What is comfortable to the feet, water resistant, and super trendy? The fangs, of course! These shoes, which take up the style of old hooves, have recently become popular in children and adolescents (and, let’s be honest, in adults too). But are they a good model for healthy development (and not only)? An NPR article responds.
Priya Parthasarathy is a podiatrist and spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association (medical organization representing doctors in podiatric medicine), but she is also the mother of three children. As such, she admits that “Crocs are a blessing when you are in a hurry, as children can put them easily on their own.”
But as a professional, Parthasarathy takes concerns related to the almost daily port of the fangs: “There are problems such as heel pain, a plantar vault, and even sometimes to the toes, because you have to grab the shoe to keep it.” With other professionals, she warned on networks that the fangs were not the best shoes to put daily.
According to her, the major problem of this model (as well as its imitations) is found in its fairly mediocre stability. Although the fangs have a bridle at the heel, many children ignore it and wear shoes like slippers. In addition, they do not support the arch of the plantar and do not evacuate humidity very well, which can quickly cause bulbs.
A few fangs, but not too much
Despite the declaration of the brand which claims to have “Knowledge of no justified sanitary complications linked to the port of (its) products”Priya Parthasarathy explains that her concerns are based on his own observations as a doctor and mother.
The problem does not only concern fangs. According to Amiethab Aiyer, orthopedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle at Johns-Hopkins University (United States), all shoes that do not keep the foot can change our approach and the way we divide our weight. Over time, these changes can have repercussions on the foot, ankle, and even the rest of the body.
“The fangs are very pleasant, but as for most things in life, everything is a matter of moderation!” Observe Amiethab Aiyer. Ideally, children should alternate fangs with other more robust shoes, especially when they run, recommends Parthasarathy. This is particularly true for the youngest, who are still developing walking mechanisms.
If your child does not want to let go of his fangs, Priya Parthasarathy advises to be attentive to signs of discomfort in terms of foot. If your child is starting to complain about having feet pain, it’s time to put on real sneakers. But as long as they seem to go well, do not deprive him of his favorite shoes.
