Shoe Quality Checklist

• Straight last

  • Straight line from midpoint of heel to midpoint of toes. Minimises in-toeing (pigeon toeing) and helps alignment.

• Solid heel cap

  • Firm back of shoe that is deep (comes up high enough at Achilles Tendon).

  • Provides a stable base for the foot.

  • Test by squeezing sides of heel midway up the heel box. The sides should hold their shape and not collapse.

• Arch support

  • Typically developing children with no foot/leg pain = no arch support

  • Children with low muscle tone = small arch support

• Arch control

  • Typically developing children with no foot/leg pain = flexible sole, especially around middle/front section

  • Children with low muscle tone = start with more rigid sole and progress to more typical sole as control improves

  • Children with high muscle tone = rigid sole

• Toe flex

  • Shoe easily bends at toes.

  • Assists with toe off (where child’s foot bends to push off for walking and running).

• Shoe weight

  • Make sure shoe is not too heavy. Heavy shoes are hard to lift and exaggerates foot anomalies associated with muscle weakness.

• Shoe height

  • Typically developing children without foot/leg pain = standard shoe height

  • Children with low muscle tone = high support above the ankles

  • Children with high muscle tone = strict high support above the ankles

• Shoe design

  • No toe crowding – shoe should be skinnier at heel and wider at toes; in the shape of a foot

  • Laces or Velcro are better than slip on shoes