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Fantastic story on the front of the Daily Star this morning - apparently flip-flops have been blamed for car accidents (they get caught around the brake pedal at traffic lights) and male impotence!
Flip Flops Can Be Killers
Wearing trendy flip flops could kill you, according to new research.
The fashionable footwear - ideal for the beach in hot weather - are putting the lives of road users at risk.
Three in every four motorists have admitted they find it hard to drive in flip flops and road safety experts have warned that wearing the sandals in the car could be a lethal decision.
Researchers claim a flip flop, worn by millions, can easily get stuck under the pedals and cause a fatal accident, The Sun says.
Craig Martin, spokesman for Norwich Union who carried out the poll, told the newspaper: "Footwear such as flip flops are dangerous as the sole can get caught under a pedal.
"The absence of ankle support can lead to the foot slipping off the pedal altogether."
Leigh Purves, gossip columnist for the Daily Star, is among those to have had a close call while driving with designer flip flops.
She has told how, while travelling on the M1, her sandal got stuck under the brake pedal and she missed another car "by millimetres".
The Sun also says that German researchers revealed last year that 14 out of 25 pairs of flip flops they studied contained toxic chemicals known to lower sperm count in men and attack the liver, kidneys and reproductive organs.
THONGS may be the hot footwear trend for the 21st century, but experts have warned that excessive use can lead to painful and sometimes debilitating foot injuries.
Paul Bours, from the Australian Podiatry Association, said people who wore thongs for long periods ran the risk of injuries including arch strains, hammer toes, Achilles tendon injuries and split heel pads.
Because they offered no protection, broken and fractured toes were another danger, he said. "The problem is you have to curl your toes to keep them on when your leg swings, which is the opposite of what you're supposed to be doing," Mr Bours said.
"It can cause the retraction of toes, or hammer toes, and they'll notice rubbing on top of the shoes they do wear.
"Long-term retraction of toes means you may be walking on the end of your toes and you'll get nail problems, like ingrown toenails and fungal infections."
Once the daggy footwear of choice for dads at the family barbecue, thongs have evolved into a multi-million-dollar industry and are now a fashion statement for trendy youngsters. But the desire to look cool can come at a price. Mr Bours said that because thongs were flat they put extra pressure on feet.
"If you're walking on unforgiving surfaces like concrete and asphalt, the poor foot has to deform to the shape of the surface and without any support, it's going to be stretched," he said. "As a device to get from the car to the beach, or walking around the house, great. But when you start using them for protection or walking, no."
It is good to get press and that has to be applauded. Well done Paul. It is also fare to say reporters will present what they think is a good story and not always the truth as reported to them. 'When does the truth get in the way of a good story', is an old but true adage. However I believe as a credible service to the public we are obliged to coach public statements with informed opinion and not just alarmist rhetoric.
There is absolutely no scientific evidence to support thongs are bad for feet. Indeed if it were true then we would all have weak feet because sandals have been around since the beginning of clothing. Whilst care is cautioned not to attempt physical activity in inappropriately designed shoes many great feats have been achieved in the humble thong. I am reminded of stranded travelers who walk miles for assistance in the punishing heat protected only by their sandals. Shoes are not the primary cause of foot problems as has been proffered and although they may excite repetitive stress injury, the fundamental problem already exists. The genesis of the sports sandals bears no resemblance to the daggy origins of ‘dads at barbecues’ but lends instead more to the practical development of shoes which support the foot and give traction to it on wet surfaces during excessive sports such as white water rafting. Sport sandals of today are technical marvels which incorporate the accumulated knowledge of shoe making since the beginning together with 21st century materials. Many of the thongs incorporate wedges in their midsole and are not flat surfaces as indicated. Condemnation of the thong is easy because it has association with low socio-economical groups and access to privately owned public space such as shopping malls and cinemas sadly bare witness to this in our society. These are promulgated by psuedo laws of health and safety which do not exist . Refer to the Barefoot Society website. In essence, like all Western Countries we are a Middle Class society who does not like poor people. The ancient Romans were no different and legislated only citizens of Rome (males) had the right to wear shoes (ironically thongs).
However there is no evidence to suggest single or double pluggers do you any harm whatsoever in the general population. Long live the Aussie icon!
It may be as a group, podiatrists reflect the population seen by them for professional services and under these circumstances there may well be a correlation between foot pathology and inappropriate footwear. However that codicil needs to be made clear in any public statement. After all as scientists we cannot extrapolate inappropriately nor as an informed public should we be pray to alarmist predictions with no scientific basis whatsoever.
One of my elderly clients who served in the Indian army (Mountain Scouts) has regailed me with tales of how they would march for many miles (all day long) through mountainous terrain, wearing a type of sandal called a chapli (?spelling). He describes a leather sole with iron studs embedded in it (for grip) and an interwoven leather upper. As far as I can visualise from his description these sandals resembled those worn by Roman soldiers. Despite this his feet are not in bad shape for a gentleman in his nineties.
Poll
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>One of my elderly clients who served in the Indian army (Mountain
Scouts) has regailed me with tales of how they would march for many miles (all day long) through mountainous terrain, wearing a type of sandal called a chapli (?spelling). He describes a leather sole with iron studs embedded in it (for grip) and an interwoven leather upper. As far as I can visualise from his description these sandals resembled those worn
by Roman soldiers. Despite this his feet are not in bad shape for a
gentleman in his nineties.
I think a Chapli is a kabab <http://www.mag4you.com/recipe/recipe.asp?title=Chapli+Kabab+and+Potato+Balls&con tent_id=1781&arch=0&bhcp=1>
Your patient may be describing a traditional Indian sandal called Chappals. These are the most widely used footwear in India. Chappals come in many designs and are both comfortable and long lasting. Originally the sandals were made in Kohlapur in Maharashtra and are often called kolhapuri chappals. Shoe making in India dates back to the time of the Indus valley civilisation (circa 3000 BC) and the Indians had learned to tan leather early making sumptuous clothing including footwear. In the East the use of bronze was known to exist from 4500 BC and the Indian civilisation may well have influenced the Etruscans to use bronze (or later copper) tacks to attach the sole of the sandal to the upper. This is what was later used by the Romans as they militarised the sandal. Robust footwear took them further and hence the Roman Empire spread further than previous civilisations. Other traditional Indian footwear include 'jhuttis' (jhootis or juttis) and 'mojhris'. Mojhris are heavily embroidered with gold and silver threads and decorated with precious gems and pearls. These are worn at weddings. These were considered as the royal ethnic footwear to go with traditional Indian dressing like sherwanis and churidar kurta (pyjamas). They come in a variety of colours and designs, and are normally hand crafted, made from buffalo, cow or camel leather soles, while the upper part comprises of leather or simply textile. Unlike chappals both parts of the shoe are joined together by a paste then stitched by white cotton threads. The flat soled shoes have no left right distinction. The shoes have become very popular with the glitterati and are worn by Bollywood stars and professional sportsmen. Mojhari is a man's closed shoe with an extended curled toe, while as jhuttis have flat fronts. In jhuttis, the rear is normally covered but mojharis have an open look from behind. These shoes were traditionally made in Jaipur and Jodhpur, cities of Rajasthan.
Good source is:
Feet and Footwear in Indian Culture/Jutta Jain-Neubauer. Ahmedabad, Mapin, 2000, 171 p., map, colour photographs, ISBN 81-85822-69-7. https://www.vedamsbooks.com/no17936.htm
Here is an example in contemporary life where shoes or the absence of them is punishment. These are called sumptary laws and are well documented throughout history <http://www.podiatry.curtin.edu.au/sump.html>
Sex workers in India http://www.careinternational.org.uk/...ory.php?id=373
We are not permitted to wear shoes. We cannot be buried after death because we are sex workers. Our dead bodies are either thrown into the river or burnt irrespective of religion or caste," says Ruby, leader of Joy Nari Sangha, an organisation of Faridpur based sex workers.
We've been wearing them for years, but experts are warning it may be time to fling our thongs. And it's not just because you can't run in them!
“You’re not getting any support for your feet in a thong", says podiatrist Luke Kelly, "The muscles that control the feet have to work a hell of a lot harder to keep your foot in the thong. You’re increasing the chances of getting foot strain type injuries.
“Some people have good feet, they can wear thongs without having too many problems. If you do have a tendency towards having flat or unstable feet, a thong is only going to make the situation worse.”
Frequent thong wearers know blisters and corns are all part of the thong experience, and Luke knows it too, “I’ve probably seen a bit more of this over the last 12 months or so, from people wearing thongs, and thong-like shoes, the increase of corns between those two toes from too much pressure and friction from that strap.”
So if the foot experts don't want us wearing thongs, what do they want us to wear? “You’ve sort of got to compromise with any footwear. If you’re wearing thongs down to the beach before you get into the water, that’s probably what they should be used for. A thong to the beach is probably going to be safer than wearing bare feet on the beaches with needles or any other sort of things you can stab yourself in the foot with. Some sort of protection is good".
“With the fashion at the moment being thongs, there are some good alternatives being made…If you can look for something that has a nice solid sole, a little bit of arch support and holds the foot in a certain position. With a thong, you slide around everywhere and have to hold onto it with your toes”, Luke Kelly.
From WWAY News Channel: Flip-flops could cause long-term foot damage
May 18, 2006 05:56 AM
Quote:
WILMINGTON -- You might be one of thousands of people that trade in their sneakers and shoes for flip-flops when the warm weather arrives. But that summer footwear could be causing long-term damage to your feet.
Flip-flops may be easy and even comfortable. The problem is that they don't offer any support to your heels or arches. And over time you could develop problems. Doctors do have some advice if you want to keep your feet healthy.
"I'd probably recommend a tennis shoe. Or if you want something that slips on, something more like a clog or a trendy thing these days are called crocks. You just slide your foot in them and they offer a little more support than your traditional flip flop."
Doctors also say you shouldn't do recreational activities like riding a bike while wearing flip-flops. They commonly see ankle injuries as a result of playing sports without the proper footwear.
Doctors also say that if you are experiencing pain in either your arch or heel, you should see a foot specialist right away. The sooner they diagnose a problem, they say, the easier it is to treat.
this is the lead story on WebMD today: Flip-Flops Fun but Beware of Foot Pain
Experts give flip-flops thumbs up for the poolside, thumbs down for foot painBy Katherine Kam
Quote:
Once upon a time, flip-flops were cheap, rubber thongs that you wore to wash your car or schlep to the beach.
Nowadays, they’re a summertime craze. No longer just dull drugstore specials, the sandals with the V-shaped straps turn up everywhere in eye-popping shades, from hot pink to lime green. They come adorned with spangles, flowers, and college logos. One company even created flip-flops with a built-in bottle opener.
Fun and fashionable, flip-flops have their place in your shoe closet, experts say. But they’re not meant to be worn with abandon -- or else you may be courting foot pain.
Flip-Flops: Good and Bad
Jackie Hartnett, a young Northern California woman, owns five pairs, including some with a Hawaiian motif and a black pair with polka dots. Come rain or shine, she wears flip-flops. “They’re really comfortable. I don’t like shoes because they’re so confining,” she says. Her boyfriend accidentally steps on her toes, but to Hartnett, that’s a small price to pay for the breezy feel of flip-flops.
“Flip-flops and sandals during the summer are very common and very popular,” says John G. Anderson, MD, a Michigan orthopaedic surgeon and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society spokesman.
What’s their best purpose? “Flip-flops give you some basic protection to the bottom of your foot to walk around poolside or on a surface that may be warm during the summer,” says Jim Christina, DPM, director of scientific affairs for the American Podiatric Medical Association.
They can also help prevent you from catching athlete’s foot or plantar warts in public showers, according to foot specialists.
In contrast, it’s a bad idea to play sports or hike trails in flip-flops, foot pain experts tell WebMD. Here’s a quick primer on flip-flop safety.
No Foot Support Leads to Foot Pain
Unlike sturdy shoes, flip-flops aren’t good for extensive walking because they offer no arch support, heel cushioning, or shock absorption, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). Wearers can suffer foot pain due to lack of arch support, tendinitis, and even sprained ankles if they trip.
Many vacationers find out the hard way. They can’t wait to toss aside their wingtips or pumps to lounge in flip-flops all day long. But after a few days, some want to hurl the sandals into the garbage bin.
Why? “They let your foot be as flat as they can be,” Christina says. “For some people, that’s OK, depending on the structure of their foot. But if you have a foot that tends to over-flatten, then you’re not getting any support.
“If [vacationers] are at the beach or Disney World and they’re walking in flip-flops for days on end with no support, it’s very common to see arch and heel pain,” he says.
Don’t overdo the flip-flops at home, either, Christina says. “Everything in moderation. As long as you’re not doing a lot of walking, it’s probably OK.” For example, “To have flip-flops on for short periods of time to do errands, that’s usually not going to be a problem.”
If you have foot pain and need an alternative to flip-flops and their flimsy support, the APMA’s web site recommends sandals from companies, such as Wolky, Chaco, Dansko and Rockport.
Killer Flip Flops
Killer Flip Flops
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