Inmaculada Requelo-Rodríguez
Current Organizations / Institutes
The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article
Inmaculada Requelo-Rodríguez has a total of 6 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
- Gabriel Domínguez-Maldonado
Department of Podiatry, Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, Universidad de Sevilla, 41009 Seville, Spain
1 shared publication - Gabriel Gijon-Nogueron
Department of Nursing and Podiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malaga, Arquitecto Francisco Penalosa 3, Ampliación de Campus de Teatinos, 29071 Malaga, Spain
1 shared publication - José Manuel Castillo-López
Department of Podiatry, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain
1 shared publication - Lucía Roldán-Fernández
Health Sciences PhD Program, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain
1 shared publication - Ramón Mahillo Durán
Podiatry Department, Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy, and Podiatry, University of Seville, 41003 Seville, Spain
1 shared publication - Álvaro Gómez-Carrión
Department of Nursing and Podiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain
1 shared publication
Latest Publications
- Open Access
- 13 October 2026
- Published by MDPI AG in Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association
- Vol. 116 (5) , 87
The Importance of Biomechanically Appropriate Pediatric Footwear in Children
Background: The selection of appropriate footwear during childhood is crucial for healthy foot development, gait acquisition, and long-term musculoskeletal health. Despite the wide variety of children’s footwear available, there is no clear consensus on the optimal characteristics of footwear that supports healthy foot biomechanics during development. Biomechanically appropriate pediatric footwear (PF) is defined as footwear designed to accommodate the child’s foot morphology during growth, allow natural movement, and provide appropriate support and stability without altering physiological gait patterns. Methods: A systematic review was conducted and reported in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 Statement and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022337587). The search included studies published between 2010 and 2025 in MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Dialnet, focusing on preschool (2–6 years) and school-age (6–12 years) children. Younger children (12 years) were excluded due to gait and footwear data and developmental differences that could confound comparisons. Studies evaluating the effects of footwear on foot health, gait mechanics, balance, and functional outcomes were included. Results: A total of 1276 studies were identified, with 25 meeting the inclusion criteria. Findings indicate that certain footwear characteristics have been associated with foot discomfort, altered gait patterns, and variations in foot posture. While some studies suggest that barefoot walking or minimalist footwear improves postural control and reduces lower-limb impact forces during gait, others report that footwear does not significantly alter gait mechanics in young children. Variability in study designs and methodologies limits the ability to establish definitive recommendations. Conclusions: Although current evidence remains inconclusive due to methodological heterogeneity, variations in study populations, and inconsistent footwear classifications, biomechanically appropriate pediatric footwear and moderately minimalist footwear appear to be associated with more favorable functional outcomes in several studies. Further standardized longitudinal and age-specific studies with clearly defined footwear characteristics are needed to determine the long-term effects of pediatric footwear on foot biomechanics and musculoskeletal development.
- 13 October 2026
- Published by MDPI AG in Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association
- Vol. 116 (5) , 87
Open AccessThe Importance of Biomechanically Appropriate Pediatric Footwear in Children
Background: The selection of appropriate footwear during childhood is crucial for healthy foot development, gait acquisition, and long-term musculoskeletal health. Despite the wide variety of children’s footwear available, there is no clear consensus on the optimal characteristics of footwear that supports healthy foot biomechanics during development. Biomechanically appropriate pediatric footwear (PF) is defined as footwear designed to accommodate the child’s foot morphology during growth, allow natural movement, and provide appropriate support and stability without altering physiological gait patterns. Methods: A systematic review was conducted and reported in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 Statement and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022337587). The search included studies published between 2010 and 2025 in MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Dialnet, focusing on preschool (2–6 years) and school-age (6–12 years) children. Younger children (12 years) were excluded due to gait and footwear data and developmental differences that could confound comparisons. Studies evaluating the effects of footwear on foot health, gait mechanics, balance, and functional outcomes were included. Results: A total of 1276 studies were identified, with 25 meeting the inclusion criteria. Findings indicate that certain footwear characteristics have been associated with foot discomfort, altered gait patterns, and variations in foot posture. While some studies suggest that barefoot walking or minimalist footwear improves postural control and reduces lower-limb impact forces during gait, others report that footwear does not significantly alter gait mechanics in young children. Variability in study designs and methodologies limits the ability to establish definitive recommendations. Conclusions: Although current evidence remains inconclusive due to methodological heterogeneity, variations in study populations, and inconsistent footwear classifications, biomechanically appropriate pediatric footwear and moderately minimalist footwear appear to be associated with more favorable functional outcomes in several studies. Further standardized longitudinal and age-specific studies with clearly defined footwear characteristics are needed to determine the long-term effects of pediatric footwear on foot biomechanics and musculoskeletal development.