SMO, which is the short form of Supramalleolar Orthosis. In order to support SMO braces for adults and children, specialized shoes are required.
The shoes might look the normal ones apparently, but there are certain features to look for, which makes them applicable to be worn with SMO braces. The best thing to be aware of here is to know about the specific size or dynamics of your SMOs and then choosing the footwear accordingly. This applies to people of all ages including toddlers, pre-teens, adults and seniors, regardless of gender.
Best Toddler Shoes to Support SMO Braces:
For Boys
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See Kai Run Tanner Sneaker
These wide shoes for toddlers are nothing less than a blessing when you are searching for the most facilitating one with braces. The footwear is made from 100% fabric and is extremely comfortable. You will get it with a sturdy rubber sole of full length and that makes the entire footwear stable and quite lightweight as well.
The manufacturer has also stuffed it with the rubber toe caps built in the footwear that provides supplementary durability and protection as well. The combination of adjustable straps and the faux laces is excellent to get the most customized fit with the braces.
- Fabric made
- Padded tongues and collars
- Breathable
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Memo New York AFO Kids Corrective Orthopedic Tennis Shoes
The shoes with zippers for braces are even more ideal as they give a little more extra room to accommodate braces. This one comes with a sturdy rubber sole and the most flexible option that your toddler could have when worn along with SMOs.
The manufacturer market is the only sneaker that comes with the desirable Thomas Heel and a stiff heel counter as well for the kids. Moreover, the leather upper is also good and durable. The arch support with insoles is top of the line and aptly addresses the needs of toddlers with braces. In short, the shoes provide a unique combination of urban design, timeless elegance and applicability with SMOs as well.
- Leather upper
- Side zipper
- Stiff heel counter
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Heelys Voyager Shoes for SMOs
This is a pair of unisex shoes, which both the boys and girls could wear along with the braces if they are having it. The pair is quite accommodating with all its features, especially the enormous room inside the shoes. You can easily play around with the different available sizes to get the best fit for your toddler.
The rest of the customization would be easily handled by the laces, which you can bring into best use. The shoes are synthetically made and come with the much-needed rubber sole as well. The shaft measures for the arch support are also desirable for SMOs.
- Synthetic
- Rubber sole
- Arch support
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For Girls
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Apakowa Bowtie Toddler Girls Mary Jane Flat Sandals Shoe with Arch Support
- Synthetic
- Leather insole
- Fixed heel and head
Memo Princessa Corrective Orthopedic Shoes
The footwear overall is lightweight, flexible and durable. It is designed by the manufacturer to support flat feet issues and also to accommodate braces. The shoe could be purchased online in a variety of different colors of your choice.
- Leather made
- Lightweight
- Flexible
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Apakowa Bowtie Toddler Girls Mary Jane Flat Sandals Shoe with Arch Support
These are elegant looking synthetic shoes that could be availed in two different color options. The unique selling point of this pair is its orthopedic nature, where the spacious room inside could best support the SMOs when installed.
You will be definitely amazed by its leather insole that provides the near-to-perfect arch support and helps in the prevention of flat feet. The on and off the need of the shoe is easily fulfilled with the easy to use hook and loop strap. It is definitely one of the finest choices for girls with braces.
- Synthetic
- Leather insole
- Fixed heel and head
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Memo Iris Corrective Orthopedic Ankle Brace Shoes
The pair of these shoes from Memo with its diagnostic system is capable of testing the health of your feet. This imported pair of footwear comes with the durable Lug sole. Toddlers with braces would benefit from the extra depth and width of these shoes.
They also come with the fixed heel counter, which again is a desirable feature of the pair. Doctors typically recommend this footwear for toddlers with SMOs.
It is so because the shoes are designed and made in the EU by the industry-leading postural experts working in the Memorial health Institute for Children.
- Extra width and depth
- Rigid heel counter
- Lug sole
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Best Adult Shoes to Support SMO Braces:
For Men
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Dr. Comfort Ranger Men's Therapeutic Extra Depth Shoes
These high-end classy looking shoes are made from pure leather. The craftsmanship and the elegant style of DR. Comfort are evident in all its features. The wider inside with a good depth design makes it a fine choice for men with SMOs.
It is actually designed as a therapeutic shoe and has all the comforting and protective features, where men could be using braces as well. The pairing overall is quite light in weight as well. It features a hook and loop strap along with the lace closure as well.
- Leather made
- Lightweight
- Padded Lining
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Johnston & Murphy Men's McGuffey Slip-On Shoe
These USA made slip-on shoes are ideal for men with leg braces. It is so because of its wider size including wider toe box and also the lightweight Strobel manufacturing of the pair. The shoes are made from 100% leather and the skeletal lining is also done with pure leather.
The textile covered and properly cushioned insole further makes the thing comfortable for the wearer. The rubber sole is also there for providing the most stable experience off the ground. Overall, it is a stylish shoe with all the features that you want in a pair suitable for wearing with SMOs.
- Wider toe
- Lightweight
- Leather lining
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DR. COMFORT Carter Men's Casual Shoe
DR. Comfort is a good brand for wearing with AFOs and SMOs and this casual footwear, in particular, is ideal to wear with SMO braces. The shoes are made while ensuring extra depth in its design, which makes it possible to accommodate SMOs or any other kind of leg braces. The shoes have the hook and loop closure that ideally support sin giving the most customized fit.
Only the top quality material is ensured in its manufacturing, which prevents any quick wear and tear of the product. The stuff is breathable as well and with a seamless design to inhibit any skin irritation condition.
- Hook and loop closure
- Extra-depth design
- Breathable
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For Women
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Vionic Women’s Flex Aviva Slip-On Sneakers – Women Casual Flats with Concealed Orthotic Support
- Breathable mesh upper
- Slip-on
- Lightweight fabric
KEEN Women's Sienna MJ Quilted Mary Jane Flat
These are the finest and most elegant looking shoes that ladies can have to support their SMO braces. The shoes are made from leather and synthetic material, which is a good combination of the durability and performance of the shoes. The rubber sole platform provides excellent stability on a variety of surfaces.
The shoes are also quite light in weight, which is another reason for its applicability with braces. On top of that, the manufacturer provides it with a removable U footbed, which the wearer can employ as per the needs to easily accommodate braces. The rubber made outsole is top quality and non-marking in nature.
- Leather and synthetic made
- Lightweight
- Removable footbed
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Vionic Women’s Flex Aviva Slip-On Sneakers – Women Casual Flats with Concealed Orthotic Support
These casual flats from Vionic are top of the line shoes to support the SMOs. The slip-on style makes it easy to put on and off. The fabric is quite breathable and makes it easy to wear with braces in hot and humid conditions.
The pair is stuffed with a podiatrist-designed comfortable footbed, which promotes stability from the floor. On top of that, the wearer also benefits with its firm and flexible insoles, rubber outsole and padded collar.
The shoes overall are versatile and sporty and have enough space inside with comfortable cushioning to support your feet with braces without any hassle.
- Breathable mesh upper
- Slip-on
- Lightweight fabric
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Propet Women's Mary Jane Walker
This USA made shoes are 100% leather material. It comes with a durable rubber sole of full length that promotes easy mobility with a stable hold on the ground. The shaft measures for the arch are ideal to support feet with braces. Moreover, the heel measurement of 1.5 cm also helps in the footwear need.
You will be absolutely stunned with the quality of its leather, which is durable and dapper looking as well. The padded collar adds great support and comfort to the feet. Finally, the adjustable hook and loop strap provides the ability to adjust the pair right as per your needs.
- Arch support
- Leather made
- Hook and loop strap for adjustability
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Understanding SMO Braces:
A lot of people get confused after knowing about different types of braces. In the majority of orthotics guides for shoes and other related issues, what is an SMO brace is the most frequently asked question. SMO, as mentioned in the introduction, stands for Supramalleolar Orthosis. It is a support mechanism prescribed by orthotists to help with flexible, soft and flat feet issues.
An SMO brace ideally helps patients with the much-needed support provided to the foot right above the malleolus or the ankle bone. The prime intention behind the design of SMOs is to enable patients by maintaining a neutral or a vertical heel position, while also helping the arch support as well. SMOs are usually worn by kids but also used by adults as well in quite a few cases.
Before Your First Appointment with the Orthotist:
If your orthotist has advised you or your child for an SMO or any other leg brace, then the pair of the shoe needs to be purchased well before your first appointment. It is needed for the reason that the orthotist would adjust the SMO as per the size or dynamics of your footwear. Therefore, your search must begin well before your first SMO fitting appointment.
Approach for buying the shoes for SMOs:
An ample amount of variety is available online for anyone requiring shoes for SMOs. The approach discussed here works for all, including the shoe selection for toddlers and as well as adults. It is just that you need to map the points discussed here as per your specific requirements. The following is a list of few most critical things to consider when buying the desirable adults or toddler shoes for orthotics:
Buy a size up
Whatever your regular foot size is without the braces, buy shoes with a size 1 greater than that. Make sure that you don’t get carried away and order anything more than 1 size up. It is because any extra big size would give you stability issues and will impact your walking balance, which will become worse with the SMOs.
Wide Shoes with a Wider Toe Box
Shoes should always be considered that are wider in size. This is an obvious understanding as your shoes need to accommodate both your feet and SMO braces. A wider toe box is something that will also relieve your foot and will not exert much pressure, which is combined with the presence of braces.
Removable Insoles
There is plenty of footwear available from a wide variety of popular brands that offer shoes with removable insoles. By removing the insoles, you will be able to create more space inside the shoes to accommodate the SMOs. The size of kids especially tend to increase with time, therefore, a removable insole might just give that option to be re-inserted at a later time, if the growing size of the foot demands so.
Breathability
The breathability of feet is quite a concern when braces are used. In order to counter that, shoes that are breathable or with open spaces should be considered. The footwear with mesh upper is ideal in many cases as they don’t allow the foot to get sweaty in varying weather conditions.
Adjustable
In order to get the best-customized fitting with your shoes, always prefer footwear, which is adjustable. Adjustability in the footwear could come either with the Velcro straps or with the ones that come with shoelaces. You can employ either the Velcro straps or the shoelaces to get the customized fit.
Lightweight
You really don’t want to complicate things anymore with your footwear after having a foot brace installed already. In order to make your life relatively easier and promoting convenient waking motion, the lightweight shoe should only be preferred.
Order an Extra Pair if you get the Right Size
The shoes for orthotics for toddlers and even for adults should come with a backup pair as well. Obviously, it is hard to live just with a single pair of shoes, no matter if you are an adult or a kid. However, it is advised to order one pair after the other online. It is good in the sense that you will only order the second pair when the first one meets your size requirements with precision.
General tips to Wear Shoes with SMO Braces:
- Always use socks when you are having shoes with braces. A simple pair of cotton socks (ideally moisture-wicking) is preferred here so that the skin doesn’t get impacted with any rashes due to braces, which is usually experienced with many. Don’t consider heavy woolen socks as the braces could lead to overheated and sweaty feet, where such thick socks should be avoided.
- The Velcro strap shoes should be considered with the strap extension as well? get the most desirable fitting.
- Comfort is of the essence with the shoes and not the support for the feet as the SMOs are already there to provide your feet with the needed support.
- The shoes for SMO orthotics must be considered for their expansion as well when determining the size. The majority of the shoes open up after some usage.
Conclusion:
Shoes are the most major concern of all those people, who have SMOs or any other types of braces applied to their legs. Hunting for the most applicable pair needs some working to be done. Most importantly, it is first about knowing your brace type and all its dynamics.
The next step comes is to get the best shoe, which is able to accommodate the braces within. Generally speaking, shoes with a wider size and a wider toe box are applicable here. Other critical features of the shoes required are its flexibility, removable insole and adjustability, which usually comes with Velcro straps or shoelaces. This is applicable to everyone with braces, including children, adults and seniors.
