Should children's shoes be required to have Thomas's heel because it is an essential element, or is it a marketing move that allows manufacturers to inflate models? Modern doctors argue that such a heel is necessary not only for medicinal purposes, it is also intended for the prevention of orthopedic diseases.
Barefoot or in orthopedic shoes?
Comfortable shoes made in accordance with all the rules are reliable support for both children's and adult feet. But if adult orthopedic shoes are sewn to order or purchased in specialized stores strictly as prescribed by a doctor, children's models are made, as a rule, taking into account the recommendations of orthopedists. That is, Thomas's heel is an integral part of them.
During the period of active foot formation, orthopedic shoes are recommended to be worn constantly during walks and at home. However, this does not mean that you should refuse to walk barefoot. Grass, small pebbles, soft sand are very useful surfaces for the development of a healthy gait and excellent prevention of diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
What Thomas's orthopedic heel looks like
What it is? A photo of the transformed form of a familiar heel, having an extension on the inside of the sole, will give a clear idea of this design, which subsequently will no longer be impossible to recognize when choosing a shoe model for a child.
With the growth of the baby, his legs have an increasing load. Active pastime, running around and jumping reinforce it. The role of the classic heel is to support the heel, while the feature of the orthopedic option is to strengthen the foot and protect it from falling inward. This is made possible by the uniform distribution of the load along the entire length of the foot.
Any hard surface (concrete floor, asphalt, earth) makes hard contact and harms the spine and heels of a small child. Thomas's heel is equipped with a shock absorber, which makes shock loads less noticeable during running and jumping.
Features of orthopedic shoes for children
Orthopedic shoes should comply with the following indicators:
- a high back covering the ankle and supplemented with thick skin or a special insert to reliably fix the position of the foot and ankle joint;
- the heel should be wide and stable, elongated from the inside to protect the foot from falling inward (orthopedic Thomas heel);
- a springy and elastic sole should have an artificial roll, ensuring the formation of the correct gait;
- increased completeness and high rise of orthopedic shoes, providing the possibility of using orthopedic parts for embedding inside the shoe;
- the absence of seams inside the product made of natural materials (leather, suede and so on).
Caring for baby feet
The baby's foot is the concentration of receptors, therefore, orthopedic specialists attach great importance to walking the child barefoot, but not on a hard surface that can be harmful, but on a soft and loose material. Therefore, shoes with a Thomas heel are necessary even as a home option. But the grass, sand and smooth pebbles - a panacea for flat feet.
How to carry out prophylaxis in the winter, when the baby most of the time is indoors? In the cold season, small smooth pebbles can be placed in a basin filled with warm water, and accustom the child to stomp on them, fingering. This is recommended daily.
Another useful game: scattered pencils for the baby must be collected from the floor and put back in the box with your toes. Similar fun can be done using buttons of different sizes.
Rating of manufacturers of orthopedic shoes for children
Parents liked some companies that produce children's shoes that have Thomas's heels. Reviews about them are extremely positive. Based on the opinions of caring parents, we will make a small list of brands that care about gentle children's legs. Here is some of them:
- Ortek is the most sought-after manufacturer of orthopedic shoes in Russia. The popularity of their products is due to the close cooperation of shoe makers with doctors, including the most famous Moscow research institutes and clinics. Company factories are located in China.
- Totto is a trademark of a Russian company from St. Petersburg. It has excellent value for money and, due to its affordability, wear and modern design, is loved by customers.
- Sursil-Ortho actively attracts renowned orthopedists from the Department of Traumatology, Orthopedics and Arthrology of the FPK MR RUDN University to develop their models. At the company's factories located in Russia, children's shoes are made exclusively from natural materials.
The children's foot, like plasticine, is soft and supple. If in time to take on the correction of problems, then up to ten years in a child can fix almost any pathology of the foot. The main thing is not to be late and be attentive to all, even subtle violations.