It’s getting to be for back to school shopping and on the top of most family’s list are new shoes to start the new school year. At Long Island Foot & Ankle Group we want to offer families the following tips to help you ensure a proper fit:
- Do your shoe shopping later in the day. That’s when feet are most swollen and will help reduce the risk of shoes feeling tight after they are purchased.
- Have your child’s feet measured professionally. This should be done for both feet and while the child is standing up and bearing full weight on the foot.
- Have your child wear the type of socks they will be wearing with the shoes you are buying.
- Invest in good quality shoes—it’s one of the biggest ways of protecting your child’s feet. Shoes have a firm heel counter (stiff material on both sides of the heel), a built-in arch and good cushioning on the insole. The shoe should be flexible at the ball of the foot area but not in the middle. Finally, the shoe should have a decent tread.
- Shoes should have at least a half an inch of space between the toes and the front of the shoe and toes should be able to move around inside the shoe. The back of the shoe should hold the heel firmly without slipping.
- Run your hand around the inside of the shoe to check for loose fabric or rough stitching that may rub on the skin.
- Once your child has found a pair of shoes that they think are comfortable, have them walk around the store with both shoes on for several minutes. Then take the shoes off and inspect your child’s feet for red marks or any signs of pressure from the shoes.
If you have noticed any changes in your child’s activity level, limping or strange walking/running patterns, schedule an appointment with one of our foot and ankle surgeons, Dr. Russell Caprioli, Dr. Mary Ann Bilotti, Dr. John Haight and Dr. Marzana Mleczko. A foot examination can reveal developing podiatric problems in your child and may influence shoe choices. Contact our Valley Stream or Lake Success office by calling: (516) 825-4070 or (516) 327-0074 today.