The human foot is composed of 26 bones. Each foot has 33 joints and more than 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments that work together to provide the body with support, balance, and mobility.
By the age of 12, a child's foot reaches about 90 percent of the length of an adult's foot, so it is essential to wear good shoes from an early age to prevent any foot problems. Although some foot problems may be inherited from parents, improper footwear can aggravate foot conditions and lead to foot and toe deformities that can last a lifetime.
Basic rules for choosing shoes for children:
- Choose shoes that are lighter and more flexible. You should be able to bend them in half with the effort of two fingers.
- When buying shoes, measure the length and width of your child's feet. Remember that most people have one foot slightly longer than the other.
- Shoes should fit right now, not for the future. Shoes that are too big will contribute to foot injuries and ankle sprains.
- The toe area of the shoe should be the shape of the foot and deep enough so that the toes can move and not be one on top of the other.
- There should be a distance of about the width of the finger between the end of the longest toe and the end of the shoe.
- Inspect your child's shoes regularly for wear and deformation.
- Children should not wear shoes with high heels, as this can cause permanent damage.
A child's foot develops into a healthy one if it gets enough varied activities and nothing restricts its mobility. This requires that the child walks barefoot on grass, soil, sand and pebbles as much as possible.
If you think that your child's foot shape is unusual or that he has a strange gait, be sure to show your child to a specialist.