What types of shoes are used to treat clubfoot?

As part of the Ponseti treatment method, doctors correct clubfoot with a special type of brace formed by attaching customized footwear to the ends of a bar, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Commonly known as "boots and bars," this brace keeps the clubfoot at the correct angle.

Clubfoot is a congenital deformity where the tendons linking the foot to the leg are short and tight and cause a foot to turn inward, explains AAOS. While the exact cause of clubfoot is unknown, a popular theory faults a mix of both environmental and genetic factors. If left untreated, clubfoot may lead to a painful disability that limits movement.