mitchell-clubfoot-shoes

Mitchell Clubfoot Shoes have continued to evolve since first
becoming available in early 2003.   Because of our unique
circumstances of having three boys with bilateral clubfoot, and two
of them needing a foot abduction brace at the same time, John
Mitchell has let us test a few of his various prototypes over the
years.

One of his designs included shoes that could swing back and forth
between 40 and 90 degrees.   It was decided this shoe did not hold
the necessary 60 degrees of outward rotation necessary for
successful correction (in the Markell shoe this would be 70 degrees,
click here for clubfoot shoe identification photos)

Later John's staff invented a bar that could snap off and on. Early
models of this shoe included "beaver teeth" buttons under the toe
of each shoe for stability, but as the design evolved, these were
eliminated.    A removable bar was a huge advantage to the
clubfoot shoe, allowing children to wear the "feet" in their blanket
pajamas, as demonstrated at your right by Everett.   The snap-bar
made cloths changing easier, and allowed children to sit in grocery
cart (etc.) much easier as the bar quickly snapped off and on.

Yet another product idea was a shoe that came apart in three
pieces so that parts could be inter-changable and washable.
These shoes did not hold together well however, popping apart
when the shoe was cinched up tight on the feet.

With the snap-on / snap-off bar perfected, parents across the globe
breathed a collective sigh of relief because suddenly clubfoot
shoes were so easy to use!

With in the year, the next big thing hit the market - the Articulating
Bar. Although introduced to the world of clubfoot treatment, and
particularly the Ponseti Method of clubfoot correction by Dr. Dobbs
out of St. Louis, Missouri more than two years ago, MD
Orthopaedics introduced their own design for testing early in 2007.
Again my boys Everett and Garrison were chosen to give this new
prototype a test-run here at home.

I think the articulating bars will see increased use in the mainstream
foot abduction use, but parents should not consider their child as
getting "inferior" treatment if they continue with the straight bar, as it
has been successfully holding the correction of clubfooted children
for many decades. I am completely satisfied with the straight
(non-articulating) bar. If you browse this site you will see numerous
photos of my boys conducting their lives as normal both in and out
of their clubfoot braces and straight bars.   I only started using the
articulating bar in the past two weeks and while it's "tricky", my boys
both have preferred their regular flat, stationary bar because it is
more secure underneath them as they stand and walk.

To the left here you see Garrison, only 10 months old in these
photos climbing the stair case in his foot abduction brace - this is
the regular flat, straight bar, articulation is not necessary for your
child to function. My boys climb stairs, climb themselves in to
chairs, up on beds; Everett can walk and jump in his; Garrison isn't
quite old enough to do those things yet but he can stand and cruise
in his.