Special Education Resources

SHOES

For 150 years we've defined style. Johnson & Murphy

Cool stuff - SUVs for your feet. Asics

Power of Optimism. What gives you power? Reebok

You'll feel it in your gluts and hamstrings. Your feet however will be oblivious ...Saucony

Much of today's' fashionable footwear is not the most conformable or best fitting for an individual; but extreme fashion tends to satisfy the eye of some individuals, after handicapping action and freedom of movement.

Is it possible that 35 years later this statement is still accurate? Often fashion wins comfort for our children today. This year platform sneakers were in style. Style conscious students purchase the platform shoes and assume they could be worn for all occasions, including physical education or recess activities. When the teacher informs students that such shoes were unsafe and not suited for physical activities, students and parents become upset because they had "paid good money" for the shoes.

The purposes of this article are to discuss what is appropriate footwear, some common foot disorders, rational for not sharing shoes and socks for physical activity programs at school or in community settings, and considerations for purchase of shoes.

Most shoes are designed to protect the foot against harmful surfaces and injury. Shoes provide stability to prevent injury to the ligaments of the foot. Stability depends on the function of the head, the width of the base for support and height of the sole.

When selecting footwear the parent should consider the basic parts of the shoe: the sole, uppers, heel counter, toe box, and style. The sole provides stability and the base of support. It should be flexible and provide a cushion for the foot. Top selling soles are made of polyurethane, a rubber compound that cushions and returns to its original shape during physical activity (Hozan, 1985). Shoe designer David Snyder, "shoes have a base at the sole, so that width of the sole is slightly wider at the point that it contacts to the floor." A higher sole decreases stability and increases the probability of injury through turning of the ankle. Dr. Rick Domansky advocates that no shoes with over 1-inch heel and 1/2 inch in fore front should be used for physical activities.

The upper materials should cover the entire foot. The materials for uppers are generally made of leather, plastic, vinyl rubber mixture, canvas, or mash. Leather provides the best support while mash and canvas have the advantage by allowing more air to circulate through the shoe (McNerney & Lichtenstein, 1986). Supportive stitching and strong upper materials provide a protective covering for the foot. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (1999) stated, "Differences in design and variations in materials and weight are developed to protect the areas of the foot that encounter the most stress in a particular athletic activity."

The heel counter, the back area of the shoe, should lock around the foot to cushion and support the heel. The heel counter, width of the base of the shoe, and height of the sole are related to the stability given to the foot. The firm heel counter controls motion or movement. A correct fitting shoe should be firm to support the heel and Achilles tendon.

The box is the front tip of the shoe that protects and provides an area so that the toes do not become too crowded. The width and height should permit full motion of the toes including flexion, extension, and some spreading. In some shoes the toe box is stiff or semi-hard to protect the toes from undue weight that may cause injury.

In most cases style is the primary reason a particular pair of shoes is purchased. It is because they look good and not because of proper fit that a given pair of shoes is purchased. Many times children or adults will wear leather shoes to engage in running games or physical activity. Such shoes often are inadequate width and may cause foot disorders (Gross, 1986).

One should be aware that injuries could occur when the foot is allowed to move excessively in the shoe or come out of the shoe. If the foot moves abnormally in the shoe, the shoe will not absorb shock. Baxter (1999) stated,

"If a 150 pound individual walks one mile, each foot absorbs approximately 63.5 tons of weight over this distance." Shoes worn in sports require a tightly laced strap or strings to provide the best stability. Jellies, deck shoes, platform or dress shoes do not provide support and stability to engage in physical activities.

Running shoes should be worn for running. Nike Corporation states, "Running shoes are designed to withstand forward motion stress. They are not designed for activities involving lateral movements (i.e., tennis, basketball, racquet ball, etc.)" Running shoes which have a heel over one inch high are especially unsafe for some physical activities (1999). David Jewell warns, "Most PE classes incorporate a large number of activities and most of those activities include lateral movements.

Students, parents, and/or friends should not exchange shoes or socks. Many people have minor foot disorders such as hallux valgus - a great toe deviated toward the outside of the foot; hammer or claw toes - maligned and severely curled toes; skin and nail abnormalities, calluses, Achilles tendentious, or even blisters (Marr & d'Abrerea, 1985; Segesser & Nigg, 1989). The causes of such disorders are primarily due to (a) congenital reasons, ill fitting shoes, improper upper and sole materials of shoes; (b) inappropriate shoe style, or (c) incorrect sock materials (Arnheim & Prentice, 1993).

Socks need to be worn at all times when participating in a physical activity. They should be clean, dry, and without holes. Selection of correct size is according to shoe length. When socks are too long they can wrinkle and cause skin irritations. A proper fitting sock will have the seam at the end of the toes, not on top or under the toes (Marr & d'Abrerea, 1993). Composition and thickness of the sock should also be considered. Cotton socks can be too bulky. A combination of materials such as cotton and polyester are less bulky and dry faster.

Purchasing the shoes

Most professionals suggest that either cross training, tennis or court shoes be used for physical education activities. Elementary age children do not need shoes specific to the activity/sport they are participating in unless they are training for long periods of time. Basketball shoes are a good choice for general physical education activities because they provide for lateral stability with a wide and low sole, and traction on wooden floors.

Before purchasing the shoe, examine its parts to ensure that each meets the criteria discussed above. Minor foot disorders are generally avoided by considering the following steps when selecting a shoe.

1. Try shoes on at the end of the day. During normal daily walking or physical activities, the internal fluids cause swelling in the lower extremities. Therefore, waiting until the end of the day best minimizes this effect.

2. Determine the length of the child's foot.

a. Examine the foot for Morton's toe. The second toe being longer than the first characterizes Morton's toe. Therefore, the second toe should determine the length of the shoe.

b. Feel for length with the child standing upright with the shoe tied. There should be half an inch difference between the toe and the end of the shoe.

3. Determine the proper shoe width with the child standing upright with the shoe tied. The shoe is improperly fit if there are creases at the sides.

4. Have the child move around in the store as he/she would during physical activity. If the heel moves up and down more than 1/8th of an inch, the shoe does not fit properly.

5. When tying the shoe, make sure the tongue is not creased nor is the shoe tied too tight. This avoids neuritis, which is a numbing of the nerves that makes the feet susceptible to injury.

6. Fit girls into shoes specifically for girls. Their feet are generally narrower and the overall bone structure in the lower extremity is different than boys.

7. Consider Velcro closures for children that have problems tying their shoelaces. This will guarantee snug closure. Many shoes also come with long laces that are potentially dangerous because children may trip on them. This will not occur with Velcro closures.

8. Choose appropriate support for children with flat feet or high arches. Insoles may be needed, as many shoes are not designed to accommodate these foot types. In addition, physicians generally need to evaluate these children to determine any modifications.

9. Do not let price be the leading factor when selecting a shoe. Cheaper shoes are not always the best nor is/are the most expensive shoes. Follow the above guidelines and purchase the shoe that is appropriate for the wearer.

The selection and purchase of a pair of shoes for your child is a very important process. The purpose for which the shoe is purchased and the fit on the child are the most important elements to consider. Today, shoes and socks are made to meet the demands of specific physical activities. Generally, running shoes do not provide for the stability and versatility needed for school or community physical activities. The awareness of the relationship between shoes and foot disorders, can be helpful in preventing minor foot disorders that may hinder the child's enjoyment in physical activities.

References

Asics, (2000, June), Men's Health, 62.

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Public Information: Athletic Shoes. (1999, June). www.aaos.org/word/pat_educ/athletic.html

Arnheim, D. D. & Prentice, W. E. (1993). Principles of athletic training (8th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby-Year Book.

Baxter, D. (1994). The foot and ankle in sport. St. Louis: Mosby-year Book.

Becker, N. L. (1989). Specific running injuries and complaints related to excessive loads-Medical criteria of the running shoe. In B. Segesser and W. Pforringer (Eds.), The shoe in sport. (16-25) Chicago: Yearbook.

Flanagan, M. E. (1966). Guidelines for adapted physical education p. 22,

Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Gross, R. H. ((1986). Foot pain in children. Pediatric Clinic of North America,33, (6) 1395-1409.

Hozan, J. (1985,May). Feet won't fail you now (tennis shoes). World Tennis, 38-46.

Johnson & Murphy (2000, June), Advertisement. Men's Health, 51.

Marr, s. & d'Abrerea, H. J. (1985). Survey of joint mobility and foot

Problems of 191 Australian children. Journal of the American Pediatric Medical Association,75, (11), 597-602.

McNerney, J. E. & Lichtenstein, G. (1986, April), If the shoe fits, World Tennis, 40-46.

New Balance (1999, June). Advertisement, Walking, 11.

Park, K. (1999). Determination of appropriate foot ware for physical Education. Unpublished Manuscript. Pennsylvania State University.

Segesser, B. & Nigg, B. M. (1989). The corrective athletic shoe - Indications and biomechanics.In B. Segesser and W. Pforringer (Eds.) The

Shoe in sport. 213-220. Chicago: Yearbook.

Snyder, D. (1999). RE: Questions about shoes. (dsnyder@zephwear.com)

MEET YOUR PALS

Address all correspondence to Dr. Lloyd Kinnison, P. O. Box 425769. Special Education Programs, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX 76204