Shoes are just as important as stationery when it comes to back-to-school shopping and The Athlete’s Foot in Burwood has some top advice on how to make the right purchase.
image: Expert fitter, Chanel can assist you at The Athlete’s Foot in Burwood Westfield.
Contrary to popular belief, buying the correct shoes is not just a matter of finding the right size. Jason Le Roux from the locally owned The Athlete’s Foot in Burwood suggests a proper fit should be at the top of the list for kids’ athletic and school shoes.
“Width, arch type, pressure points and any tendency to roll in or out are all important factors in finding the right school shoe,” he said.
According to the Podiatric Medical Association, only a small percentage of the population is born with foot problems. It is neglect and a lack of proper care, including ill-fitting shoes, which bring on many foot ailments.
Jason offers the following school shoe shopping tips for parents to consider before hitting the stores this back-to-school season:
Fit all year round :The Athlete’s Foot Burwood is staffed not only by Jason but also other feet experts and local university students who are undertaking courses in physiotherapy and human movement, making them uniquely placed to provide invaluable guidance. “We’re not like other retailers, who claim to be fit specialist for the back-to-school period only. Your kids need good fitting shoes for all year, not just for one month of the year,” he said.
Best time to try on new shoes:According to Jason, the best time to shop for new shoes is after playtime or at the end of the day when the foot tends to be more swollen.
Try on both shoes: New pants are never purchased after trying on only one leg and the same rule should apply to shoes. The shoe should fit so that the heel does not slide up and down. Also, since one foot is usually longer than the other, be sure to fit the shoe to the larger foot. “Have your child try on both shoes and walk around in them to ensure comfort,” Jason advised.
No growing into it: Many parents buy shoes for their children that are a size or two larger than the proper measure, thinking that kids will grow into them. But Jason believes it is unlikely that a child’s foot will grow to fit the shoes before wearing the shoes out.
Thumb it: When fitting your child’s foot, determine how much toe room they should have in the shoe by leaving space that is equal to the width of the child’s thumb between the child’s longest toe and the end of the shoe while they are standing. Keep in mind that the longest toe isn’t always the big toe.
Wear them right away: Jason believes that having to break-in a pair of shoes is a myth.
“Your child’s shoes should be comfortable the first time they try them on,” he said. “Plus by using their exclusive ‘Fitprint’ system to map the pressure on your child’s foot, your child is guaranteed a great fitting school shoe to help them hit the ground running. ”
To find out more see Jason Le Roux and his ever smiling team at The Athlete’s Foot on the ground floor at Burwood Westfield.
