Lately, when I go to a department store I notice the sneakers with wheels from the shoe store section. There are all colors and all prices (although none exactly cheap). Most children are excited when they see them and it looks like they are going to become the most desired gift this Christmas.
Without being an expert in podiatry or a doctor I could intuit a few weeks ago that those shoes that try to be skates they couldn't be good for children's feet. More than anything because it gave me the feeling that his balance and stability were deteriorating. And the confirmation came when I saw my eight-year-old neighbor fall to the ground with this type of shoe, although fortunately, everything was in a slight blow.
Apparently, my neighbor was "lucky" with the fall because Spanish pediatricians and traumatologists have diagnosed wrist fractures five children in just one week. All caused by the use of shoes with wheels. For this reason, an alert was generated in which doctors and podiatrists warned of the danger of this footwear that began its sale in 2000 in the United States and that has gained strength in recent years.
Thus, in March 2016 a team of researchers from the University of Elche led by Roberto Pascual, an expert in pediatric podiatry, entered a study of the possible dangers of footwear with wheels and they discovered that 11% of kindergarten and primary school children wore these shoes to schools. And not only that, but many of them spend about eight hours a day in their wheeled shoes when the maximum should be two hours a week.
But why do experts say that wheeled shoes are dangerous?
They are not used with the proper measures
To begin with, podiatrists claim that it is not a common shoe like any sneaker, but a children's toy. But despite the warnings, it seems that more and more children are wearing this type of footwear. We agree that they do not become skates as such, but they still have wheels. And when wearing them, children who use them should wear knee pads, wrist guards, arm protection and helmets to avoid risks and injuries. But there are families who do not take this advice very seriously since some children have suffered various wrist and arm fractures and even shoulder dislocations caused by rolling shoes.
The forefoot supporting most of the body weight
This type of footwear increases the height of the heel by about two more centimeters. According to experts, they affirm that the heel is anatomically prepared to support most of the body weight. If the heel height is excessive, the load does not go mostly to the heel but to the forefoot. Some of you may be thinking about the importance of what I just told you, but what is true is that if most of the weight of children does not fall on the heel and on the forefoot, it can cause serious growth problems and Freiberg's disease characterized by loss of blood flow in the bones of the feet.
As expected, pressure builds up on the heel
After collecting and analyzing all the data from the study, the researchers said that the children who had used the roller shoes regularly had their tone pressure increased between 1,5 and 2,7 times higher than the average. What consequences does this have? Experts say that in the long term there may be cases of possible shortening of the musculature, especially the posterior one (this is where the twins are located).
And they weigh twice as much as a normal sneaker
This type of footwear, having wheels, obviously weighs more than a traditional sports shoe. What about this? Well, that extra weight and nothing recommended by experts could cause long-term hip problems.
The warnings of the General Council of the College of Podiatrists about the serious consequences of children not wearing shoes with wheels are not to be laughed at. In fact, they have recommended that educational centers prohibit the use of slippers in class to avoid unnecessary risks (going up and down the stairs, in physical education, at recess ...)
As I have mentioned before, we are talking about possible problems in the muscles, in the bones of the feet and even in the hips. It should be common sense to remove this type of footwear from department stores. But although it may seem difficult to believe, some families take more care of their children's fashion than their own health.
Obviously, if you take responsibility for your children to use the wheeled shoes moderately and correctly, you are fully entitled to buy them. I leave you some models of this type of footwear from the Heelys brand, one of the most reliable of the market within what fits:
Will rolling shoe sales continue to grow despite expert warnings? Do you have any experience with this type of footwear? Do you really find it so alarming? I hope to read your comments!