A child is ready for shoes when he starts to walk. It is vital for them to be able to walk barefoot steadily before they start wearing shoes. This age varies from child to child but should be between 11 – 14 months old.

When they first start walking indoors, you could start them off on socks with a non-slip base. When they start to be more steady and are ready to walk outdoors, they can start to wear shoes.

It is best to wear shoes if the child is walking on hard surfaces, but a child should be encouraged to walk barefoot on soft ground such as sand or grass to encourage the development of the foot muscles

Depending on how active the child is, you may want to have 1-2 pairs of shoes for sports and running around ( to be rotated on alternate days ) and 1 pair of sport sandals.

At about 18 months, you may need to buy bigger shoes every 3 months. The rate of growth slows down as the child gets older and you may find that you will only need to buy bigger shoes every 5-6 months when the child reaches the age of 3 years. Rate of development differs between boys and girls ( boys tend to develop physically at a slower rate. )

You may want to bring your child to a Podiatrist for a foot assessment if he is excessively clumsy, trips often, has feet that are pointing inwards, or if he is unwilling to walk and wants to be carried all the time ( a child may not be able to verbalise foot pain and may show this by simply refusing to walk! )

Are aches and pain in your lower back, knees and feet preventing you from pursuing the active life style that you had always dreamed of?These could be due to structural problems such as flat feet or high arched feet.

Flat Foot (pes planus) is a condition where the arch of the foot is flat or very close to the ground. Having flat feet does not necessarily mean you are disabled or have a serious condition, it just means your body may not cope so well with activities that put extra stress and strain on your body and feet. People with flat feet tend to experience pain in the heels and arches of the feet and the inner part of the ankle, shin and knee.

High arched foot ( pes cavus) is a condition where the arch of the foot is very pronounced. Feet with this structure is very rigid and not efficient in absorbing the shock produced by our every step. People with high arched feet are more prone to pain in the heel and balls of the feet, the outer part of the ankle as well as the knee. They are also more susceptible to hair line stress fractures in the shin bone.

These mal-alignments may also manifest as painful corns and calluses under your feet.

Visit a Podiatrist as soon as possible if you experience pain in your feet. A good podiatrist will be able to diagnose your foot problem and prescribe the appropriate insoles or foot orthotic device for you. He will be able to remove your corns and calluses as well as prescribe stretches and exercises to get you back on your feet in no time!

As we progress, our lower limb undergo wear and tear after supporting our bodies all those years. People from their fifties may observe mild changes to their legs and feet.

Skin Changes:
Our skin lose elasticity and moisture. Therefore the skin on our feet tend to be dry and crack more easily. The most common are heel cracks that may be very painful.

Reduced blood circulation:
The blood vessels to our feet are the longest and most prone to suffer damage. The most common one is atherosclerosis where the vessel is blocked. The may lead to the foot looking pale and feeling cold to the touch. Frequent cramping may also occur.

Reduced sensitivity:
Our feet are full of sensitive nerve endings. If the nerves are damaged due to conditions such as diabetes, sensation in the foot may be gradually lost. You may experience a numbing or burning sensation in your feet. You may also feel some weakness or your legs feeling very ‘heavy’.

A podiatrist will be able to conduct tests on your nerves and blood vessels to determine if there is any problem. If these problems are detected early, you can stop them from deteriorating and prevent further foot problems!