The study looked at 29 boys enrolled in Judo. The classes were 90-minutes long and happened three times per week.

A second group of boys was studied. These 29 boys did not participate in any physical activity outside of school. The average age of the boys was 11.5 years. The body types (size and height) were similar as well.

The scientists discovered that the boys practicing Judo had better arches in their feet than the boys that were inactive. The arch height was measured in the feet while sitting and standing.

In addition, the boys that engaged in Judo had better balance. The two groups of boys were asked to perform the “flamingo test.” This test requires the boy to stand on one leg on a strip of wood and hold the other leg bent at the knee. The boys that practiced Judo and had better arches were able to hold the flamingo position for 4.7 to 125.1 seconds. The other boys could only do it for 1.2 to 27.3 seconds.

This is a fairly large difference! The balance was likely not simply due to the Judo practice itself but also to better arch development. The arch allows the foot to function biomechanically as a tripod and the muscles of the foot and leg are all in a good position to provide better balance.

The structure of the foot is essentially formed by the age of two. Most children are flat-footed initially with the arch developing by age 6.

A child's foot consists of 26 bones that initially are composed of cartilage. The point in which the cartilage has turned to bone is around the time that the arch should be finished forming - this is around age 5 or 6.

The foot will grow an average of 12 sizes during the first three years of life. The child’s foot should be measured every 3 or 4 months to ensure that his or her shoes fit properly. If a toddler’s shoes are too tight, the foot will not develop properly. 

Most adult foot problems may be traced to childhood development, and the choice of shoe matters. It is important to select high-quality shoes with good fit and good shock absorption to allow your child’s foot its best chance at proper growth.

As the Judo study has demonstrated, activity is important and an integral component in the development of a good and functional foot. In order to help prevent future problems for the child’s foot, he or she should engage in a lot of physical activity in the right shoes!

The Healing Sole is a fantastic option for promoting the health of your feet! Whether you have had proper arch development throughout childhood or not, The Healing Sole can provide you with the right amount of arch support and shock absorption to get you through your day.

Order one of our best-selling, surgeon-designed styles today!