Many a parent has confessed to a situation when they are stressed about the cost and size of their children's footwear. However, as JAMES SSEKANDI has found, there is relief for such children, in the so-called sensible shoes rather than the adorable pair.
Estellah Karungi, a mother of three, is shopping for shoes for her children at City Centre complex in Kampala. She says she is no longer bothered by the pricey brands of shoes.
“It was frightening to see my child develop corns and calluses on their feet. I no longer stress about the price,” says Karungi.
Karungi, who is checking out a variety of shoes, says she is more demanding in her choices than she used to be. “I’m very careful with shoes now. We spent a lot of money treating foot infections and corns on a four-year-old.”
Dr Sarah Nayiga, a podiatrist and skin doctor at Mulago hospital, explains that the comfort in a shoe is very important and may result into long-term health-threatening problems with different conditions such as diabetes and edema.
“Foot-bones are complex structures. At 10 years old, the feet are still under construction; so it is important for kids to wear shoes that fit, wrong shoes can cause foot deformities at an infant age,” Nayiga says.
She explains that a wrong pair of shoes can generate discomfort for anyone, “now imagine what it would do to a nursery or primary child”.
“Flexibility is important for kids’ foot-wear. Children’s high impact activity levels are greater compared with adults’; so, they need shoes that are stress-free,” Nayiga adds.
And that is what orthopedic shoes are specially designed to offer comfort to the wearer, while also resolving health or size-related problems, even in situations where walking in regular shoes would cause fatigue and pain in the muscles.
According to www.healthyfeetstore.com, orthopedic shoes include extensive cushion padding in addition to increased volume. The extra space gives a patient room to add multiple insoles as well as heel, toe, ball, or arch padding. Although the heels aren’t as high, they tend to be very firm with a wide base. The seamless interior design creates less room for wear, while helping to eliminate pinching in the toes.
According to Brian Yesigye, an entrepreneur and dealer in children’s orthopedic shoes under his Bravo Shoes brand, a pair of shoes can be made more comfortable with a few tricks.
“Allow the client with special needs to make desired fitting choices. Something loose or warm around the ankles would be better,” Yesigye notes.
Yesigye owns and sells children leather school shoes under his brand in Kampala, importing shoe products from Turkey, UK, and UAE. He is now focusing on opening up a big outlet of best leather quality shoes for children in Uganda.
“Bata started small and now it’s big; who knows what Bravo will be tomorrow?” he says.
Yesigye says he is now in partnership with Budo Junior School in Wakiso, Sunset schools in Kawempe-Matugga and Kawanda primary school, as well as Kabatereine Memorial School in Mbarara, to supply shoes to pupils, through Bravo Shoes. Other clients include Dwelling Place foundation, an organization that looks after children taken off the streets of Kampala.
Grace Asiimwe, a mother of two daughters, says a child’s shoe should be lightweight, flexible and in a quadrangular shape (four angles) just like the foot.
“Bare foot is the ideal position; I don’t think kids below the age of 15 should wear shoes with stiff sides,” Asiimwe says
Dr Nayiga emphasized that the ligaments and joints of the feet of children aged six to 10 are still vulnerable; so, she recommends shoes of an orthopedic nature.
“Until the age of 15, muscles and limbs are still developing. Ligaments may take any number of unusual variations, and that’s why you see funny foots in elders,” she explains.
Yesigye also adds that shoe materials also matter; these include the fabrics like leather and canvas, which are great for children’s feet, since they have a long sturdiness and are flexible.
“These fabrics stretch and soften with wear, which is good for an active little foot and Ugandan weather,” Yesigye adds.
While cautioning, “As parents, there is need to be careful when picking a shoe that uses ‘synthetic’ [fake] material and avoid plastics for kids. Some shoes and clothes fabrics are made for different weather”.
Just as material is important, shoe soles (hard or soft) are also important to help the development of a child’s muscles in ankle and foot.
“There is need for the child’s muscles to find their own balance and grip,” says Nayiga explains.
So, she urges parents like Karungi to pay attention to the shape of their children’s feet and ensure appropriate footwear, to avoid orthopedic problems like club feet and bow legs in later life.
jsekandi@gmail.com