Your Kids

Shopping For Shoes That Get Kids Moving

Posted: 7/21/2010

Wearing sport-specific shoes can not only change your child's game, but they can prevent foot injuries.

(NAPSI)-According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), America's children need to get moving.

A recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) of the last 30 years found that among children ages 2 to 5, obesity has doubled, while among 6- to 11-year-olds, it has tripled.

Obesity can have a negative impact on health. Young people who are obese are at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes.

That's why it is so important to encourage children to participate in physical activity. However, when children choose a sport, it's important to equip them with sport-specific shoes.

"Selecting the correct shoe for a child's activity and foot type can go a long way in preventing many foot-related injuries," said Dr. Kathleen Stone, president of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).

Here are a few facts you can use to shop for sport-specific shoes:

• If your child likes to shoot hoops. Give children a shoe that both helps them perfect their basketball-handling skills and prevents injury.

A child's basketball shoe should:

• Have a thick, stiff sole that helps give support while a child is running and landing from jumps to the basket.
• Incorporate high ankle construction that supports the ankle during quick changes in direction. A good basketball shoe should have the strongest support on either side of the ankle.
• If your child is an ace on the tennis court.

A court 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.
• If your child likes to run. Choose a shoe that:
• Provides maximum shock absorption to help runners avoid ailments such as shin splints and knee pain.
• Controls the way your child's heel strikes the ground, so the rest of the foot can fall correctly.

Whatever the game, stock up on the right socks. The right athletic sock should be made of a natural/synthetic blend as this helps wick away moisture, and it shouldn't contain any large seams that can cause blisters.

For more information, visit www.apma.org.

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