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The thwack-thwack-thwack of a flip-flop clad walker is a familiar sound in the summer months, but a recent study has found some pretty painful flaws in the form of the familiar flip-flop.
Researchers at Auburn University in Alabama studied 39 college-aged men and women who wore flip-flops and athletic shoes. They found that flip-flops fail to absorb shock, resulting in aches and pain in other parts of the body as the force of impact was absorbed by joints instead of shoes.
Flip-flop wearers also take shorter strides, contributing to joint stress and fatigue from the increase in steps needed to cover distance (Barbara Kantrowitz and Pat Wingert, "Flip-Flop Flaws," Newsweek, June 10, 2008).
Foot specialists often see an increase in patients toward the end of summer complaining of injuries related to flip-flops. Depending on the country of origin, they can often contain chemicals that result in rashes on the feet.
Not only are flip-flops nonsupportive, but if worn during sports activities, they can result in sprains and twists (Jennifer Gish, "Flip-Flops Put Health of Users on Poor Footing," New York Times News Service, June 21, 2008).
Increase in the risk of developing mental disorders
from using marijuana.
Associated Press, May 9, 2008
The state of California has enacted legislation that will ban the use of handheld mobile phones while driving—a move that follows the lead of the states of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Washington, as well as Washington, D.C. Mobile phones have been implicated in 2.8 percent of crashes, a number believed to be four times too low according to statistics from Canada and Australia. About 80 percent of crashes, according to a study for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, involved some form of distraction within three seconds of the crash, and the most frequent distraction was a mobile phone.
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