MADISON- Summer vacation is now complete and back to school is in full swing. For parents, one area many didn’t think of checking while purchasing those new back-to-school wardrobes is their children’s shoes. In particular, if the shoes properly fit their children, especially those of athletes or just the common casual “tennis shoes” as all children are faced with a summer growth spurt.

Fleet Feet of Huntsville, which serves Madison’s hundreds of athletes, has a new “fit id” scanning technology, which measures your foot to find precise width, length, arch height and more. The scanning process takes a mere five seconds.

“Together with the scanning, we review your interactive scan and talk about what it means and utilizing the scan and our expertise, we customize fit solutions for each individual,” said Alana Scarno, Fleet Feet floor manager and coach.

Once a decision is made on the proper shoe to fit the data provided, the 3D scan is e-mailed to the athlete to keep and share with others. Update scans are available each time is necessary for comparison.

Fleet Feet Sports has adapted what is actually a 40-year process and call it “Listen, Watch, Act, Plan.”

Athletes tell of what they do and how they do causing the experts to listen. The biomechanics of a person’s stride is carefully scrutinized so the athletes are watched. Next, is the act of finding the right shoe for the athlete including the correct socks, insoles and any possible gear to go along with the correct chosen shoes. Lastly, Fleet Feet Sports plan and look ahead with training tips, injury prevention and discussion on how to take care of the new, properly fitting shoes.

Foot physicians cannot stress enough the importance that a child have a good supportive shoe to help with injury prevention and overall comfort. If the shoe is to big the athlete is made easier to trip or lose their balance and their feet move about in the shoe. If the shoe is not supportive and stable, the athlete can easily suffer roll and or sprain of an ankle.

“A quality and correct fitting shoe that provides support and stability will also prevent achy feet,” added Scarano. “Not to mention the all-important arch support. Supporting the arch early on will aid in prolonged foot health.”

Although enormous increment in technology surrounding shoes has developed a science of sorts in the areas of feet and shoes, the basic guidelines have never changed. An athletic shoe must have some wiggle room, about a thumb’s width between the end of the shoe and longest toe. You should hold the shoe and look for a secure comfortable fit through the midfoot. Finally, there’s the “heel deal” as there should be little or no slipping at the heel.

Experts give out a fair warning to the parents and the children themselves to do not assume your child’s foot is the same size as a previous shoe. Growth spurts happen to all parts of the body and your shoes should try and stay up with the foot expansion.

To aid in care of one of the most important parts of the human body, Fleet Feet Sports suggest to step into “fit id.”