Does the Shoe Fit

Carina Breet M

Published on: 2022-06-24

Abstract

Research shows that ill-fitting shoes can negatively impact the development of the paediatric foot, in a very direct manner. The paediatric foot is vulnerable to internal and external influences as it is still maturing and should not be treated like an adult foot. Shoes should respect the unique features and dimensions of the paediatric foot to cater for the unhindered development of the foot. Optimum foot development occurs when the natural shape of the foot is respected. South Africa’s shoe design is based on the British system, using the foot length as the basic measurement. The current lack of inter-continental foot morphology differences in the paediatric foot contributes to the current problem of ensuring that the shoe fits the unique foot dimensions of habitually barefoot children. The primary aim of the study was to determine if the dimensions of available prescribed school shoes fit the foot dimensions of habitually barefoot South African children and adolescents.

Six hundred and ninety-eight school children (N=698) (431 girls; 267 boys; average age 10.86 years, SD=2.55) were participants. A total of seventy-seven (N=77) black coloured prescribed school shoes currently available in retail ranging from different styles and brands were measured. Results show that, comparing the shoe length and maximum heel-toe-length of participants, as well as taking 10 millimetres toe allowance into account, fifty-nine percent (59%) of children wore shoes that were not the correct length. With regards to the shoe width and the added 10 millimetres of width fit allowance, ninety-eight percent (98%) of the shoes worn by participants were too narrow for their feet.

Results confirmed that school shoes currently available in retail, are not suited for the habitually barefoot population studied. It is recommended that the shoe manufacturing industry should consider the shoe width of school shoes for children and adolescents in habitually barefoot populations to avoid the long-term negative effect of ill-fitting shoes on the paediatric foot.