Fit Feet

A discipline of Healthy Athletes, Fit Feet is a podiatric screening for Special Olympics athletes and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities that focuses on athletes’ ankle & foot health, lower extremity biomechanics, as well as footwear fit and condition.

Many Special Olympics athletes are wearing the wrong size or type of shoes while competing, which can contribute to or worsen the presence of foot and ankle pain and dysfunction. Athletes are not always fitted with the best shoes and socks for their particular sport. Together, these issues can negatively impact an athletes’ navigation of everyday life and sport performance.

During Fit Feet screenings, volunteer foot care specialists & students work with athletes to identify areas of concern. 

Using the results of the screening, volunteers provide athletes, coaches, families, and caregivers education on proper foot care and health to maximize the athlete’s ability to step lively onto the playing field of everyday life.

Athletes receive recommendations on how they can improve their footwear, and often receive a pair of fitted insoles. 

The screening also offers foot care professionals and students the opportunity to work with people with intellectual disabilities in an effort to improve their practical skills in working with this population.