PODIATRIST DISCUSSES WHEN TO START BABIES IN SHOES

PODIATRIST, DR. JANE ANDERSON, PAST PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN PODIATRISTS WHO PRACTICES IN CHAPEL HILL NORTH CAROLINA STATES, "BEFORE A BABY STARTS WALKING, BARE FEET OR SOCKS ARE BEST, THOUGH ANY KIND OF SHOE CAN BE WORN FOR DECORATION OR WARMTH OR TO KEEP THE SOCKS ON.  THE BONES OF A BABY'S FOOT ARE SOFT AND DON'T FINISH HARDENING UNTIL A CHILD IS AROUND 5 YEARS OLD, THOUGH KID'S FEET KEEP GROWING INTO THEIR TEENAGER YEARS.  IN THEORY, CONSTRICTING SOFT FEET WITH RIGID SHOES COULD PREVENT THE BONES FROM DEVELOPING PROPERLY.  AFTER THEY START WALKING, YOU WANT THEM EITHER BAREFOOT OR IN THE MOST FLEXIBLE SHOES POSSIBLE SO THEIR MUSCLES CAN DEVELOP PROPERLY.  FLEXIBILITY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE AS THEY ARE DEVELOPING THEIR ARCH."

AT DR. HARDY'S TORONTO FOOT CLINIC, ACADEMY FOOT AND ORTHOTIC CLINICS WE TELL OUR PATIENTS THAT WE LIKE TO ASSESS OUR PATIENTS AT THE 2 YEAR OLD MARK TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR ARE NO GROSS DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES HAPPENING THAT COULD BE  ADDRESSED BEFORE THEY BECOME SERIOUS SUCH AS POSTURAL FAULTS, ETC.

 THEN WE LIKE TO SEE THEM WHEN THEY ARE IN THEIR 4TH YEAR TO SEE WHETHER THEY REQUIRE CUSTOM ORTHOTICS.  REMEMBER AS THE 'TWIG IIS BENT, SO GROWS THE TREE.'  DR. HARDY PRESENTLY HAS A  4 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER, MOLLY WHO WE HAVE JUST CASTED FOR CUSTOM ORTHOTICS AND A 2 YEAR OLD VERY ACTIVE GRANDSON NAMED CHARLIE WHO IS DEVELOPING WELL.

IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE REQUIRES HONEST, COMPETENT ADVICE OR FOOT CARE, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT DR. HARDY AT 416-465-8737.  REMEMBER WE ALWAYS TREAT YOU LIKE FAMILY!

PROFESSIONAL FOOT CLINIC

416-465-8737

Toronto, ON Chiropodist Academy Foot and Orthotic

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