Tips in pediatric podiatry

When the baby begins to have his own mobility, small postural defects must be avoided so that the development of his feet is correct. We hope that the following lines serve as guidance. precautions to take

• A baby's feet are very flexible, therefore, they should not be covered with heavy clothing that restricts movement and can delay normal development.
• Don't put on shoes to the baby until starts walking, and the footwear don't have to tighten the toes.
• It is convenient that baby begins to crawl.
• Avoid incorrect foot positions.
• Do not try to force the child to walk, when his body is ready he will only begin to take the first steps.

the crawl es una fase importante en el desarrollo del niño porque favorece la formación de las articulaciones y el fortalecimiento de la musculatura. Por este motivo, no hay que forzar al niño a que camine antes de tiempo. El movimiento de autodefensa que utilizan los niños de descalzarse tiene mayor significado que el interpretamos. No está justificado el uso del denominado calzado pre andante o el calzado para el gateo ya que impide que el niño pueda percibir sensaciones, además de añadir un peso excesivo a los pies. Los niños pequeños, hasta la edad en la que empiezan a gatear, no deben estar calzados con zapatos. Si es preciso, para protegerlos del frío, se pueden usar calcetines “no apretados” o patucos. Cuando el niño comienza a andar, debe usar zapatos de materiales transpirables y pieles flexibles. El empeine del zapato debe cerrar, preferiblemente con cordones o velcro para evitar que el pie se deslice hacia delante. Al elegir calzado, un buen ajuste es más importante que la marca. No es recomendable el traspaso de zapatos usados entre hermanos. Characteristics of good children's shoes:

• Tacon: Their height should be between 6 and 9 millimeters until they are 3 years old. It must have a straight shape at the front, without extensions or additions towards the toe of the shoe.
• Toecap: It should be wide and high, allowing the movement of the fingers, and reinforced to protect the fingers from occasional blows.
• Buttress: This is the name given to the part of the shoe that covers the heel from the back and sides. In children, it is indicated that it has reinforcement and that this reinforcement extends forward, to the joints of the fingers with the rest of the foot. Its height should not reach the ankles, to allow correct movement.
• Sole: A leather outsole does not provide much cushioning. It should be flexible to bend without difficulty at the metatarsal joints, and thick enough to cushion the limitations of the terrain. The non-slip rubber material is ideal for preventing falls.
• Template: Made of leather or chamois, without any type of “corrective” pads or arches, which do not correct flat feet and can cause discomfort when walking. It should be taken into account that many shoe manufacturers place anatomical elements as standard in the footwear that supposedly produce a beneficial function in the development of the child's foot. In most cases they are useless and, sometimes, even harmful, since the effect they cause may be contraindicated in the type of foot that the child has.

When buying children's shoes, remember these tips:

• You should go with your children to buy the shoes, try them on both feet and walk them around the store for a few minutes, so that the child can see if it bothers them. The suggestion is to buy shoes in the afternoon, when your feet are most swollen. Shoes should be tried on with the socks you will normally wear. Avoid socks made from acrylic fabrics.
• Run your hand along the inside of the shoe. To avoid chafing, it must be well finished, without crude or poorly arranged seams. Look for signs of irritation after wearing the shoe.
• The child's foot should be measured when he or she is standing with all of his or her weight on his or her feet. An easy way to find the exact size is to put your finger through the heel with the child standing. If it fits easily, it's your size. Please note that the foot should fit into the shoe without the need for a shoehorn. Although there are many parents who buy them a little larger so that children can grow with them. Both feet should be measured, and if the size is different, shoes should be chosen that fit the larger foot better.
• Footwear should be as light as possible and flexible enough to bend when walking. If you can't flex the shoe with your hands, your child won't be able to do it with immature feet either.

Cada vez es más frecuente que los niños utilicen de forma casi exclusiva calzado deportivo. Uno de los problemas de este tipo de calzado es que no permite una buena transpiración del pie. La sudoración excesiva y la maceración de la piel pueden provocar la aparición de infecciones, como el pie de atleta, verrugas y eccemas por alergias. Además, el uso continuado de zapatillas de deporte en la adolescencia influye en que el pie sea más ancho y musculado, especialmente en la planta, lo que puede provocar problemas en la edad adulta, sobre todo en la mujer, para la adaptación al uso de zapatos no deportivos.