Recently I posted some information on how to make sure your child is wearing a properly fitted athletic shoe. Keeping that in mind, how do you know when it’s time to replace your child’s shoes? As an avid runner I myself am perplexed by this question. Especially in today’s economy I tend to put off buying expensive running shoes until there is literally no tread left on the bottom. You wouldn’t think it would be as much of a challenge determining when to replace kids’ shoes as they usually grow out of a pair of shoes before they actually wear out.

That is usually the case with my son whose feet seem to be growing by leaps and bounds right now. And, of course, there are all sorts of smart styles, snappy colors and ‘must have’ features hitting the market almost every day. It never fails that I no sooner purchase him a new pair of shoes when a friend of his comes along with a supposedly better pair that he just has to have in order to run faster, kick further or dribble better. Frankly I’d be happy if a shoemaker would just invent a self-deodorizing pair of shoes.

Despite how great the bottom of the sole looks, however, experts say athletic shoes should be replaced periodically. This is because the mid-sole area of the shoe takes such a pounding that it no longer provides adequate support or cushioning to your child’s foot. Dr. Michael Lowe, past President of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, and long time team podiatrist of the NBA’s Utah Jazz, recommends the following schedule for replacing athletic shoes.

• Running shoes – every 350-500 miles of running
• Shoes for other aerobic sports – around 300 hours
• Court shoes (tennis, basketball, volleyball) – every month, for those playing 5-6 times a week; or every 3 to 4 months, for those playing 2-3 times a week.

According to Dr. Lowe, wearing shoes longer greatly increases stress to the foot, leg and related soft tissue and bone structures that can potentially lead to the player’s inability to play his or her sport. Replacing shoes frequently can actually save money in the long run by reducing the risk of overuse injuries and their accompanying medical treatments.

Linde Hyder, i9 Sports Mom Blogger

You may also be interested in these other related blog posts:

If the Shoe Fits, Wear It