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Wheeled Shoes Raise Safety Concerns, Say ChiropractorsThe above headline comes from a March 15, 2007 PRNewswire and USNewswire release. The original release from the American Chiropractic Association expresses safety concerns both for the children who use them and others who must dodge children skating in crowded shopping centers and parks. These sneakers, commonly known as HeelysŪ are very popular but have been banned in many public places such as stores and malls. Dr. Steven Conway a Doctor of Chiropractic in Athens, Wisconsin commented in the release, "Parents should be concerned about HeelysŪ and other wheeled sneakers because of the potential for head, wrist, elbow and ankle injuries due to falls, as well as the possibility of injuries due to altered gait patterns." He continued to explain, "When wearing the shoes on a surface that isn't skatable, children must walk on their toes. This altered gait forces their posture into unnatural positions, and if worn regularly for walking, this could potentially cause strain on growing bodies, especially in the foot, ankle and lower back." The release also noted that when children are skating with these shoes they place all their weight on their heels which could potentially create another set of issues. In the article the American Chiropractic Association offered some safety tips when wearing HeelysŪ and other brands of wheeled shoes. These recommendations include:
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