The study will reveal once and for all
whether the assumption that thongs are
bad for your feet is true.
Image: iStockphoto
In a world first study University of Sydney researchers are setting out to prove whether the commonly held assumption that thongs are bad for your feet really is true or not.
Podiatrist and University of Sydney researcher Angus Chard will be investigating the effect of thongs, also known as flip-flops, jandals, pluggers, go-aheads and Havana's, on children's feet.
Mr Chard, who has sixteen years of clinical expertise, says he "looks forward to replacing the broad public misconceptions of the health effects of wearing thongs with hard evidence."
According to Mr Chard, "thongs are often preferred for reasons of comfort, fashion and convenience, while professionals discourage their wear with little scientific argument of harmful effects."
But as our understanding of the complex nature of foot function grows, experts are starting to accept that the best shoe should mimic barefoot conditions, says Mr Chard, a researcher with the Foot and Ankle Research Unit within the Faculty of Health Sciences.
"The latest research has found that there is more motion within the arch of the foot than previously thought. It might be the case that flexible thongs can actually assist in developing the 16 muscles within each foot, helping Australian children to improve their sporting prowess."
Mr Chard will lead a University of Sydney team which will look at the effects of thongs on foot and leg function. This research will inform future studies investigating footwear ideal for children's developing feet.
"We will be using technology - similar to that used in movies to bring to life characters such as Gollum from Lord of the Rings - to animate children's foot and leg motions while they are barefoot, wearing thongs and traditional school shoes.
"Real time animation of children's postural patterns, with emphasis placed on the feet, will be produced during walking, running and side-stepping activities."
Editor's Note: Original news release can be found here.
|
