Everything a parent needs to know before school shoe shopping!

We know the school year has only just wrapped up, but we thought we’d give you plenty of time to get yourself prepped for 2022.


Back to school often means the (sometimes) dreaded new shoe shop. But, we are here to make it hopefully a touch easier by ensuring you have all the facts you need to start your children’s year off on the right foot… literally!


Your child's feet are constantly changing as they grow and so ensuring that they have supportive, well fitted and good quality school shoes is a must. During the school years children spend a huge percentage of time in their school shoes, so it only makes sense that we select the right ones!


Longevity

It’s common to aim for a pair of shoes that are going to last all year, but this isn’t always achievable.


School shoes can cop quite the beating, and scuffs, water damage and general wear and tear can affect the integrity of your child’s shoes.


Secondly, your child’s feet can grow quite rapidly, and it isn’t unusual for them to need a new pair to accommodate this during the year!


Whilst you may be lucky enough to make it through the year on the same pair, we recommend doing a little check in on size and wear and tear at the beginning of each term.


Shoe Criteria

There are a number of things to look out for when buying a pair of school shoes for your child including:


  • Quality – you really do pay for what you get!
  • Purpose – ballet flats can be a nice looking alternative to the standard school shoe, however you will be sacrificing your child’s lower limb health!
  • Shock absorption – children are very active, so this is a must!
  • Material – leather and natural fibres are often the best choice.
  • Structure – try and stay away from anything too rigid and heavy. Closed shoes that are secured with velcro, laces or buckles are always the best option.
  • Bend – check that the shoes bend around the area that your child’s feet naturally do.
  • Fit – they should fit snuggly around the heel with no room to move around/slip in & out.


Wearing them in

We always recommend that your child takes some time over the school holidays to wear their new shoes in. As with any new shoes, blisters can develop upon first wear.


Ensuring your children’s lower limbs are well looked after…


Of course, we always recommend an annual visit to see us to ensure that your child’s feet are well supported. Our experienced podiatrists can assist you in choosing the correct footwear for your child and give plenty of suggestions on how to care for their feet through these shaping years!

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A recent study shows that 1 in 5 people develop foot pain at some stage throughout their lives. This is influenced by your job, activity, and lifestyle, and the more active you are, the more likely you will develop foot pain. Fixing foot pain is what we do, so how does your Podiatrist at Sole Focus Podiatry support your sole? We have many treatment options available, and the underlying cause of your sore feet will determine the best treatment option. Footwear Advice In some cases, simple footwear advice is all that’s required, and it’s essential to make sure your footwear matches the activity and your foot type. If you’re on your feet all day, then you need a shoe that is both supportive and stable and has adequate cushioning. Suitable footwear comes with a price, but how valuable are your feet? Orthotics If you have flat feet, you may benefit from having orthotics made. When you stand, if your foot flattens and rolls inwards at the ankle too much, it places a lot of on the muscles and tendons, and this is often the source of many long-term foot and ankle problems. Shockwave Therapy If you have a typical foot type, and we’ll tell you if this is the case, yet you are still getting sore feet, you may benefit from Shockwave Therapy. Shockwave therapy delivers gentle, focused acoustic waves to the painful/damaged tissues. It is clinically proven to treat various foot and leg conditions, including heel pain, heel spurs, Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and knee pain. Exercises Yes, suitable footwear and orthotics can help, but you need to focus on strengthening your feet so they can withstand higher forces. Our Podiatrists can curate a personalized stretching and strengthening program to help keep your feet and legs strong! Take Action Untreated foot problems can and will lead to long-term joint damage and arthritis, so putting it off now will only make things worse later. No two feet are the same, which is why our podiatrists are trained to offer various treatment options. To make an appointment with one of our experienced Podiatrists, call us on (07) 4529 7430 or book an appointment here .
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