BACKGROUND: Inconsistent reporting of interventions and outcomes is a key barrier to research translation. Children's footwear research is often inconsistently reported as there are no standards or recommendations on what to report or consensus on which outcomes are important. The primary aim of this research was to develop expert consensus in children's footwear features and descriptions for research reporting. The secondary aim focused on consensus building of outcome measures relating to footwear in research in children. The outcome of this study was to develop a reporting checklist and guidance for researchers who are conducting children's footwear studies. METHODS: This was a three-round modified Delphi survey informed by a scoping review. We searched four databases to enable data extraction from 109 records related to children's footwear research. These data established the basis for Round 1. Authors were identified through the scoping review and invited to participate. In Round 1, participants rated the appropriateness of domains relating to reporting footwear descriptions and features and outcomes. Outcome measures were organised against a childhood adaptation of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)-F-words in childhood disability domains. Consensus and agreement levels were set at 70%. Where 50%-69% of participants agreed, the item was returned for rating in Rounds 2 and 3. RESULTS: There were 33 participants who responded to Round 1 and 29 (88%) in both subsequent rounds. Participants agreed on 20 statements that researchers should use to describe children's footwear and their features. All ICF domains met consensus for outcome collection. There were 17 outcome measures that participants agreed should be used in the future when a researcher's aim aligns with specific domains. Where no specific outcome measures reached consensus or agreement within a domain, a statement was developed to guide researcher choice in the subsequently developed checklist. CONCLUSION: Participants reached consensus on the essential footwear characteristics and descriptions that should be consistently reported in children's footwear research. This enabled us to produce a list of preferred outcome measures. Using this checklist can support future research through collection and reporting of comparable data.

Allied Health and Human Performance University of South Australia Adelaide Australia

Allied Health Office KK Women's and Children's Hospital Singapore Singapore

Aname Baby Design Belo Horizonte Brazil

Australian Centre for Precision Health and Technology Griffith University Nathan Australia

Centre for Biomechanics and Rehabilitation Technologies Staffordshire University Staffordshire UK

Centre for Health Exercise and Sports Medicine The University of Melbourne Melbourne Australia

Centre for Sport Research Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition Deakin University Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus Geelong Australia

Decathlon SportsLab Lille France

Department of Human Movement Studies University of Ostrava Moravská Ostrava a Přívoz Czech Republic

Department of Neurology The Royal Children's Hospital Parkville Australia

Department of Nursing and Podiatry University of Malaga Malaga Spain

Discipline of Podiatry School of Allied Health Human Services and Sport La Trobe University Victoria Australia

Division of Sport Science Department of Exercise Sport and Lifestyle Medicine Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch South Africa

Faculty of Health Sciences Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department Eastern Mediterranean University Famagusta Türkiye

Monash Centre for Scholarship in Health Education Monash University Clayton Australia

Monash Health Clayton Australia

MSH Medical School Hamburg Institute of Interdisciplinary Exercise Science and Sports Medicine Hamburg Germany

National Institute of Education Nanyang Technological University Singapore Singapore

Neurosciences Clinical Sciences Murdoch Children's Research Institute Parkville Australia

Nnewi Campus Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Nigeria

Program in Physical Therapy College of Health Oregon State University Cascades Bend Oregon USA

Rehabilitation Research Center Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics School of Rehabilitation Sciences Iran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran

School of Health Sciences and Social Work Griffith University Nathan Australia

School of Kinesiology College of Education and Human Development George Mason University Fairfax Virginia USA

School of Life Course and Population Sciences King's College London UK

School of Primary and Allied Health Care Monash University Frankston Australia

Wolaita Sodo University Soddo Ethiopia

See more in PubMed

Price C., Morrison S., Haley M., Nester C., and Williams A., “Searching for Online Information on the Fit of Children’s Footwear During the COVID‐19 Pandemic: An Analysis of Google Trends Data,” Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 16, no. 1 (2023): 1, 10.1186/s13047-022-00598-5. PubMed DOI PMC

Williams C. M., Banwell H. A., Paterson K. L., et al., “Parents, Health Professionals and Footwear Stakeholders’ Beliefs on the Importance of Different Features of Young Children’s Footwear: A Qualitative Study,” Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 15, no. 1 (2022): 73, 10.1186/s13047-022-00580-1. PubMed DOI PMC

Price C., Haley M., Williams A., Nester C., and Morrison S. C., “Professional Appraisal of Online Information About Children’s Footwear Measurement and Fit: Readability, Usability and Quality,” Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 13, no. 1 (2020): 2, 10.1186/s13047-020-0370-x. PubMed DOI PMC

Morrison S. C., Price C., McClymont J., and Nester C., “Big Issues for Small Feet: Developmental, Biomechanical and Clinical Narratives on Children’s Footwear,” Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 11, no. 1 (2018): 39, 10.1186/s13047-018-0281-2. PubMed DOI PMC

Cranage S., Perraton L., Bowles K.‐A., and Williams C., “The Impact of Shoe Flexibility on Gait, Pressure and Muscle Activity of Young Children. A Systematic Review,” Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 12, no. 1 (2019): 55, 10.1186/s13047-019-0365-7. PubMed DOI PMC

Wegener C., Hunt A. E., Vanwanseele B., Burns J., and Smith R. M., “Effect of Children’s Shoes on Gait: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis,” Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 4, no. 1 (2011): 3, 10.1186/1757-1146-4-3. PubMed DOI PMC

Grand View Research , Kids Footwear Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Product (Casual, Sports, Formal), by End‐Use (Boys, Girls, Unisex), by Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific), and Segment Forecasts, 2025—2030 (2025).

Rao U. B. and Joseph B., “The Influence of Footwear on the Prevalence of Flat Foot. A Survey of 2300 Children,” Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British 74, no. 4 (1992): 525–527, 10.1302/0301-620x.74b4.1624509. PubMed DOI

Klein C., Groll‐Knapp E., Kundi M., and Kinz W., “Increased Hallux Angle in Children and its Association With Insufficient Length of Footwear: A Community Based Cross‐Sectional Study,” BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 10 (2009): 1–7, 10.1186/1471-2474-10-159. PubMed DOI PMC

Lim P. Q. X., Shields N., Nikolopoulos N., et al., “The Association of Foot Structure and Footwear Fit With Disability in Children and Adolescents With Down Syndrome,” Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 8, no. 1 (2015): 4, 10.1186/s13047-015-0062-0. PubMed DOI PMC

Kennedy R. A., McGinley J. L., Paterson K. L., Ryan M. M., and Carroll K., “Gait and Footwear in Children and Adolescents With Charcot‐Marie‐Tooth Disease: A Cross‐Sectional, Case‐Controlled Study,” Gait & Posture 62 (2018): 262–267, 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2018.03.029. PubMed DOI

Hill M., Healy A., and Chockalingam N., “Defining and Grouping Children’s Therapeutic Footwear and Criteria for Their Prescription: An International Expert Delphi Consensus Study,” BMJ Open 11, no. 8 (2021): e051381, 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-051381. PubMed DOI PMC

Buldt A. K. and Menz H. B., “Incorrectly Fitted Footwear, Foot Pain and Foot Disorders: A Systematic Search and Narrative Review of the Literature,” Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 11, no. 1 (2018): 43, 10.1186/s13047-018-0284-z. PubMed DOI PMC

Lam W. K., Kan W. H., Chia J. S., and Kong P. W., “Effect of Shoe Modifications on Biomechanical Changes in Basketball: A Systematic Review,” Sports Biomechanics 21, no. 5 (2022): 577–603, 10.1080/14763141.2019.1656770. PubMed DOI

Luo Bo, Cai Y., Chen D., et al., “Effects of Special Therapeutic Footwear on the Prevention of Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials,” Journal of Diabetes Research 2022, no. 1 (2022): 9742665–9742710, 10.1155/2022/9742665. PubMed DOI PMC

Menz H. B., “Foot Problems, Footwear, and Falls,” in Falls in Older People: Risk Factors, Strategies for Prevention and Implications for Practice (2021), 119–129.

Hoogkamer W., Kipp S., Frank J. H., Farina E. M., Luo G., and Kram R., “A Comparison of the Energetic Cost of Running in Marathon Racing Shoes,” Sports Medicine 48, no. 4 (2018): 1009–1019, 10.1007/s40279-017-0811-2. PubMed DOI PMC

Ramsey C. A., Lamb P., Kaur M., Baxter G. D., and Ribeiro D. C., “How Are Running Shoes Assessed? A Systematic Review of Characteristics and Measurement Tools Used to Describe Running Footwear,” Journal of Sports Sciences 37, no. 14 (2019): 1617–1629, 10.1080/02640414.2019.1578449. PubMed DOI

Esculier J.‐F., Dubois B., Dionne C. E., Leblond J., and Roy J.‐S., “A Consensus Definition and Rating Scale for Minimalist Shoes,” Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 8 (2015): 1–9, 10.1186/s13047-015-0094-5. PubMed DOI PMC

Ellis S., Branthwaite H., and Chockalingam N., “Evaluation and Optimisation of a Footwear Assessment Tool for Use Within a Clinical Environment,” Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 15, no. 1 (2022): 12, 10.1186/s13047-022-00519-6. PubMed DOI PMC

Jones J. and Hunter D., “Consensus Methods for Medical and Health Services Research,” BMJ 311, no. 7001 (1995): 376–380, 10.1136/bmj.311.7001.376. PubMed DOI PMC

Vernon W., “The Delphi Technique: A Review,” International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation 16, no. 2 (2009): 69–76, 10.12968/ijtr.2009.16.2.38892. DOI

Williams C. M., “CHILD’s SHOE REPORT: A Checklist of Reporting Information on Children’s Footwear Research,” in Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency of Health Research (EQUATOR) (2025).

Jünger S., Payne S. A., Brine J., Radbruch L., and Brearley S. G., “Guidance on Conducting and REporting DElphi Studies (CREDES) in Palliative Care: Recommendations Based on a Methodological Systematic Review,” Palliative Medicine 31, no. 8 (2017): 684–706, 10.1177/0269216317690685. PubMed DOI

Tricco A. C., Lillie E., Zarin W., et al., “A Scoping Review on the Conduct and Reporting of Scoping Reviews,” BMC Medical Research Methodology 16, no. 1 (2016): 1–10, 10.1186/s12874-016-0116-4. PubMed DOI PMC

Williams C. M., Morrison S. C., Paterson K., et al., “Young Children’s Footwear Taxonomy: An International Delphi Survey of Parents, Health and Footwear Industry Professionals,” PLoS One 17, no. 6 (2022): e0269223, 10.1371/journal.pone.0269223. PubMed DOI PMC

Rosenbaum P. and Gorter J. W., “The ‘F‐Words’ in Childhood Disability: I Swear This Is How We Should Think,” Child: Care, Health and Development 38, no. 4 (2012): 457–463, 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01338.x. PubMed DOI

Dars S., Uden H., Kumar S., and Banwell H. A., “When, Why and How Foot Orthoses (FOs) Should Be Prescribed for Children With Flexible Pes Planus: A Delphi Survey of Podiatrists,” PeerJ 6 (2018): e4667, 10.7717/peerj.4667. PubMed DOI PMC

Cranage S., Banwell H., and Williams C. M., “Gait and Lower Limb Observation of Paediatrics (GALLOP): Development of a Consensus Based Paediatric Podiatry and Physiotherapy Standardised Recording Proforma,” Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 9, no. 1 (2016): 1–10, 10.1186/s13047-016-0139-4. PubMed DOI PMC

Palermo T. M., Walco G. A., Paladhi U. R., et al., “Core Outcome Set for Pediatric Chronic Pain Clinical Trials: Results From a Delphi Poll and Consensus Meeting,” Pain 162, no. 10 (2021): 2539–2547, 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002241. PubMed DOI PMC

Plesek J., Silvernail J. F., Hamill J., and Jandacka D., “Footfall Pattern During Running in Preschool Children According to Age and Footwear,” NA 38, no. 1 (2020): 400–NA.

Plesek J., Hamill J., Blaschova D., Freedman – Silvernail J., and Jandacka D., “Acute Effects of Footwear on Running Impact Loading in the Preschool Years,” Sports Biomechanics 22, no. 3 (2023): 442–458, 10.1080/14763141.2022.2058599. PubMed DOI

Plesek J., Freedman Silvernail J., Hamill J., and Jandacka D., “Running Footstrike Patterns and Footwear in Habitually Shod Preschool Children,” Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 53, no. 8 (2021): 1630–1637, 10.1249/mss.0000000000002629. PubMed DOI

Gimunová M., Kolářová K., Vodička T., Bozděch M., and Zvonař M., “How Barefoot and Conventional Shoes Affect the Foot and Gait Characteristics in Toddlers,” PLoS One 17, no. 8 August (2022): e0273388, 10.1371/journal.pone.0273388. PubMed DOI PMC

Mueller J., Richter M., Schaefer K., Ganz J., Lohscheller J., and Mueller S., “How to Measure Children’s Feet: 3D Foot Scanning Compared With Established 2D Manual or Digital Methods,” Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 16, no. 1 (2023): 21, 10.1186/s13047-023-00618-y. PubMed DOI PMC

Krabak B. J., Roberts W. O., Tenforde A. S., et al., “Youth Running Consensus Statement: Minimising Risk of Injury and Illness in Youth Runners,” British Journal of Sports Medicine 55, no. 6 (2021): 305–318, 10.1136/bjsports-2020-102518. PubMed DOI