This was revealed in a survey where it was discovered that over two thirds of the children who wore shoes had the wrong sizes. In this survey, conducted with over 2000 parents, it was found that 47 percent of the kids wore one size smaller and a further 18 percent wore two sizes smaller, thus exposing them to the risk of foot deformities.
The view of experts is that the foot problems and posture issues arising out of wearing the wrong sizes of footwear could surface at a later stage in life. The problem is believed to be rampant because boys and girls grow up very fast and parents end up encouraging them to wear larger sizes.
What is the health risk involved?
What is interesting to note is that more than half the parents never took the trouble of measuring the feet of the child. Their perceptions were merely visual and not thorough, thus exposing the child to the risk of Hallux Valgus.
Hallux Valgus causes the contortion of the big toe by making it crook obliquely towards the other toes of the same foot. These causes a swelling of the synovial bursa of the great toe which leads to the enlargement of the joint and a painful bump either sideways or below the affected toe.
When the angle of the Hallux Valgus exceeds 15 degrees, it is considered abnormal. It was discovered in a research conducted in 2009 that 3.3 percent of children who wore the wrong sized footwear had angles in excess of the prescribed 15 degrees. However around 26 percent of the kids did not have any abnormality and were well within the 10 to 15 degree angles which is considered natural.
Tips for parents
Prevention is better than cure. In order to forestall any foot abnormalities for children it is advisable to follow certain protocols while selecting a new pair of footwear for kids.
Firstly there are no binding rules in the footwear industry when it comes to sizing shoes and sandals. This means that the same sizes between different brands will vary on different scales. So there is no “one size fits”. So it would make sense to measure and check out the shoe size which is imprinted on the shoe and not on what’s on the box.
While measuring the foot, measure both feet because the size of the feet need not necessarily be the same. Sometimes one foot can even be a centimeter and half longer than the other. It helps to consider selecting a shoe for the foot that is bigger.
Parents are encouraged to ensure that there is ample space for the feet inside the shoe. Specialists recommend that the child’s great toe should be at least ½ an inch from the inside of the toe cap while in standing position.
It is suggested that the shoes of the child should be checked either every fortnight or every month. This is because children are not aware of sizes and tend to squeeze their feet into smaller kid shoes. So it makes sense to measure the feet of the child at regular intervals. Shoes should necessarily be changed when it is noticed that the feet have grown in size. If there are signs of swelling or pain or any other visual disorder is detected, the feet should be immediately measured. Also, as is the case with shoes made from leather, it should be checked if there is distortion or bulge which is a sure sign that the shoes don’t fit the child.
