- [Home](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en) - [Pediatric Orthopaedics Blog — Dr. Priano](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/blog) - Barefoot walking and foot arch development in children # Barefoot walking and foot arch development in children January 31, 2026 3 min read Edited and medically reviewed by [Dr. Daniele Priano](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/about) ![Barefoot walking and foot arch development in children](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/blog-images/piede-piatto-bambini-piedi-nudi-mito-arco-plantare-neutral-v1.webp) This English version is based on the original Italian article. For wording nuances, you can refer to the Italian version. ## In short, for parents - • Barefoot walking on safe surfaces can be comfortable; there is insufficient evidence to prescribe it as a treatment that creates a foot arch. - • For a healthy child, shoes should be comfortable, correctly sized and suitable for the activity. - • Flexible, symmetrical and painless flat feet often need no treatment. Pain, stiffness, marked asymmetry or limping deserve assessment. Walking barefoot and walking with shoes are not biomechanically equivalent. They change foot contact, plantar pressures, and some gait parameters. This, however, does not prove that barefoot walking creates or corrects the arch of the foot. [1–3] In the early years, an apparently flat foot is very common. The prevalence decreases with growth, and many children show a visible arch when they stand on their toes or when the foot is not bearing weight: this is the typical flexible flat foot. [1] ## What We Know About Barefoot Walking Some observational studies have found a lower prevalence of flat foot in populations that walk barefoot more often. [1] However, these comparisons do not allow us to separate the role of footwear, physical activity, body weight, environment, and cultural habits. Therefore, we do not have sufficient evidence to prescribe barefoot walking as a treatment for flat feet. If a child enjoys being barefoot at home or on safe surfaces, there is no reason to prevent it. The main benefit is freedom of movement, not the promise of creating an arch. ## Which Shoes to Choose The characteristics of a shoe influence the way of walking, but the literature does not identify a universal model capable of improving arch development. [2][3] For a healthy child, the most important factors are correct size, toe space, comfort, sufficient flexibility, and suitability for the activity. A rigid or "orthopedic" shoe is not necessary to shape a foot that has no symptoms. ## When a Flat Foot Warrants Evaluation Recurrent pain, fatigue that limits walking or sports, stiffness, marked asymmetry, limping, significant tightness of the gastrocnemius-Achilles complex, or a rapidly worsening deformity require a more precise assessment. A flexible, bilateral, and painless foot in a child who runs and plays normally has a very different meaning. ## The Role of Orthotics In asymptomatic flexible flat feet, I do not prescribe orthotics solely to make the arch more evident. In symptomatic children, however, orthotics can reduce pain and modify some biomechanical or radiographic parameters. A recent meta-analysis, however, does not demonstrate that they permanently build a normal arch. [4] Treatment should therefore be guided by symptoms and function, not by the appearance of the foot taken in isolation. ### References [1] Xu L, Gu H, Zhang Y, Sun T, Yu J. *Risk Factors of [Flatfoot](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/conditions/flatfoot) in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.* International journal of environmental research and public health. 2022 Jul 6. doi:10.3390/ijerph19148247. PMID: 35886097. [2] Wang Y, Jiang H, Yu L, Gao Z, Liu W, Mei Q, Gu Y. *Understanding the Role of Children's Footwear on Children's Feet and Gait Development: A Systematic Scoping Review.* Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland). 2023 May 13. doi:10.3390/healthcare11101418. PMID: 37239704. [3] Cranage S, Perraton L, Bowles KA, Williams C. *The impact of shoe flexibility on gait, pressure and muscle activity of young children. A systematic review.* J Foot Ankle Res. 2019;12:55. doi:10.1186/s13047-019-0365-7. PMID: 31798689. [4] Liu C, Zhang H, Li J, et al. *The effects of foot orthoses on radiological parameters and pain in children with flexible flat feet: a systematic review and meta-analysis.* Front Pediatr. 2024;12:1388248. doi:10.3389/fped.2024.1388248. PMID: 39156020. Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace an individual clinical evaluation. ## Complete flatfoot pathway This page is part of the flatfoot pathway. The main guide covers the overall clinical picture. - [1 Understanding flatfoot What it is, how the arch develops, and when an assessment is useful.](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/conditions/flatfoot) - [6 Insoles, bare feet and shoes: what to know Parent-oriented answers on the most common everyday choices.](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/guides/children-shoes) [Insoles](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/blog/flatfoot-in-children-are-orthotics-needed) - [Bare feet · you are here](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/blog/does-walking-barefoot-build-the-foot-arch) - [7 MRI and tarsal coalition: what the literature says How accurate MRI is when a tarsal coalition is suspected.](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/blog/tarsal-coalition-mri-accuracy) ![Dott. Daniele Priano](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/assets/doctor-avatar-3d-CTvqnoPa.webp) ### Concerned about your child? If you recognize any of these signs in your child, a specialist assessment can give you clarity. I see children at Gaetano Pini and CTO institutes in Milan. 5.0 · Google & MioDottore [Book a private visit](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/locations#prenota) ### Related Conditions [Flatfoot](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/conditions/flatfoot) ### Related Surgery Pages [Flatfoot surgery](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/surgery/flatfoot) ### Related Exercises [Exercises for Flatfoot](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/parents-kids/exercises/foot-ankle/flatfoot) ### Related Articles [Toe walking: when to consider surgery and what we know about recurrence in autism Read](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/blog/toe-walking-when-surgery-recurrence-autism)[Children’s shoes worn on one side: what does it mean? Read](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/blog/children-shoes-worn-on-one-side)[Medial malleolus fractures in children: is the risk of growth arrest really that high? Read](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/blog/medial-malleolus-fractures-children-growth-arrest) ![Dott. Daniele Priano](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/assets/doctor-avatar-3d-BiLSxBxW.webp) Author and medical reviewer ## Dr. Daniele Priano [Pediatric orthopaedic care in Milan](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en) — Gaetano Pini & CTO [Read full bio](https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/about) --- Canonical: https://ortopediaevolutiva.com/en/blog/does-walking-barefoot-build-the-foot-arch Le informazioni cliniche sono divulgative e non sostituiscono una valutazione medica diretta.