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.
Article funded through the Asian Health Initiative of Tufts Medical Center
