THE human foot consists of 26 bones that work in unison for walking, running and general mobility. In newborns, the foot is generally made up of cartilage – which is soft and flexible – that gradually converts to bone as the child matures. This is the most vulnerable stage of foot development.

Great care should be taken to avoid the risk of injury and deformity from ill-fitting shoes and abnormal activity.

The development of a child’s foot begins in utero and continues at a very rapid rate for the first five years of life. The growth continues but slows down until skeletal maturity has occurred and secondary centres of ossification have been laid, which is usually at about 15 years of age. The final foot length and width tends to be achieved before maximum height in both sexes.

At about two years old, the general foot shape that your child has inherited will be clear.

FOOT SHAPE

There are three different shapes:

Tapered, where there is a long big toe and the other toes gradually slope towards the little toe.

Grecian, where the second or third toes are the longest.

Square, where all the toes are roughly the same shape and size.

By the time your child gets to age five, the feet start to look like an adult version and by age eight, the arch will start to form. At this stage the child can give a footprint that resembles an adult’s. Most children will go up one shoe size per year and, occasionally, they may have a growth spurt and go up by two or three shoe sizes. For this reason, one should always be mindful of checking that your child is wearing his or her correct shoe size.

BUYING SHOES

When buying shoes for children, try to purchase them from shops where the staff are experienced in fitting children’s shoes. The shoe should have a flexible sole and be supportive around the hindfoot and ankle, with a lace or strap. They should be wide enough for the child to wriggle their toes comfortably, and with space for growth. Remember, feet were not made for shoes but shoes are made for feet, so ensure that they fit properly.

Children are often presented to my clinic by worried parents, concerned about various issues regarding their child’s feet. In the vast majority of cases, these so called problems are just growth trends and are a completely normal part of development. A podiatrist or paediatrician should be able to differentiate and diagnose any pathological condition.

Allow your child to run and play barefoot as much as possible. This will strengthen the muscles, tendons and ligaments. However, be sure that they are in a safe environment where they will not be endangered.

Angela Davis BSc (Hons) DPodM MChS is a podiatrist with offices in Montego Bay, Mandeville, Ocho Rios, and Savanna-la-Mar. She is a member of the Health and Care Professions Council in the United Kingdom. Contact her at 293-7119.