Start Back-To-School Shopping Off On The Right Foot

Start Back-To-School Shopping Off On The Right Foot (NAPSA)—Asparents and children begin their annualroutine of back-to-school shopping, one item is a must-purchasefor every list— shoes that fit properly. That’s the advice from podiatrists who say that many adult foot ailments have their origins in childhood and are present at birth. “Neglecting foot health invites a host of problems and can leave children eligible to injury,” said Dr. Ronald Jensen, president of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). “It is highly important that parents purchase children’s footwear that offers the proper support and fit necessary to keep a child’s feet safe both at school and at home.” The APMAoffers these tips to help assure parents that a shoe fits properly: Be aware that shoe and sock sizes may change every few monthsas a child grows. Always measurea child’s feet before buying shoes and watch for signs of aggravation. Never hand down footwear. Not only might the shoes be the wrong size, but sharing shoes can also spread fungi like athlete’s foot and nail fungus. Examine a shoe’s heels. Chil- dren often wear through a shoe’s heel faster than outgrowing the shoe itself. Uneven heel wear may indicate a foot problem that should be checked by a podiatrist. Take your child shoe shopping to help ensure a proper fit and to promote healthy foot habits downtheroad. portive in the heel area and flexi- ble where the toes bend naturally. Always buy for the larger foot. Feet are seldom the samesize. Shoes should be comfortable immediately and not need a “break-in period.” You mightalso try this quick 12-3 test to be sure your child’s shoes are in shipshape: One Lookfor a stiff heel. Press on both sides of the shoe’s heel. It shouldn’t collapse. Two Check toe flexibility. The shoe should bend with yourchild’s toes. It shouldn’t be too stiff or bend too muchin the toe box area. Three Try twisting the shoe. It should never twist in the middle. For more information andtips, visit www.apma.org.