If your girls are like mine they like all that sparkles and glitters. These new Skechers Twinkle Talls do all that and more. They boast a 2 inch hidden heel wedge to allow girls to look taller. Now I am not even going to get into the concerns of having our children look older than they are and look at this from a purely foot health standpoint. What can this 2 inch hidden heel wedge do for children?
The 2 inch heel wedge would lift the heel off the ground by 2 inches. Why is that a problem? Well the Achilles tendon, the strongest and largest tendon in the body, attaches to the back of the heel bone. If the heel is lifted off the ground 2 inches the Achilles tendon can shorten over time. This shortened tendon results in limited motion of the ankle especially moving the ankle up and can lead to other foot, leg, or back problems. The most common methods of compensation, for being able to move the ankle up, are flattening of the arch, picking up the heel early when walking, or placing increased pressure on the ball of the foot. Depending on how a child compensates for the inability to bend properly at the ankle, a variety of foot conditions can develop, including:
1-Plantar fasciitis/Heel pain
2-Sever's disease
3-Calf cramping
4-Tendonitis
5-Pain at the Ball of the foot
6-Flatfoot
7-Pressure sores on the ball of the foot or the arch
8-Bunions and hammertoes
9-Ankle pain
10-Shin splints
So as we begin the season of Back to School Shopping I recommend passing right on by these shoes and pick some sensible and equally glittery shoes.
Dr. Alexandra "Sandie" Grulke
http://www.podiatrycarespecialists.com/
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