NO MEAN FEET // how we helped to correct positional talipes with barefoot technology

When Big Sis was born, she had a slight case of Positional Talipes.

Regular talipes, also known as club feet, is a common condition where the feet excessively turn down or inwards from the ankles. It affects about one UK baby in every 1,000 born (in half of these cases, both feet are affected).

It’s not entirely understood why the condition occurs, although there is believed to be a genetic link, and it can usually be corrected with a technique called the Ponsetti Method.

Big Sis’s positional talipes was a bit different; in a very simplistic nutshell, her feet had been squished for so long in the womb they remained a bit turned in after she’d been born. 

We were assured they’d straighten out in time – most certainly by the time she started walking. They did to some degree, but there was still a marked ‘Pigeon Toe’ look to her feet – particularly on the right.

So began a series of disastrous visits to various foot doctors, who all said the same thing – it’ll straighten out by itself. Except it didn’t.

It wasn’t a huge deal; it didn’t seem to bother her, or stop her from doing anything, but it was visibly noticeable. We didn’t want it to impede her movement, or make her feel self conscious when she was older. 

My osteopath (AKA, The Miracle Worker) recommended that we let her go barefoot as much as possible, as this would help her feet to spread out properly, engage all the muscles, and pull the foot outwards again. All very well when were at home, but not so practical in colder weather, or when we were out and about.

So I was interested to read about VIVOBAREFOOT. Basically, they dispel the idea that shoes need to be snug fitting, and with arch supports and cushioned heels. Their shoes are stripped back to basics to mimic the sensation of being barefoot. They’re cut nice and wide, so the feet have plenty of space to stretch and move. The soles are thin and uncushioned, so your feet, nerves and leg muscles react naturally to the ground underneath.

It’s like going barefoot, but in shoes. 

The VIVOBAREFOOT team very kindly agreed to send out a pair of their sandals for Big Sis to try. The ‘Mary-Jane’ style went with most outfits, so I pretty much put her in them every day over summer. 

Nearly two months on I’ve seen a definite improvement in her positional talipes, not just in her feet when she’s standing still, but also in the way she walks. She even seems to run easier (hence the picture above!). 

I can’t say for sure if it’s all down the the VIVOBAREFOOT shoes, but as that’s the only thing I’ve done differently, I’m confident they’re the catalyst.

I’m convinced enough to look at buying the trainer-style shoes now the colder months are approaching. At £42 they’re at the more expensive end of the scale for kids’ shoes, but it’s a price I’m more than happy to pay to help Big Sis put her best foot forward.

• our VIVOBAREFOOT sandals were provided for the purpose of this review