Tips for Back to School Shoes

Kids all over Highlands County are currently dreading the next week as their carefree summer is nearing an end. Parents, however, are ecstatic that the school year is about to start again and they can breathe a little bit easier knowing their children are busy back at school. Back to school  shopping is something I’m sure many people are in the process of doing or about to do. School  supplies such as paper, notebooks, pens, pencils, backpacks and clothes are obviously very important items to have but there is also another thing that is very important people don’t think  about and that is shoes. Finding a good, comfortable, stylish shoe can help to prevent a lot of  foot pain.

While you are out looking for new shoes, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Kids with low arches will likely need a shoe that offers control and stabilization while high arched feet may need a shoe with good shock absorption.
• Measure both feet with socks on as they may not be exactly the same size and then buy shoes for the larger foot size. There should be about ½ inch space from the end of your toes to the end of the shoe.
• Shopping near the end of the day is beneficial as your feet tend to swell as the day goes on.
• The back of the shoe (heel counter) should fit snugly and without slipping.
• The shoe should have appropriate cushioning, and flexibility at the ball of the foot.
• Good inserts can go a long way to help a shoe that may not support your feet as much as they should.
• Shoes should typically be changed out every 6 months depending on the number of miles you put on them.

At The Gentle Foot Care Center, we can evaluate your child’s foot type helping to guide you in finding the right pair of shoes.

Dr. Olga Garcia Luepschen and the Gentle Foot Care Center are located on US 27. For more information visit http://www.Gentlefootcarecenter.com or call 863-314-9255.