The Toe Slayer

The history of the shoe

Rock steady Aretha breaks a toe

Aretha Franklin let out a high note when she accidently stumbled over a pile of her own Jimmy Choo fancy footwear. Her left foot landed on top a spike heel and traumatized her left index toe (2nd). The diva had her toe X rayed at Community North Hospital in Indianapolis to confirm the diva had a fracture. Now in a walking plaster she is hoping to make a full recovery before her next tour.

Justin Bieber Shoes

Shoe Coffins: Whatever next?

Edna Manley College Final Year Art Show is here again with final-year students’ works on show. The 2011 exhibition has been described as the best in recent years and features the work of 33 stundents. These talented students have spent three to four years in intense training under the tutelage of some of the leading Caribbean and international artists. They have been working on their projects for at least a year. A few pieces catch the eye but ‘Shoe Coffins’ by Deighton Abbott seems to take the prize

USA: cheaper shoes could be on their way

Today, 98 percent of shoes sold in the US is made offshore. During the Depression, a crippling import tax was introduced to protect the domestically made footwear industry, but now the main bulk no longer exists. These import duties stand which is causing inflating the cost of footwear generally in North America. Tariffs vary by type of shoe, open-toed shoes carry no levey; high-end leather shoes have low or no tax; but canvas shoes carry a 67percent mark up tax. Moves are now in place to end the tax although experts are unsure what effect this may have although no one disagrees, retailers and consumers would benefit overall.

The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA)have been working on promoting new legislation "for about four years," and the amendments to Affordable Footwear Act of 2007, if it were successful, would eliminate roughly half the duties on imported shoes. The Act has drawn bipartisan support and the hope is the shoe-tax issue could be brought up this year.

Prom Queens vote with their feet

A new phenomenon at Beverly Hill’s high school proms, girls are discarding their shoes. Some girls go foot commando whilst others kick off their heels as soon as they can. Trendy ‘naked feet is the new ‘high school code.’ Popularity of long dresses might mean the feet are not on show but the daring young pinkies hike their hems to show their independence. Dancing barefoot only accentuates the difference in height between partners in slow dances which is apparently regarded as a ‘stolen kiss ‘by the daring young belles. Revenues lost by the prom-shoe sellers are now made up elsewhere by pedicurists and podiatrists as accidents do happen. Limousine companies have been quick to respond and now carry emergency flip flops for those embarrassing moments at “no shoes, no service” fast food outlets or where school have banned bare feet.

Clown Shoes: The last laugh is with Hokas

The trend for heel less shoes continues with the rise in popularity of bulkier runner shoes.

French-designed, Hokas running shoes are built for comfort with a full 40 millimeters (more than 1.5 inches) of cushioning between your foot and the ground. Most standard running shoes have a sole about 24 millimeters (less than an inch) high in the heel and 12 millimeters in the toe. The shoes do look large and clunky, compared to other runners but road tests indicate they feel just the opposite. Designers have utilized a super-lightweight material in the sole, which despite being bulkier weigh 9 ounce which is less than convential running shoes. According to the manufacture Hokas running shoes give runners 30 percent more surface area which they believe help reduce injury. The "clown shoes/moon boots" are gaining popularity, with endorsements from Karl Meltzer (ultrarunner), and Dave Mackey (trail runner).

Prince William: If they have a "W" on the sole, then they are mine!

The Duke of Cambridge attended a charity gala recently with his new wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. All eyes were on the latter of course, but one sharp eyed observer noted Wills had a “W” on the sole of his shoes. Intrigued, further investigations revealed The Royal newlyweds are sharing an apartment at Clarence House with Prince Harry, whilst awaiting renovations to their own rooms at Kensington Palace. The brothers have the same sized feet and to avoid confusion , the soles of William are marked with a “W.”

Foot police at it again: Those demon high heels

The foot police are at it again with warnings of foreboding to all who dare sport high heels. The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists (UK) have commented on a survey of 2000 people in the UK which found higher heels can alter the body’s posture with increased pressure on the foot, ankle and knee joints. No real surprise there but they go on to suggest this alone heralds the potential of a national “arthritis crisis”. What absolute balderdash. The association between wear and tear in the weightbearing joints (osteoarthrosis) and ill-fitting footwear has long been promulgated but never scientifically proven. The number of people affected by osteoarthosis has continued to soar in the UK and other places mainly due to the increasing levels of obesity and the ageing population. Professor Tony Redmond later commented “ Choosing the right footwear will help minimise the stress placed on the feet and joints during everyday activity and help reduce the risk of injury and joint damage.” However it would be an oversimplification to lay the blame entirely on fashionable heels. Redmond also suggested. “ When doing exercise, wearing trainers fitted and designed specifically for that form of exercise will both improve performance and give added protection from injury.” Shoes may appear as an exciting cause of some foot pathlogies and contributory factor in others but rearly if ever are they a primary reason for serious foot ailments.

National Flip Flop Day 17th June

Fashion, flip-flops (also known as thongs) are flat, backless sandals that consist of a flat sole held on the foot by a u-shaped strap that passes between the first (big) and second toes and around either side of the foot. Origins unknown but certainly considered to be footwear common in pre- historic times and now all the rage in the US this summer. North American company, FlipOut Sandals are proposing to celebrate National Flip Flop day by giving customers the opportunity to buy one pair of FlipFlops and get a second pair for free on June 17th.

FlipOut Sandals come in two styles: a Brazilian style flip flop and a chic "haute couture" Jelly. FlipOut Sandals come with two versatile ornaments that can be flipped out with a simple twist, with more interchangeable designs available online. Change from casual to dressy and day to night by just switching out the crystal ornaments, which range from rare orchids, daisies, roses, and butterflies.

Diabetic foot disease toll calculator: The real toll of neglect

The Australasian Podiatry Council (APodC) has created the diabetic foot disease toll calculator, which shows the effect of diabetes on foot health in terms of hospital bed days, lower extremity amputations, deaths and costs in real time. The left hand side of the calculator highlights the consequences if the current system of diabetic foot health management in Australia is maintained. The right hand side shows how the effects can be reduced with optimal foot health care. According to Andrew Schox, President of the APodC, research show supports spending more money on podiatry and foot care would save the Australian taxpayer over $300 million each year. For example, a dozen Medicare-funded podiatry appointments for patients with diabetes costs a few hundred dollars, while lower limb amputations can cost the health system anywhere up to $100,000 per patient. At the moment patients with diabetes are only entitled to a maximum of 5 Medicare funded appointments with a podiatrist every year.

Is a podiatrist a real doctor?: California is about to find out

To many podiatrists are classified as second-class citizens in the medical world. However the foot men and women are playing a particularly vital role in improving the quality of life and preventing amputations in people living with life style disease, such as diabetes. The incidence of diabetes is now endemic in the over 45s, across the globe. Obesity is considered the primary culprit for the boom in cases of type 2, or adult-onset, diabetes. As the numbers rise, so too does the need for early treatment, especially of foot sores or ulcers that can quickly threaten the lower limbs. Sixty percent of all non-traumatic amputations in the United States are due to diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. Podiatrists in California do have a range of legal practice which includes open surgery on the foot and ankle, injections as well as provide other medical care, but are not licensed doctors of medicine, or M.D.s. The Sunshine State podiatrists are further prevented by law from treating many of the 7.5 million Californians insured through Medi-Cal (due to a 2009 state budget cut), partnering fully in the hospital care of diabetic patients and gaining access to first-rate residencies in their podiatric training. All this may change if the new move to become recognised is successful. In this bid podiatrists have attracted an unlikely ally in the California Medical Association (CMA). Better known for opposing creeping growth in other allied health professions, the CMA is playing the opposite role. It is teaming up with the California Podiatric Medical Association and the California Orthopaedic Association to consider putting the training of foot specialists on par with M.D. standards. The three groups are creating a task force to review the curriculum at California's two podiatry schools and, depending on the outcome, appeal jointly to the national Liaison Committee on Medical Education to reclassify the licensing for podiatrists. The first two years of podiatric training are similar to those for full-fledged physicians, with the emphasis on anatomy, physiology, pathology and other core subjects. Podiatry students jump into more specialized training the next two years, then generally spend the last two or three years as hospital residents. In the US training for licensed medical doctors generally takes several years longer, with the length for residencies determined by the specialty. With a physician shortage in California, and the aging baby boomers' growing need for care, podiatry may become a more attractive option if granted M.D. status.

Lady Gaga and sore feet: Same old song ?

Lady Gaga pop star and diva has sore feet and needs to see her podiatrist. The poor girl (25 years young) has been complaining of shooting pains in her Achilles tendon (tendinitis) and has noticed she may have developing bunions. Not only that she appears to have cracked heels and painful corns according to a recent newspaper report. Her podiatrist has advised a change in footwear (typical) and to try wearing lower heels, at least through the day.
A bunion describes an adventitious bursitis (fluid filled sack) which forms over a vulnerable joint subjected to excessive shearing stress. This will often arise in conjunction with Hallux (abducto -dorsi) valgus, a bony deviation of the great toe which appears to drift laterally towards or over the lesser toes. The resulting prominent joint (big toe joint) is difficult to fit into regular shoes and friction between the foot and shoe results in shear and with repeated trauma, the formation of a bunion. A popular misconception is a bunion is hallux (abducto-dorsi) valgus. Whilst both may be painful, discomfort is more usually associated with the latter due to osteoarthritis (wear and tear) in the great toe joint. Not all cases of Hallux Valgus are painful. Shoes may excite secondary problems but are not the primary cause of Hallux Valgus, contrary to popular belief. The most likely cause of a prominent forefoot is partial dislocation (subluxation) of the metatrso-phalangeal joints due to rearfoot instability during weight bearing. In the normal course of events the heel rocks from side to side in a pendulum motion as ground reaction forces a turning effect on the heel. This in turn helps the forefoot lock and unlock as the foot goes through stance phase. The position of the heel is critical during certain phases and when not properly aligned leaves the forefoot unstable causing it to splay. The rolling action of the heel during walking causes a build up of tensile stress (tearing stress) across the skin surface. In certain cases this tears the skin leaving deep fissure (skin cracks).
The right design of shoe can help with foot mechanics and the heel counter provides useful restraint. Open back shoes may contribute to forefoot instability (hypermobility), ably assisted when the heel is elevated resting on heel lifts (high heel shoes or platforms). The clinical presence of hallux valgus confirms joint subluxation across the forefoot with subsequent lesser toe deformities i.e. buckled toes. Stiffness and changes to the small joints can leave prominent knuckles which may score against the shoes, particularly when shoe volume is limited. The usual consequence of this is corns develop.

Reliance on elevated shoes for some people may cause adaptive shortening of the tendon Achilles resulting in when the tendon is stretched it can cause painful tendinitis.

Whilst this may logically explain the cause of Lady Gaga’s reported ailments, it is important to bear in mind not all high heeled divas will suffer these ailments and in every case their needs to be a predilection

National Barefoot Week

Footwear is a critical need for the homeless in Los Angeles. Many homeless and poor have foot issues because of ill-fitting or worn shoes, and the inability to take care of their feet adequately. New, correct sized shoes will make a big difference to their overall health and well-being. National Barefoot Week will be celebrated with the giveaway of several thousand pairs of new shoes at the Los Angeles Mission. The Mission is celebrating its 75th Anniversary. Soles4Souls® is the title sponsor of the series of events nationwide (June 1-7), which encourages people to temporarily go barefoot and donate their shoes. Events will be held in six cities with nearly 10,000 pairs of shoes to be distributed. Shoes are donated by manufacturers, shoe stores and individuals and at the Los Angeles Mission, celebrities and other volunteers will distribute the new shoes. Scrubs star Donald Faison and Price of Beauty’s CaCee Cobb will be handing out shoes at the Los Angeles Mission. Soles4Souls®, have announced a complete line-up of a-list celebrities who will take off their shoes for a good cause. To further celebrate Soles4Souls 4th annual National Barefoot Week, they are holding a a charity auction at CharityBuzz.com , until June 22nd. Celebrity shoes include Brooke Burke, Paris Hilton, Matthew Morrison, Chelsea Handler, Tom Brokaw, Joan and Melissa Rivers, Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire, Nick Harper, Maria Menounos, Billy Bush, Kenny Rogers, Bill Engvall, Maria Sharapova, Ricky Gervais, Karl Pilkington, Stephen Merchant, Jason Bateman, Guiliana Rancic, Ryan Seacrest, Chace Crawford, Brian Williams, the cast of Law and Order, Jimmy Fallon, Quest Love of "The Roots," Lance Bass, NASCAR drivers Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordan, Tony Stewart, and Mark Martin, NHL players Alex Ovechkin, Zach Parise, Zdeno Chara, Ryan Getzlaf, and Chris Pronger, the Eureka cast, Jillian Michaels, Camille Grammer, Margaret Cho, Alison Sweeney, Curt Schilling, Phil Mickelson, Wayne Gretzky, Jennie Finch, Stacey Dash, and Jonah Hill.
For more information on the auction and how to bid, or to find out how you can get involved in Soles4Souls 2011 National Barefoot Week, visit www.giveshoes.org. Other sites of interest include www.clothes4souls.org , and www.hope4souls.org

Cops and Flappers – their origins

There are many theories for the origin of the term ‘cop’, meaning policeman. Most refer to the copper badge (or buttons) worn by early New York policemen, whereas others cite the acronym for "constable on patrol." Neither is true nor is the colloquialism due to the copper toe tips worn on the boots of some early policemen in the US (Rossi, 2000). The slang verb, ‘cop’, meaning "to get a hold of, catch, capture,” is first seen circa 1704. Most authorities trace it to the French caper and before that to the Latin capere, to seize,or take. Other English words derived from capere include capture. An alternative theory is that to cop comes from the Dutch kapen, meaning to take or to steal. Sir Robert Peel advocated the creation of the Metropolitan Police Force in 1828. By 1844, cop was user in print, and the suffix ‘er’ was added in 1846, to describe one who apprehends i.e., a copper. Cop the noun, was a shorter form of copper. The term flapper to describe a young emancipated girl was common in the 1920s. Typically a flapper wore bright red lipstick with hair bobbed, and hemlines rose as Victorian corsetry was discarded. Smoking of cigarettes and consuming of alcohol became a way of life and flappers were contemporary with the Jazz Age. By 1926 the flappers became so popular that they become a universal symbol and young women. The origin of the term flapper is unclear but may come from Victorian sporting slang for a young wild-duck or partridge flapping their wings while learning to fly. Other suggested sources include: "flap," a young woman of loose character, used in 17th century slang for a prostitute; or late 19th century Northern English slang for a teenage girl too old to be a child and too young to be considered an adult. In Victorian society a 'flapper', would be a young lady not yet been permitted to wear long frocks and the wearing their hair 'up.'" The word appeared in print in the United Kingdom as early as 1903, and by 1920 it clearly meant any young woman of a pleasure-seeking disposition. Flappers' behavior was considered outlandish at the time and redefined women's roles. The image of flappers were young women who went by night to jazz clubs where they danced provocatively, smoked cigarettes through long holders, and dated freely and indiscriminately. Petting became common and Petting Parties, where petting ("making out" or foreplay) was the main attraction, became popular. In the US they openly drank alcohol, a defiant act during Prohibition. According to Rossi (2000) flappers wore unbuckled overshoes so when they walked the buckles flapped loudly.

Reference
Rossi WA 2000 The complete footwear dictionary (2nd ed) Kreiger Publishing: Florida

Homeless and shoeless in Australia

Jemma Riddiford and Rebecca Calligan are two podiatrists from Mackay, Queensland who are collecting shoes to donate to the homeless during the cold months. The girls saw a local homeless man trying to walk on the cold streets of Mackay and decided to started Shoe Muster For Those In Need. Local businesses are already helping out and people are invited to donate good second-hand pairs of shoes. More information from Podiatry Mackay


homeless and shoeless in Australia

DEVO and Macbeth Shoes

DEVO are purveyors of innovative modern music, prophetic sociological shamans, and forward-thinking fashion iconoclasts, have teamed up with Macbeth Footwear to launch a very limited edition Studio Project series.The shoes feature the same 3M reflective textiles Devo wears on-stage. There are two styles to choose from, a Blue Version and a Classic Red Version, both made from 100% vegan materials with rubber out-sole. The unisex shoes are now available for pre-order at www.clubdevo.com. As a bonus, all fans can receive an exclusive free download of "Don't Shoot (Polysics remix)."

Chinese shoe dealer has closure at last

Chen Jiusong is a shoe dealer from Qingtian, Zhejiang province who has just won a seven-year-old lawsuit. His warehouse was set on fire during an anti-Chinese protest in Spain in 2004. Over 12,000 pairs of shoes were destroyed by arsonists. Earlier this month, a Spanish court announced 28 arsonists who set fire to Chen's goods would be sentenced to six to 18 months in prison. Chen will receive a compensation of 26,000 euros ($36,000) for his loss in the fire. The uninsured losses were closer to10 million yuan ($1,537,000).