Science for everyday life<\/span><\/h1>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Features” _builder_version=”4.5.1″ background_color=”#ffffff” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”3px||4px|||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|auto|-3px|auto||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n
Background<\/h1>\n
In 2001 we were commissioned by the Austrian Ministry of Health to conduct a study on the subject: \u201cChildren\u2019s Feet-Children\u2019s Shoes\u201d.<\/p>\n
The questions were formulated as follows:<\/h2>\n
Do Austrian children\u2019s shoes fit properly?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nDo poorly-fitting shoes cause damage to children\u2019s feet?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.6.4″ _module_preset=”default” content__hover_enabled=”off|desktop”]<\/p>\n
What was investigated?<\/h3>\n\n- The fit of the outdoor shoes, house shoes and slippers of 858 children.<\/li>\n
- The health of the children\u2019 s feet.<\/li>\n
- Parents were given a questionnaire about \u201cChildren\u2019s feet \u2013 Children\u2019s shoes\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The sobering results<\/h3>\n\n- 69% of the children were found to be wearing outdoor shoes that were too short in length, 88% had house shoes or slippers which were too small (one child was wearing shoes 5 sizes too small!).<\/li>\n
- Only 3% of the children\u2019s shoes had the correct inner length. For example: In shoes marked size 30, the inner length was just 29, 28, 27, sometimes even only size 26.<\/li>\n
- For the first time it could be proven that poorly fitting shoes actually cause damage to children\u2019s feet\u00a0(download publication:\u00a0biomed_artikel.pdf<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
What now?<\/h3>\n\n- In June of 2004, after a year of development, the \u201cplus<\/span>12<\/span>\u201c, the first precise measuring gauge for children\u2019s feet and the inside length of children\u2019s shoes, was put on the market. And the best part is: When measuring children\u2019s feet, the plus<\/span>12<\/span> automatically adds an extra 12 mm. Automatically ensuring the necessary length for a correct fit.<\/li>\n
- In May 2005, we received an extension of our research grant (Austrian Ministry of Health and \u201cFonds Gesundes ?sterreich\u201d, the fund for a healthy Austria). This time we are really breaking new scientific ground. For the first time we will concentrate on how best to inform children, parents and educators, so that we can reduce the number of children wearing shoes that are too small.<\/li>\n
- Sooner than expected, the plus<\/span>12<\/span> is getting quite a bit of international attention, mostly in Germany, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic and Great Britain. Another unexpected development: Our little measuring device is dividing shoe retailers into 2 opposing factions. On one side, the \u201ctraditionalists\u201d are vehemently opposed to the inside length measurement of children\u2019s shoes, claiming, \u201cThere hasn\u2019t been one single complaint in the last 50 years\u201d, and that \u201cnew-fangled nonsense like the plus<\/span>12<\/span>is completely unnecessary. It\u2019s interesting to note that these retailers will even stoop to harassing parents who request a way to measure the inside length of their kids\u2019 shoes. The other side is open to innovation: Many people are surprised to learn that a number of large shoe store chains are on our side. They have analysed the problem, reacted sensibly, and they recognize that the plus12 is a good solution. Here is the plus12<\/a>)<\/li>\n
- The great success of plus12 enables our research team to pursue exciting questions and interesting projects without having to make lengthy requests for funding. In cooperation with ETH Zurich, the movement behavior of children’s feet is examined (barefoot, in socks, in soft and hard shoes), new products are created (2007: plus12 base, 2011: plus12 fit) and we regularly conduct online surveys for parents (from 2010). But we also have the opportunity to prove our endurance: in 2007 we started with an idea for innovative anti-slip children’s socks. We’re still working on that today (2012). What’s the problem with that? The children’s socks should get a certain shape and that seems to be difficult for the knitting machines of this world. But we are confident that we can also complete this project successfully. And what comes next? We will then probably think about a new generation of children’s shoes. Because there is still a lot to do …
Details about our activities can be found at<\/span> News<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n- But of course our research goes on: Too many children are still wearing shoes that are too short, and there are still no effective measures to fight this on a larger scale. We investigate and report …<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#749dd3″ background_image=”https:\/\/kinderfuesse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Muster_Kinderfuesse_Test_2_45-scaled.jpg” custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”3vw|0px|54px|0px|false|false” top_divider_height=”6vw” top_divider_flip=”vertical” bottom_divider_height=”6vw”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#ffffff” custom_margin=”0px|auto|-2px|auto|false|false” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.1″ text_font=”||||||||” text_line_height=”2em” header_font=”||||||||” header_3_font=”Merriweather|700|||||||” header_3_font_size=”30px” header_3_line_height=”1.6em” header_4_font=”Merriweather|700|||||||” header_4_text_color=”#15c39a” header_4_line_height=”1.8em” background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”|52px||50px|false|false” header_3_font_size_tablet=”” header_3_font_size_phone=”16px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_4_font_size_tablet=”” header_4_font_size_phone=”14px” header_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” inline_fonts=”Lato”]<\/p>\n
Children\u2019s feet are as soft and pliable as rubber<\/span><\/h1>\nTherefore, they can be forced into shoes which are much too short.<\/span><\/h4>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.6.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-25px|||||” custom_padding=”20px||0px|50px|false|false”]<\/p>\n
Apart from this, their nervous systems are not fully developed, so it can be that children do not find the shoes uncomfortable, even when they are much too small.
Healthy feet need shoes that fit well. Tests have repeatedly shown that many children wear poorly- fitting shoes (See: Results<\/a> of the Austrian Studies<\/a>).
Sometimes the shoes are as much as 3 sizes too small, that is nearly 2 cm in length.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kinderfuesse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/fusslaenge-neu-300x107.png\")
<\/p>\n
Poorly- fitting shoes are the main reason for foot damage!
To fit properly, shoes have to be at least 12 mm longer inside<\/strong> than the actual foot. New shoes can have additional \u201croom to grow\u201d of up to 17 mm.<\/p>\nWalking barefoot is best for kids\u2019 feet, because it trains and strengthens the foot\u2019s muscular system. A good, strong muscular foot is the best foundation for healthy, resilient children\u2019s feet.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Blog” _builder_version=”4.5.1″ background_color=”#ffffff” background_enable_image=”off” background_size=”contain” background_position=”top_right” custom_padding=”2vw||||false|false”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_margin=”-2px|auto||auto||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.1″ text_font=”||||||||” text_line_height=”2em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Merriweather|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”36px” header_2_line_height=”1.6em” header_3_font=”Merriweather|700|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#ffc47c” header_3_font_size=”18px” header_3_line_height=”1.8em” text_orientation=”center” header_2_font_size_tablet=”” header_2_font_size_phone=”20px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”” header_3_font_size_phone=”14px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n
Do poorly-fitting shoes cause damage to children\u2019s feet?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.6.4″ _module_preset=”default” content__hover_enabled=”off|desktop”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#749dd3″ background_image=”https:\/\/kinderfuesse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Muster_Kinderfuesse_Test_2_45-scaled.jpg” custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”3vw|0px|54px|0px|false|false” top_divider_height=”6vw” top_divider_flip=”vertical” bottom_divider_height=”6vw”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#ffffff” custom_margin=”0px|auto|-2px|auto|false|false” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.1″ text_font=”||||||||” text_line_height=”2em” header_font=”||||||||” header_3_font=”Merriweather|700|||||||” header_3_font_size=”30px” header_3_line_height=”1.6em” header_4_font=”Merriweather|700|||||||” header_4_text_color=”#15c39a” header_4_line_height=”1.8em” background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”|52px||50px|false|false” header_3_font_size_tablet=”” header_3_font_size_phone=”16px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_4_font_size_tablet=”” header_4_font_size_phone=”14px” header_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” inline_fonts=”Lato”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.6.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-25px|||||” custom_padding=”20px||0px|50px|false|false”]<\/p>\n Apart from this, their nervous systems are not fully developed, so it can be that children do not find the shoes uncomfortable, even when they are much too small. Poorly- fitting shoes are the main reason for foot damage! Walking barefoot is best for kids\u2019 feet, because it trains and strengthens the foot\u2019s muscular system. A good, strong muscular foot is the best foundation for healthy, resilient children\u2019s feet.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Blog” _builder_version=”4.5.1″ background_color=”#ffffff” background_enable_image=”off” background_size=”contain” background_position=”top_right” custom_padding=”2vw||||false|false”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_margin=”-2px|auto||auto||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.1″ text_font=”||||||||” text_line_height=”2em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Merriweather|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”36px” header_2_line_height=”1.6em” header_3_font=”Merriweather|700|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#ffc47c” header_3_font_size=”18px” header_3_line_height=”1.8em” text_orientation=”center” header_2_font_size_tablet=”” header_2_font_size_phone=”20px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”” header_3_font_size_phone=”14px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off”]<\/p>\nWhat was investigated?<\/h3>\n
\n
The sobering results<\/h3>\n
\n
What now?<\/h3>\n
\n
Details about our activities can be found at<\/span> News<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\nChildren\u2019s feet are as soft and pliable as rubber<\/span><\/h1>\n
Therefore, they can be forced into shoes which are much too short.<\/span><\/h4>\n
Healthy feet need shoes that fit well. Tests have repeatedly shown that many children wear poorly- fitting shoes (See: Results<\/a> of the Austrian Studies<\/a>).
Sometimes the shoes are as much as 3 sizes too small, that is nearly 2 cm in length.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
To fit properly, shoes have to be at least 12 mm longer inside<\/strong> than the actual foot. New shoes can have additional \u201croom to grow\u201d of up to 17 mm.<\/p>\n