Are your child's shoes up to scratch?

Footwear has been used by humans for over 10,000 years. But the role of footwear has changed over the centuries from one of protection to a status symbol during the Roman Empire to one of fashion during the Renaissance Era when heels were introduced. Children’s shoes generally mimicked the idiosyncratic styles of the adults and it was not until the 20th century that children’s footwear diverged from the dominant adult prototype and footwear evolved specifically for children. However, the ideal shoe is very difficult to find and is often a matter of compromise, particularly with older children who are influenced by fashion and peer group pressure. Footwear which is too big, too small or does not fit properly, can cause foot problems in adulthood, such as hammer and claw toes, bunions and muscular problems, but even in other parts of the body such as pain at the ankles, knees and back. A recent study conducted at the Podiatry Department within the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, investigated the adequacy of school shoes in a primary State school. Researcher and podiatrist Clarice Cilia recruited a sample of 124 children (60 boys and 64 girls) attending grades 3,...