Top tips for back to school shoes

Shops all over the country are now heaving with parents and children buying shoes for the start of school.

The healthy development of feet in the early years is vital to help avoid problems in later life.

Lorraine Jones from The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists gives parents some top tips on how to be sure your child is set on the path for healthy feet for life.

The perfect fit

• A quick, easy and effective way to check if your child’s shoes fit correctly is to draw around the outline on the foot on a piece of paper. Place the shoe on top of the outline – if the shoe doesn’t cover all of the outline then the shoes are too small
• The toe area should be foot-shaped and of sufficient depth which will allow the toes to move freely
• The heel height should be no greater than 4cm with a broad base of shock-absorbing material
• The shoe should fit snugly around the heel area. It is held on the foot with laces, Velcro or a strap and is made of leather.
• Check the size of their socks – this is easy to forget, but it is essential to ensure that your child’s socks allow room for growth and are not restrictive

Trainers can also be foot friendly shoes, but feet should still be measured before buying them. You should also get your child's feet measured in every shoe shop you visit – there are slight differences in sizing by different footwear manufacturers.

Wear and Care

Unusual wear can be the first sign that there is a problem with foot posture or general posture and should always be investigated.

Normally, wear can be seen across the back of the heel or between the back and the outside. Look out for severe wear on the inside or outside of the heel which may carry forward to the sole of the shoe. The heel area of the upper may also be broken and bulge inside or outside.

Teenagers in particular can be secretive about foot problems and a trivial, easily solved problem can become more serious if neglected.

Inspect children’s feet regularly for inflamed nails, red pressure marks on the top of the small joints of the toes, below the ankle bones and at the back of the heel.

This article was published on Thu 2 September 2010