Lacing Up the Evidence: A Fresh Look at Footwear for Growing Feet

The scoping review, now published in the journal Healthcare, is titled "Guidelines for Recommended Footwear for Healthy Children and Adolescents: A Rapid Scoping Review to Characterise the Nature and Extent of Footwear Research and Clinical Policy Guidelines," and is part of a special issue on "Understanding Foot Health: An Evolutionary Perspective." The authorship team also included Nic Perrem from NHS Devon, whose clinical experience added valuable context to the review.

This timely contribution explores the fragmented landscape of children’s footwear guidance and aims to bring clarity to an area where clinical practice and research have long been misaligned. Our review set out to explore existing guidelines for children’s footwear—an area surprisingly lacking in consistency. Liam conducted a systematic search across PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and governmental databases, focusing on recommendations for healthy children aged 18 months to 18 years. The timeframe spanned from 1970 (marking the rise of mass-marketed ‘trainers’) to 2024. What emerged was a fragmented landscape: definitions of “fit,” “flexibility,” and “toe allowance” varied widely, and most guidelines were based more on expert opinion than empirical evidence. Even commercial sizing systems added confusion, making it difficult to assess proper fit.

This is the first review to scope governmental, professional, and clinical perspectives on children’s footwear. While there’s broad agreement on the importance of well-fitting shoes, the lack of standardised, evidence-based criteria is clear. We hope this work lays the foundation for future research and better guidance for parents, clinicians, and policymakers alike.