Kid’s Shoe Fit Can Prevent Plantar Fasciitis
It seems that every few months your children need new shoes and you may try to stretch your budget by fixing their current shoes or by giving them a pair a big sister or brother has discarded. Unfortunately, either solution may not be good for the feet of the child who needs a shoe fix. Some health issues caused by improperly fitted, worn out or hand me down shoes include plantar fasciitis, Morton’s neuroma, excessive sweating, hammertoes, corns, bunions and blisters.
Feet are critical to the health of the human body. Your kids have twenty six bones in their feet with half located in the toes. They have muscles, ligaments and joints making their feet incredibly complex. As an adult you know from experience what problems foot pain or injuries can cause in your day-to-day life and this is even more frustrating for a child.
One way you can put an end to the possibility of problems with your kids’ feet is by examining their feet and shoes frequently. A foot inspection will alert you to problems your child has not yet found painful, and a shoe inspection will help you decide whether or not you want to repair or replace them. Following is a suggested checklist of issues to be considered.
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–How does the sole of the shoe look? Was it thin to begin with or has it thinned in response to use?
–Is either heel loose?
–Ask your child to put the shoes back on and check if they have adequate toe room or places where there the shoe causes friction against their skin.
–Have your child walk in the shoes so you can see their gait.
–What is the size of the feet being inspected? Most people have one foot larger than the rest. If you are not sure of the size take your child to a shoe store to be sized properly.
–Are there any obvious defects such as blisters, fissures, bunions, corns or spots that are just plain red and irritated?
–Do you notice any big patches of excessively dry skin?
–Give your child a foot rub and watch for signs of pain or cramping.
–Make note of any problems that necessitate a visit to your pediatrician.
–Pay attention to the size of the shoes as compared to the size your child wears. It may be possible to continue wearing shoes slightly bigger than the current size but never let them wear shoes that are too small.
–When finished taking a look at your kid’s feet and shoes consider if you can repair any issues without harming the feet that wear the shoes. If there is no toe room but the shoes otherwise fit you may be able to stretch the toe box with stretching spray and a shoe stretcher depending on the shoes.
When the soles are very flimsy or stretch too easily in response to pressure then your child may develop plantar fasciitis which is a painful inflammation of the connective tissues in the arch of the foot. If you can flex the shoes below the toe box then the shoes need to be replaced.
When the heel of your child’s shoes are too big compared to the rest of the shoe, use a heel insert made for children. You want to avoid having your child develop hammer toes caused by using their toes to keep the shoes from slipping off. Calluses on the tops of the toes is a giveaway that the heels of the shoes are too lose.
If the shoes fit well but there a few spots of pressure, try different socks. Socks now come in a variety of thickness and weight. Your little one may need a thicker sock to prevent pressure wear particularly if they often wear sports shoes. Teens athletic shoes in particular because pain or not the think they can still run with plantar fasciitis. This of course only aggravates the inflamed plantar fascia and tends to put healing at a slower pace.
If the issues with your child’s feet seem ongoing despite new and properly fitted shoes, they may need an orthotics . Ask your M.D. to recommend an orthopedist for an evaluation. Most of the orthotic devices are made of plastic and help distribute body weight evenly and realign the foot.
The feet your child is born with are the feet they will walk around on throughout their life. Paying attention to their feet can improve their general health by eliminating leg, back and neck pain. A child will walk the distance around the earth several times during their life time. Don’t you want to make that journey as pain free and comfortable as possible ? This is the kind of attention to detail that when paid can prevet heel spurs and other painful conditions
Plantar Fascia stretching for pain relief
Healthlink Medical college of Wisconsin
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