Little Feet Don’t Deserve Little Attention!
Children’s feet have specific needs and requirements that you must look for when fitting them with a new pair of shoes.
Their feet are still developing and are generally hypermobile, flatter in the arch, overpronated, and wider when weight bearing. Children cannot be treated the same as adults when fitting them with proper footwear.
The Fitting Process
The Fitting Experts at Kintec will perform a proper analysis of your child’s feet, get to know their activity levels, and review previous foot injuries and pains. We will discuss all that we see with you, the parent, so you have a clear understanding of your own child’s feet.
When we fit children with shoes, we make sure that we are not limiting the feet.
Children’s feet are not as strong and developed as adult feet so it is much easier for an improper shoe to overpower the feet and block the natural motions of the joints in the feet. Here are some things to look for:
– A narrow heel to hug the hindfoot and prevent rubbing
– A wide toe box to accommodate the expanding forefoot
– Proper flex point to allow natural foot flexion
Velcro vs. Laces
The type of closure that is selected is very important. Generally aside from slip-on shoes, the two main options are velcro and laces.
Unless a child can lace up their own shoes properly go with velcro and transition to laces with a second pair of shoes that they can learn with at home.
Shoes must be secured properly for safety and function. If laces are left undone the shoes become a hazard to the child and their feet.
“Grow into them” – A Dangerous Phrase
Shoes must fit a child’s feet for the size they are right now, not in the future.
When shoes are fit to allow the child to grow into them, the natural flex points of the shoes and the feet will not align and can cause the child pain and discomfort.
A shoe that is too long also becomes a tripping hazard and can become dangerous for your child to walk or run in.
The Next Step
Shoes should never hurt a child’s foot. We see many cases of stiff, over-sized shoes (which do not allow natural foot function) leading to pain in the feet, ankles, or legs.
Please call a Kintec location near you to talk with our Fitting Experts and learn more about your child’s footwear needs. You can see our kids selection online here!
By Graham Archer, Certified Pedorthist, Kinesiologist, and VP of Pedorthics at Kintec
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