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Every year when school is about to
start, parents everywhere start pulling out their wallets for an annual
tradition – back to school shopping.
Back packs, markers, glue sticks,
crayons, blue jeans and new shoes are all thrown into the shopping cart. Most
importantly, kids shoes are the best thing a parent can buy for their child for
school.
Inappropriate shoes with no support, ill
fitted shoes or worn out shoes can cause a host of problems for children. Kids
wear flip flops all the time and it is alright to wear them to the swimming pool
or beach, but not to gym class or school. If they wear them outside or to play
in they can cause injuries to the foot and ankle. They are not as stable as
regular shoes.
If you child continues to wear shoes
that do not fit properly or do not provide adequate support, there is a wide
range of problems that could crop up, such as painful ingrown toe nails,
blisters, heel pain and flat feet.
Parents need to keep a few things in
mind when buying shoes for their children. Make sure the shoe fits. The child
needs to be there to try them on. Childrens feet can grow a size or two within
six months, it is important to allow room for growth in the toe area – as a
general rule of thumb - measure about a fingers width from the longest toe -
plus ensure they are wearing socks that they will be wearing for school - not
the socks (shoe hosiery) they give you to try on shoes at the shoe store - wear
the thick tube like socks.
Never buy shoes that feel tight and
uncomfortable in the shoe store. Do not assume they will stretch or break in
over time. You or your child will end up with miserable feeling feet or
blisters.
Another measure of good fit is the heel
area. The heel is the foundation of the arch in the foot.
Parents also need to make sure they buy
the right shoes for the activity the child is doing. Such as, cleats for
football, soccer and baseball offer more stability – but they are also rigid and
offer little to no shock absorption. A good orthotic insert can help with
comfort problems.
Children rarely complain about their
feet hurting, so if they do complain it is a sign to take notice and visit a
pediatrician or podiatrist if necessary.
In some instances, a child will outgrow
the foot problem such as heel pain that could be caused by a growth plate in
their heel. However, some problems may persist as years go on. If those
problems are not addressed in time, they could lead to later issues like lower
back, knee or hip problems and possibly a bad limp.
Orthotic inserts can help alleviate some
discomfort and pain. It is the best alternative to foot surgery. But if the
problem persists and appears to be lifelong, then surgery may be the only
solution.
Some of the warn signs parents should
look for is if their child complains about painful legs, night cramps, pain when
walking or standing, lower back and knee pain or they trip and fall often. In
most cases, just buying your child a good pair of running shoes will provide the
child with the support they need. Athletic shoes are good form fitting shoes
and have added support.
And there are a lot of styles and colors
to choose from when selecting a good athletic shoe. In summary – where good
fitting shoes – growing feet need the special attention to prevent problems
later in life. |
