Children should be active – running, playing sports, and taking in the fresh air. Most parents are aware that getting their children to play outside can reduce their risk of childhood obesity and other health issues.
But, how do you get your kid to get outside and kick a ball if his or her feet hurt?
Foot Pain is never normal in children. Children’s bones are designed to move and grow, making the foot of the child and adolescent very adaptable. When your child complains of severe pain, consult a doctor to confirm that more serious problems are not the cause of your child’s discomfort. Most youth “fashion” shoes typically aren’t designed to help stabilize and support a child or adolescent’s growing foot, so pain after walking, standing or running may be due to poor shoe fit. In addition to pain, unsupported arches can lead to poor posture and body imbalance. (For more information on foot and body mechanics, see “Your Feet: The Least You Need to Know.”)
For everyday aches and pains caused by sports activity or flat feet, consider Good Feet Youth arch supports. Good Feet Youth arch supports, available to children over 6 years of age, are designed to support three out of the four arches in each growing foot. While Good Feet’s adult arch support systems are designed to re-align pressure and re-distribute body weight, our Youth line aims to promote the free and healthy growth of feet from childhood through adolescence.
Your child’s feet need room to grow, and the freedom to move and flex with the demands of sports and play. This is why doctors and podiatrists rarely require children to wear stiff orthotics or “corrective” devices. Our Youth arch supports are flexible, with gently sloping arches that provide just enough support to young feet, keeping them stable during gait or physical activity.
The Enduraflex
The Enduraflex features a slight heel cup, designed to stabilize the heel and help prevent the foot from rolling inwards or outwards. While this heel cup can do wonders to help align the gait of a walking child, it is flexible enough for the active adolescent. The Enduraflex is molded of a material that flexes slightly with your child’s body weight, while remaining firm enough to promote proper body alignment.
The Enduraflex is best for when your child is hanging out with friends, or participating in light to moderate physical activity. Your child or adolescent can wear this support in all their favorite shoes.
The Sportflex
The Sportflex is designed to support your child through all of their favorite sports, making sure the growing feet are properly supported while they move, run and play. Its flat heel platform allows the heel and ankle to pivot, so your child can perform sudden side-to-side movements during sports. The flexible inner arch helps support the foot during even the most aggressive athletic activity. The Sportflex is flexible enough to fit comfortably in your child’s sports cleats, while providing critical support to their feet during every game.
The Sportflex is best for moderate to intense physical activity. Your active child can also wear this inconspicuous support in any open-toed shoe!
Sports and Injury
What are you doing to protect your child’s feet from injury? While your young one is out there running up and down a sports field, he or she is putting up to five times his or her body weight on the feet with every stride. Multiply that by all of the running steps your child takes during a game, and you’ve got tons of pressure going on those growing feet every season!
Sports cleats may help to improve your child’s sports performance, but they typically don’t properly fit your child’s growing arches. Cleats are designed primarily to grip the ground as your child runs, and their size is based only on your child’s shoe size. Especially as your child’s feet grow, it’s vital to ensure that their arches are properly supported, no matter what their shoe size is. When you stop by your local Good Feet store, a Certified Arch Support Fitter will personally size your child with arch supports that can fit into his or her favorite shoes.
The feet of active children are naturally vulnerable to injury, as the bones, tendons and muscles of their feet are still growing. If your child is regularly running, jumping, or dancing, sport-specific shoes may not be enough to properly support his or her developing body. In addition to pain, unsupported arches can lead to poor posture and body imbalance. (For more information on foot and body mechanics, see “Your Feet: The Least You Need to Know.”)
Arch supports can help reduce your child’s risk of injury during sports activity. Good Feet Youth arch supports are designed to help the feet function more effectively, reducing strain on the muscles and tendons of the feet, legs, knees and hips. With arch supports in his or her sports cleats, your child can compete with confidence, and you can rest knowing you are helping to preserve your child’s feet and body from injury.
Your Child’s Arch Supports
Because children’s feet are so adaptable, your child shouldn’t have to “break in” his or her arch supports. Make sure to monitor your child as he or she wears the supports for the first few weeks. If there is any pain or discomfort, return to your Certified Arch Support fitter to talk about sizing and shoe fit options.
Once your child has been personally fitted for a pair of Good Feet Youth arch supports, make sure to bring him or her in to your local Good Feet store for regular re-sizing. You should have a Certified Arch Support Fitter re-evaluate your child’s arch support size every six months, or every time your child outgrows his or her shoes, whichever comes first. Good Feet offers arch supports for children 6 years of age and older.
