The Importance of Correctly Fitted shoes

Children’s feet and limbs are constantly changing, rotating and developing from birth to adolescence. It is important that your child is able to walk and run correctly, without excessive tripping, falling and without pain.

Children’s foot problems can range from growth issues where muscles and tendons can pull on bones, skin and toenail problems, footwear issues and funny walking patterns.

FOOT ANATOMY

There are 26 bones, 19 muscles, 107 ligaments plus an array of delicate blood vessels, nerves and tissue fibres all working together to control the movement of each foot. The majority of the brains information about movement comes from the nerve endings in the foot, making the feet and using the feet to sense the ground beneath very much part of balance and coordination. This is especially important in young children as they learn to walk.

Bones start out as cartilage and it isn’t until the child reaches about 18 years old that all of the constituent parts of the foot are fully developed. The arch also develops later in childhood, usually between ages 2 and 5 but sometimes later. It is not a structural part of the foot but a muscle that needs to be used and worked to develop. This is why toddler feet can appear very flat and can often seem to roll in or pronate

At 6 months, the foot is made up of mostly cartilage and is highly susceptible to deformity as a result of ill-fitting shoes.

At 2, the bone structure is still developing but there are still large gaps between the bones.

By 8 years old, although the second part of phalangeal and metatarsal bones can be seen, they will take a further 10  years to fuse together. Ill-fitting shoes can easily affect this process.

This is why you should always get your child measured and fitted for footwear, never buying off the shelf, online or “having a go” with a foot measure you’ve bought.

It might seem cheaper but, in the end, cost your child more.