Children’s school footwear: the impact of fit on foot function

NewsBot · Apr 23, 2021

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Children’s school footwear: the impact of fit on foot function, comfort and jump performance in children aged 8 to 12 years
ElsaMatthias HelenBanwell JohnArnold
Gait & Posture 18 April 2021

Highlights
•Footwear that was too small restricted hindfoot, midfoot and 1st MTPJ motion
•Footwear sizing did not impact vertical or standing broad jump performance
•Correctly fitted footwear was rated as most comfortable
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Background
There is a common perception that poorly fitting footwear will negatively impact a child’s foot, however, there is limited evidence to support this.

Aim
To determine the effect of shoe size on foot motion, perceived footwear comfort and fit during walking, maximal vertical jump height and maximal standing broad jump distance in children aged 8 to 12 years.

Methods
Fourteen participants completed 3D walking gait analysis and jumping tasks in three different sizes of school shoes (one size bigger, fitted for size, one size smaller). In-shoe motion of the hindfoot, midfoot and 1st metatarsophalangeal joint (1st MTPJ) were calculated using a multi-segment kinematic foot model. Physical performance measures were calculated via maximal vertical jump and maximal standing broad jump. Perceived footwear comfort and fit (heel, toes and overall) was assessed using a 100 mm visual analog scale (VAS). Differences were compared between shoe sizes using repeated measures ANOVA, post-hoc tests and effect sizes (Cohen’s d).

Results
Compared to the fitted footwear, the smaller sizing restricted hindfoot eversion (-2.5°, p = 0.021, d = 0.82), 1st MTPJ dorsiflexion (−3.9°, p = 0.012, d = 0.54), and compared to the bigger footwear, smaller sizing restricted sagittal plane midfoot range-of-motion during walking (-2.5°, p = 0.047, d = 0.59). The fitted footwear was rated as more comfortable overall with the smaller size rated as too tight in both the heel (mean difference 11.5 mm, p = 0.042, d = 0.58) and toes (mean difference 12.1 mm, p = 0.022, d = 0.59), compared to the fitted size. Vertical and standing broad jump distance were not impacted by footwear size (p = 0.218-0.836).

Significance
Footwear that is too small restricts foot motion during walking in children aged 8-12 years. Jump performance was not affected. Children were able to recognise shoes that were not correctly matched to their foot length, reinforcing that comfort is an important part of the fitting process
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NewsBot · Apr 23, 2021

NEWS RELEASE 19-APR-2021
The perfect fit: A 'shoe-in' for a great start to school
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

As the back-to-school rush begins, podiatry experts at the University of South Australia are encouraging parents to get their children's school shoes professionally fitted, as new research confirms that ill-fitted footwear can significantly impede foot movement and comfort.

In a new study, researchers tested the effect of shoe size on foot motion and comfort among children aged 8 to 12 years, finding that shoes that were one size too small restricted the normal movement of the heel, arch and big toe joint during walking.

The study also confirmed that a comfortable shoe fit can be determined by a 'rule of thumb', where the wearer's thumb width from their longest toe to the end of their shoe is an effective and accurate measure for comfortable fit.

Lead researcher and musculoskeletal expert, UniSA's Dr John Arnold says that well-fitted school shoes are important for children to feel comfortable at school.

"Thousands of school shoes are purchased every year with children wearing them for more than seven hours a day during school," Dr Arnold says.

"If a child's shoes don't fit well, they're likely to experience discomfort and pain, which can impact their participation and enjoyment of everyday activities such as play and sport.

"Importantly, our research found that when children's shoes were too small, they restricted foot and joint movements, which could create problems for children's feet in the future."

Co-researcher and podiatry expert, UniSA's Dr Helen Banwell says when it comes to the back-to-school rush, parents cannot afford to overlook the benefits of a well-fitted school shoe.

"The start of a new school year can creep up quickly, and it's easy to overlook or rush through the purchase of new shoes," Dr Banwell says.

"Our research shows that school-aged children can easily help identify a good shoe fit, by rating their level of comfort in the heel and toes.

"A good shoe fit will absolutely start your school year on the right foot."

NewsBot · Apr 23, 2021

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Sharon Smith · Oct 24, 2021

Very interesting to read this because part of my training as a foot health practitioner i observed various children shoe fittings and observed the difference in one child walking after correctly fitted for school shoes , she was 15 years old measured 2 sizes bigger than her current shoes, main thing I noticed was the extra amount of plantar flex .
I noticed the child had mild hallux valgus and 5th toe callous / corns , This report brought back a topic of shoe fitting I recall.

NewsBot · May 18, 2022

Impact of length and width of footwear on foot structure of preschool-aged children.
Puszczalowska-Lizis E, Lizis S, Prusak M, Omorczyk J.
PeerJ 10:e13403 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13403

Background
Due to the dynamics of developmental changes, the preschool age is of crucial importance for the later health and efficiency of the feet. The aim of this study was the analysis of the fitting of indoor footwear and its impact on the features of the foot structure in 6-year-old children.

Methods
The study group consisted of 100 children, including 50 girls and 50 boys at the age of 6 years. The applied device was the CQ-ST podoscope and the Clevermess. The data were analyzed based on Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-square test and regression analysis.

Results
About 60% of children wore correctly fitted shoes in terms of length and width. Multiple regression models with two variables explaining the variance of the Clarke’s angle were statistically significant for girls (right foot: p < 0.001 and left foot: p = 0.009), and boys (right foot: p < 0.001 and left foot: p < 0.001). The influence of predictive variables on the values of the heel angle (γ) was statistically significant for girls (right foot: p < 0.001 and left foot: p < 0.001) and boys (right foot p < 0.001 and left foot: p < 0.001).

Conclusions
Both in the case of girls and boys, the frequency of using too long and too wide shoes was higher in relation to the frequency of using too short and too narrow shoes. The length and width of the shoes affected the length and width of the footwear both in girls and boys. The longer and wider the shoes, the lower the height of the arch. Longer shoes are accompanied by a greater transverse arch, and wider ones with a lower transverse arch of the foot.
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NewsBot · Oct 13, 2022

Parents, health professionals and footwear stakeholders' beliefs on the importance of different features of young children's footwear: a qualitative study
Cylie M Williams et al
J Foot Ankle Res. 2022 Oct 12;15(1):73

Background: A small but building pool of evidence of the impact of footwear on children's function means understanding the different beliefs of stakeholders about footwear key features and flexibility is critical for translation into recommendations and to support parents and caregivers in purchasing footwear for their children. Therefore, this research aimed to describe how different stakeholders (health professionals, parents, and footwear industry representatives) described the importance of flexibility and other footwear features for young children.

Methods: This qualitative study was nested within an international modified Delphi online survey. Participants responded to open-ended questions about footwear component flexibility and asked if and why flexibility in these areas were important. Participants also described any other important footwear features. Inductive thematic analysis was used to generate themes.

Results: There were 121 responses from three stakeholder groups including health professionals (n = 90), parents of young children (n = 26) and footwear industry representatives (n = 5). Overarching themes described by participants included developmental impacts of footwear, therapeutic impact and how footwear may play a role in function.

Conclusion: There were key differences in how stakeholders viewed footwear and any perceived benefits of footwear components, much of which was not backed with empirical evidence. It was also identified that health professionals are using footwear within treatment recommendations. This work highlights the importance of understanding circumstances in which footwear may have a therapeutic impact or be the first line of treatment for children with complex foot needs. This is the first step in developing contemporary footwear recommendations for parents and caregivers.
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NewsBot · Oct 5, 2023

South African school shoes: Urgent changes required for our children’s unique feet
Marise C. Breet, Johanna E. de Villiers, Ranel Venter
Source

Ill-fitting shoes can negatively impact the developing foot. Despite the notable differences in foot shape between South African and European populations, shoe design largely adheres to a universal standard. This discrepancy may arise due to several factors, including limited data on the South African foot morphology, economic constraints, fashion trends, and consumer complacency. As such, the development and manufacturing of school shoes in South Africa face the challenge of accommodating the unique foot shape of the local population. Moreover, consumers should be knowledgeable about the potential long-term adverse consequences associated with wearing ill-fitting shoes.
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Children’s school footwear: the impact of fit on foot function

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Children’s school footwear: the impact of fit on foot function

NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

Sharon Smith Member

NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

Use of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for children’s foot, ankle and leg concerns

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Children’s footwear research

Certified pedorthic school

LECOM Opens New School of Podiatric Medicine

Are habitually barefoot children compelled to wear ill-fitting school shoes?

Share This Page

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