Right Shoe for the Right Sport

April is Foot Health Awareness Month and the American Podiatric Medical Association has teamed up with First Lady Michelle Obama's campaign, "Let's Move" to shine the spotlight on childhood obesity and the importance of keeping children active and healthy. This new campaign launched by APMA is called "Today's Podiatrist Keeps America Moving". Sports and physical activities are an excellent way for children to stay active and healthy. Check out this video from APMA:

One of the tip sheets APMA has provided is aimed at helping parents pick out the right shoe for their child's sport. Selecting the proper shoe for the sport goes above and beyond just heading to the athletics section of the shoe store. To help your child free from serious foot and ankle injuries purchase a shoe that fits not only their foot but the activity as well.

Basketball
This is often the first organized sport children will get involved in and it's important to start them off with the right shoe that helps them perfect their basketball handling skills and prevents injuries.
A basketball shoe should:
*Have a thick, stiff sole that helps give support while running and landing from jumps to the basket.
*Incorporate high ankle construction that supports the ankle during quick changes in direction.
*Have the strongest support on either side of the ankle.

Cleats

Outdoor sports like baseball, softball, soccer, football, and lacrosse keep children's feet moving. This type of footwear should help prevent tripping and falling.

A shoe with cleats should:

*Fit snugly but comfortably on a child's foot- about one thumb width or less from the toe to the end of the shoe. Oversized soccer shoes can affect balance and cause blisters.
*Feature a rubber sole, to keep prevent slipping and injury, and a leather upper material.
*Cleats on the sole should be regulation length.

Tennis

Court shoes for tennis and raquetball may look like any other athletic sneaker, but it's what's on the inside that makes the difference on a child's feet.

A tennis shoe should:
*Support both sides of the foot, due to the quick lateral movements and weight shifts in court sports.
*Provide a flexible sole for fast changes of direction.
Running
Running shoes come in several different styles that support feet with different arch types.
A running shoe should:

*Provide maximum shock absorption to help young runners avoid ailments such as shin splints and knee pain.

*Control the way a child's heel strikes the ground, so the rest of hte foot can fall correctly.

*Fit your child's specific arch type. To determine arch type, see a podiatrist.
For a list of sports-related footwear with APMA's Seal of Acceptance, visit: http://www.apma.org/seal and click on Seal of Acceptance and then on Children's Foot Products.
Dr. Tina A. Boucher, DPM
Central Connecticut Foot Care, LLC
Podiatrist Meriden CT
http://www.centralctfootcare.com