Its that time of year again… sending the kids back to school. It’s a common question we get asked in the clinic “What are the best shoes for my kids?”.
It is ideal for a shoe to have minimal impact upon the foot, so the foot can develop muscle strength and become more durable. Supportive shoes are only ever required if your child is injured & “flat feet” is merely a sign of flexibility, not an injury.
To find a shoe that allows the foot to move and develop we looked for
- Light weight and flexible, to allow the foot to move with natural biomechanics
- Small or no heel differential (the difference between the heel height and the forefoot height). A 0mm difference allows for optimal range and durability of the calf and Achilles to develop strength
- Leather upper for school safety regulations has been considered when necessary, but it’s certainly not a must have, if your school is cool with a canvas shoe.
Here’s our top 3 for boys and girls after review for this years school shoes:
These 3 “to avoid” shoes all have characteristics non-optimal to natural biomechanics and strength development of a child’s foot. A high heel raise shortens the range of the achilles/ calf, leading to less strength and durability in the long run. a higher heel raise also puts the ankle into a more unstable position, like adults wearing stilleto’s.
Although the Human Riff has a 0mm heel drop, it is not ideal due to its heavy weight and extremely rigid sole. All 3 of these shoes have rigid soles. Your foot has a natural mechanism to provide stability, and doesn’t need a rigid sole to provide that.
The final consideration you need to make is the shoe’s fit for YOUR child’s foot. Basically it needs to be comfortable which means not too tight in the width and length, but not so loose that the toes need to grip.
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ocean view physiotherapy
central coast foot & ankle physiotherapy
86 ocean view drive wamberal
