The shaping of foot habits is an often overlooked but crucial part of children’s healthy growth. Studies show that the proportion of cartilage in the feet of children under the age of 7 is as high as 70%, and improper shoe-wearing methods may cause gait abnormalities in 30% of adolescents.
Decoding the invisible crisis of children's foot development
Behavioral causes behind four typical problems
“Snail-type” toes: Too narrow toe squeeze causes 60% of children to have hallux valgus tendency
“Sunk” arch: Insole with insufficient support increases the incidence of flat feet by 2.4 times
“Pendulum” gait: Poor heel wrapping causes X/O-type legs accounting for 18%
“Stuffy” environment: Footwear with unqualified breathability increases the risk of fungal infection by 57%
Growing pains ≠ normal phenomenon: medical warning signals
When children have the following symptoms, it often indicates abnormal foot habits:
Frequent request to take off shoes (more than 3 times every 15 minutes)
Unilateral wear of the sole exceeds 2mm difference
Heel pain in the morning lasts for more than 1 week
Preventive measures
First of all, choosing the right shoes is the basis for children to develop healthy foot habits. When parents choose shoes for their children, they should pay attention to the comfort and functionality of the shoes. Comfortable and breathable shoes with good support and cushioning are essential elements of shoes. Secondly, daily foot care is equally important. Parents should teach their children to wash their feet every day and choose insoles and socks with good breathability. Finally, strengthening foot exercises has a positive effect on promoting children’s foot development, improving balance and coordination. Skipping, shuttlecock kicking, running and other sports can not only exercise foot muscles, but also enhance ankle stability.
Cultivating children’s foot habits is a protracted battle that requires wisdom and patience. Roadtekshoes has specially launched a series of shoes for the golden growth period to match exclusive shoes for children at different stages.