Foot pain among children is an area often overlooked or neglected by parents. Frequently, the culprit behind the foot pain may be a pair of ill-fitting shoes.
According to Joseph M. Caporusso, the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) president, "foot health is incredibly important to a person's overall health and wellbeing."
So, it is important to choose a pair of shoes that fit right in order to avoid any health risks. Following are some tips from the APMA to help parents select proper-fitting shoes for their children:
* During childhood, shoe and sock sizes change fast. Parents should take this into consideration and change their child's shoes as he/she grows
* Do not force the child to wear shoes that do not fit him/her properly
* Never allow your child to share his/her shoes with friends, to avoid fungal infections like athlete's foot and nail fungus
* Ensure that the child's foot is even with heels to avoid foot problems
* Buy shoes only after the child tries it and ensure that it fits him/her properly
* Always go for a larger size
* Buy only comfortable shoes
A survey conducted by the APMA in April found six in every 10 teens in the country suffering from foot pain, and a significant number of youngsters neglecting their foot pain.
"Our survey found that only about half of teens see feet as important to their overall health, but many are living with foot pain. It's vital that we educate teens on how to properly care for their feet and when to visit today's podiatrist, the foot and ankle expert," Caporusso said in a news release.
