In the back-to-school rush malls and shoe stores across the country are bustling with parents and children looking for that perfect new pair of shoes, which are at the top of the list of the must-haves for the new school year. For the student style is the most important thing in finding just the right shoes. Parents, however, need to be concerned not only with fashion, but also with the proper fit of the shoes.
“Many school children are wearing shoes that are too small, despite the risk of injury and deformity associated with ill-fitting shoes,” said California Podiatric Medical Association (CPMA) President Thomas Elardo, DPM, a podiatric physician and surgeon practicing in Los Gatos, CA. “Shopping for both fashionable and proper fitting shoes can be a daunting task.
Shop for shoes in the afternoon. Feet tend to expand throughout the day.
Avoid slip-on shoes. Choose shoes with laces, straps or Velcro fastenings, which act like a seatbelt in a car, holding the shoe onto the foot.
Always have both feet measured for length and width. Shoes that are the wrong size can damage a growing foot. Have the feet measured while the child is standing and fully weight-bearing.
A newly fitted shoe should be approximately 1 inch longer than the longest toe to allow for growth and extension and flexing of the foot when walking.
Heel height should be no more than 1 ½ inches. Lower in younger children. The heel should be broad based and be made from a shock-absorbing material.
Natural materials uppers such as leather are best. Check inside the shoe for seams or stitching that may cause irritation.
The toe area of the shoe should be toe-shaped and deep enough to allow the toes to move freely and not be squashed from the top or sides.
Shoes should fit comfortably around the heel without being too tight or too loose.
Bring a pair of socks that the child will be wearing with the shoes. Have them try on both shoes (with the socks) and walk around the store. Ask the child if he or she feels any pressure spots in the shoe.
Since one foot can be slightly bigger than the other, buy for the bigger foot.
Pick shoes that do not need a "break-in" period. The shoes you purchase should be comfortable right away. If shoes are too tight, they can cause blisters, calluses or corns. This is critical for children with diabetes.
Inspect your children’s shoes regularly for unusual wear and seek professional advice if concerned. Unusual wear may be the first indication that there is a problem with the foot, posture or general posture and should always be investigated by a podiatric physician. Normally, wear is across the back of the heel or between the back and the outside. Look for severe wear on the inside or outside of the heel. This may carry forward to the sole of the shoe. Also the heel area of the upper may be broken and bulge inside or outside.
Inspect children’s feet regularly for inflamed nails and red pressure marks on the top of the small joints of the toes, below the ankle bones and the back of the heel.
Remember that teenagers in particular can be secretive about foot problems and a small, easily rectified problem can be more serious if neglected.
Don’t have your child wear the same shoes every day, change it up.
To help ensure proper foot development in children and the proper footwear for developing feet visit a podiatric physician for an examination and evaluation. To find a local licensed podiatric physicians visit www.calpma.org.