Hot Feet in the Summer Time

— Loretta Sheldon, ROA, CFo, and Joan Briggs, PT

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Cooling off those sweaty little feet
"I wonder how to handle DAFO®s during the summer. We have the hot part of the year to go through. Do you use sneakers all year or something cooler during the summer? Every night when I take Jason’s braces off, his feet are sooo sweaty and hot. I can’t imagine how bad this will be during 95° weather."

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A blog posting like this from a DAFO mom inspired us to offer some suggestions for turning down the heat. Be sure to share them with your patients!

Keeping Feet Cool in the Summer Heat

(Tips for Children in Braces)

Ask for more holes.
When ordering, ask Cascade Technical Support (800/848-7332) to make more ventilation holes in the brace. If needed, you can send the brace in to us and we’ll add air holes free.

Change socks often.
Some athletes take two (or more) showers a day; why not plan for two pairs of socks a day? While you’re changing socks, give your child’s bare feet a good chance to dry, for optimal cooling.

Dust feet with powder.
A light dusting of foot powder will help the feet absorb moisture.

Use airy shoes.
Crocs and Keen sandals can provide some heel containment while providing lots of space for air flow. They’re especially helpful for SMOs and AFOs. The “off”-brands of these are okay. In fact, any sturdy sandal or canvas tennis shoe that gives some kind of heel support (stopping the brace from moving around too much) is fine. Click here to see our Socks and Shoes informational brochure.

Use thin, moisture-wicking socks.
Tube socks with Coolmax® fibers provide superior wicking to keep feet dry. You can find these socks at sporting goods stores or order SmartKnit tube socks on our website.

Look for a break.
Within the established wearing protocol, it’s best to plan for a break once or twice a day if possible. In the heat of the day, give some “air time” with nothing on the feet for 20 minutes or so when the child is engaging in a quiet activity—for instance, napping, TV watching, or story time.

Loretta Sheldon is an ABC Registered Orthotic Assistant and Certified Fitter of Orthotics. She is the clinical assistant to Don Buethorn and manages the Education Resource team at Cascade Dafo. In her 10 years of service at Cascade Dafo, Loretta has worked in many areas of the company from the technical support of practitioner customers to product development and clinical problem solving.

Joan Briggs graduated from the University of Washington in 1979 and has worked in pediatrics ever since. She has been at Lowell Elementary School (Seattle Public Schools) for over 25 years and works primarily with children who have orthopedic impairment (CP, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, etc.). When she started, they still modified old E & J wheelchairs with plywood, foam, and nagahyde!