School Shoes For Overall Health

Jan 02, 2024

As parents, we all want the best for our children, especially when it comes to their health and well-being. While we focus on nutrition, exercise, and regular check-ups, one often overlooked aspect of a child's health is the proper fit of their school shoes. The connection between well-fitted school shoes and overall health and well-being is more significant than we might realise, and this is where Ascent school shoes excel.

Children's feet are in a continuous state of growth and development. Their bones, muscles, and ligaments are all evolving. Ill-fitting shoes can interfere with this natural progression and lead to various health issues.

We asked Podiatrist Kyle Richardson some questions to help with selecting school shoes and about the warning signs to look for when it comes to your child’s foot health.

Here's what he had to say:

Given that some bones in the foot don't fully develop until age 6, good quality school shoes are a must. Feet are the foundation for our entire body so these little engineering masterpieces need to be protected during key developmental years.

As a Podiatrist, we see far too many children in our clinics with injuries that could have easily been prevented with the appropriate footwear. It is this reason why we are such big advocates for school footwear awareness. As the saying goes, 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure'. If we can give our children the best possible start to their footwear journey, it will put them in good stead for the future.

One of the most important things to avoid in a school shoe is too much flexibility. Children's feet are extremely flexible so it is important to be able to provide them with some support and structure. I am not saying you want to block up all of this movement with a really stiff shoe, but you also don't want to be able to wring the shoe out like a chamois. Whilst grabbing the shoe by the heel in one hand and the toe box in the other, you should be able to twist the shoe slightly from side to side, without it completely giving way. This means that the shoe will allow some natural movement of the foot, without it promoting it to collapse under load.

You should also be able to bend the shoe just behind the toe area, not through the middle. Being able to bend the shoe through the mid-section, suggests that the shoe is lacking structural integrity. A nice flexion point around the toe area means that the shoe bends with the foot at the toe-off phase of the gait cycle.

The other important feature is weight. The last thing our kids need is to carry around big, heavy shoes for up to 20,000 steps/day. It is important that the shoe has a nice blend of cushioning/support but also maintains a lightweight overall.

Finally, as a parent, there is nothing worse than getting halfway through the school year and seeing your child's toe sticking out the top of the shoe due to a hole in the upper. School shoes are used for walking, running, basketball (on concrete!), soccer; you name it! They need to have a durable upper and outer sole to stand up to the tests of the modern day school yard. This will not only save your kids feet from discomfort, but also save your bank account!

Given the amount of use that kids' school shoes get, we generally recommend replacing them every 12 months, especially for children who are extremely active during lunch breaks/after school etc. The outsole or underside of the shoe is quite often the first thing that will wear out, resulting in lack of grip/traction. The harshness of concrete floors in schools can take its toll on shoes over the year, particularly for children running around playing handball, basketball etc. The upper of the shoe is another area to monitor. As mentioned above, you should not be able to twist the shoe like a chamois when you move it side to side. Once the upper goes, the shoe tends to lose its structural integrity and hence no longer supports the foot.

The other factor at play is growth as we all know how fast their feet can grow during growth spurts! It is important to closely monitor this towards the back end of the school year, to ensure that their toes aren't getting squashed against the front of the shoe. This can lead to chronic ingrown toenails which can be extremely uncomfortable and take a long time to settle down.

There is a misperception out in the community that kids complaining of sore feet and legs is a normal part of the growing process and that 'they will grow out of it'.

This however is simply not true. Children should not experience consistent pain through growth phases and there are often simple solutions that can get their pain under control relatively quickly. If your child is complaining of discomfort, particularly after physical activity, we strongly recommend that you consult a Podiatrist. The Podiatrist will run your child through a biomechanical examination which will often include a video walking analysis, postural assessment, footwear analysis and strength assessment. This will help allow the Podiatrist to determine the cause of their discomfort and create a tailored treatment plan to get on top of their symptoms and get them back doing what they love asap.

In today's modern world, it is a challenge to keep kids active so if we can keep them pain free while playing sport or exercising, the more likely that they will want to continue.

In my 12 years as a Podiatrist, I have found Ascent to be the consistent market leader when it comes to the school shoe market in Australia.

The brand always produces high quality school shoes that have all the key features that Podiatrists look for when recommending shoes for children. Children spend on average 30-35hrs per week in their school shoes so it is important that they are spending this time in shoes that will support the foot, provide adequate cushioning, have a lightweight construction whilst also being able to deal with the physical demands of the school yard.

I regularly recommend Ascent with confidence knowing that these key features will be provided and knowing that the child's feet will in the best possible shoe during key developmental years.

My favourite Ascent school shoe is without a doubt the Apex. This shoe provides consistency year after year and provides children with the ultimate blend of comfort and support.

Ensuring your child wears well-fitted school shoes like those from Ascent is an investment in their health and well-being. When feet are happy and healthy, children can thrive in all aspects of their lives, both inside and outside the classroom. As parents, we can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that we're nurturing our child's health from the ground up.

So, as you prepare for the upcoming school year, remember that proper-fitting school shoes are not just an accessory; they're a fundamental element in your child's overall health and well-being. Choose Ascent school shoes, and watch your child take confident steps towards a brighter, healthier future.