Author(s): HUGHES, L., JOHNSON, M.I.2, PERREM, N.3, FRANCIS, P.1, Institution: SOUTH EAST TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY CARLOW , Country: IRELAND, Abstract-ID: 1380

INTRODUCTION:
Introduction: The foot has a variety of roles in bipedal locomotion, including adapting to uneven terrain (ensuring stability), bearing weight, acting as a shock absorber, generating forward motion by transmitting propulsive forces, and providing proprioceptive information via the plantar surface (Eils et al., 2004). The monitoring of shoe fit in relation to individual foot characteristics is important for children and adolescents because poorly fitted shoes can lead to various foot problems, including deformities, pain, and impaired function. The aim of this scoping review was to identify current footwear recommendations present in the available literature, inclusive of government, professional bodies, and expert clinical panel guidelines. A secondary aim was to assess whether there was evidence to support these recommendations.
METHODS:
Methods: This review was structured in line with the PRISMA-Scr framework (Tricco et al., 2016) and used an iterative five-step process as previously described by Arksey and O’ Malley (2005) and Levac, Colquhoun, and O’ Brien (2010). A structured literature search of Google Scholar, Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Embase was undertaken using the following terms: (children* OR adolescent* OR paediatric*) AND (footwear* OR shoes*) AND (recommendations* or guidelines*). Additional clinical and governmental guidelines were sourced via email and phone call to the relevant departments.
The inclusion criteria required articles to include healthy children and adolescents aged from 18 months to 18 years old, include sports shoes, school shoes, and conventional shoes, be published in English between 1970 and 2023, and include randomised control trials, prospective studies, research articles, and Delphi studies. The selected articles were summarised by synthesising the study’s findings based on the research question.

RESULTS:
Results: Thirteen articles were included: three recommendations from governmental and national bodies (HSE, NHS, and AMPA), two Delphi studies, two cross-sectional observational studies, a literature review, a longitudinal study, a prospective study, an observational review, a repeated measures trial, and a randomised control trial. The review identified a need for further research in the area of children’s footwear, particularly in understanding how the shoe design affects the developing foot over the long term.
CONCLUSION:
Conclusion: The results underscore the critical role of properly fitted and designed footwear in supporting healthy foot development in children. It highlights the need for further research, better education for parents and carers, and the development of standardised guidelines and taxonomy to improve the selection of children’s footwear.