Injuries Blamed On Trendy Wheeled Sneakers

Doctors Say "Heeling" Is Causing Rash Of Injuries, Recommend Protective Gear

(AP)  Trendy wheeled sneakers that let kids zip down sidewalks, across playgrounds and through mall crowds could also send them rolling into emergency rooms on a stretcher, say doctors who blame a rash of injuries on the international craze.

It's called "heeling," named after Heelys, the most popular brand. They're sold in 70 countries and are so hot that their Carrollton, Texas, maker, Heelys Inc., recently landed atop BusinessWeek's annual list of fastest-growing companies.

But doctors from Ireland to Singapore have reported treating broken wrists, arms and ankles, dislocated elbows and even cracked skulls in children injured while wearing roller shoes.

Over a 10-week period last summer, 67 children were treated for injuries from Heelys or strap-on wheels called Street Gliders at Temple Street Children's University Hospital in Dublin, Ireland, according to a report in the June edition of Pediatrics.

From September 2005 through December 2006, one death and at least 64 roller-shoe injuries were reported to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, a spokesman said last week.

And doctors in Singapore reported last year that 37 children had been treated for similar injuries at a hospital there during a seven-month period in 2004. None were wearing protective gear.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, based in Rosemont, Illinois, this week is issuing new safety advice that recommends helmets, wrist protectors and knee and elbow pads for kids who wear wheeled shoes.

"As these shoes are sold in department stores, parents buying them may develop a false sense of security — that they are like any other shoe," said Dr. James Beaty, academy president and a pediatric orthopedic surgeon in Memphis.

Heelys and their knockoffs look like gym shoes, but with wheel sockets in each heel. They can be used for walking, but the wheels pop out when users shift their weight to their heels.

Balancing on the wheels can be tricky, especially for novices. In the Irish study, most injuries were in new users and occurred when kids fell backward while trying to transfer their body weight.

Dr. Leon Benson of Evanston Northwestern Healthcare in Evanston, Illinois, recalled treating a 9-year-old girl who'd had her Heelys for just a week when she fell and broke both wrists.

Nine-year-old Noah Woelfel of Davidsonville, Maryland, wasn't a novice but still tripped and fell, breaking several fingers and wrist bones in his right hand last year.

"All it took was a tiny piece of gravel in the driveway that went up in the wheel and stopped him cold," said his mother, Nancy. "He required surgery and pins, and he was six weeks without using his hand, right at the beginning of school."

She threw the removable wheels away and said other parents should know about the risks.

Dr. Dominic Catanese, a foot specialist at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, said balancing on heels can strain feet and Achilles tendons. He has treated several Heelys-related ankle injuries and won't let his 7-year-old daughter have the shoes.

"She wants them. Not happening. Just like I took away her trampoline" after reading about trampoline injuries. "It went right to Goodwill," Catanese said.

Heelys in April said a study it commissioned shows that their shoes have a safer injury rate than skateboarding, inline skating and even swimming.

The shoes are sold with safety information including a recommendation to wear protective gear.

The company says it has shipped more than 10 million pairs since their introduction in 2000. Heelys reported first-quarter income of $8.5 million, five times higher than last year.

Still, some walkers find heelers who zip in and out of crowds a nuisance, and many schools and shopping malls have banned them.

Kelly Ford, 14, used to cruise down the halls of her Chicago grammar school in Heelys — a practice that led teachers to confiscate some kids' wheels.

Now a high school freshman, Ford has outgrown her Heelys. She said kids who wear them won't pay much attention to safety warnings.

"I don't think any kid is going to want to wear a helmet to school," Ford said.

She thinks Heelys are being unfairly targeted.

"It's just like, let your kid have fun. I think they're fine," Ford said.

[storeclerk]

As a grocery store worker, I have a different perspective than many of the parents who see nothing wrong with their kids wearing wheeled shoes in stores. The issue of the safety of these shoes is not just about whether your kids can stay on their feet and avoid crashing into customers. It's their unpredictability. When these kids suddenly and unexpectedly shoot across the floor, it creates a dangerous situation. How would you like them shooting across your kitchen floor while you're cooking dinner? At least you have the advantage of knowing your kids have the shoes.

[apdepetris]

My almost 7 yr. old daughter has a pair of Heelys. We got them for her last year for her birthday. She loves them. We had her practice on our hardwood floor in the living room holding onto the sofa until she got good at it. Now she can skate around with no problems and has even taught several other kids in the neighborhood how to use theirs. She loves to wear them at the mall and the supermarket. I always remind her to be careful of other people and would certainly make her apologize if she did ever run into anyone (which she never has).

My husband and I also purchase Heelys for ourselves. If anyone thinks these things are not exercise then they are wrong. We wore them to a skating rink for a kids birthday party my daughter was invited to, and let me tell you my legs were sore the next day from Heelying around the rink (and I work out regularly).

I think they are great and aren't any more dangerous than any other wheeled toy - skateboard, bike, or roller skates - and I see plenty of kids on all those items without any protective gear. Like anything else, you need to learn how to do it and not go full on until you've practiced. And kids that slam into people and don't apologize; well that the parents' fault for not teaching their child properly and the same thing would happen if they were running around in regular sneakers.

[j_flood]

We have a corner shop here in Ireland. Kids come in with the heelys, inlines and skateboards. For liability reasons we don't allow them in the shop. I was surprised to read the excerpt about the number of accidents seen in the Irish hospital. We haven't seen any reports in the Irish media. Glad to see we're on the right track banning them in our shop. I've never seen a child wearing protective equipment with heelys.

[mkbjon]

All it took was one episode of "Scarred" on MTV to dissuade my children from most wheeled thingies. To see the injuries that result from not wearing protective gear and crazy stunts is a great educator. I still cringe when thinking about some of the things I've seen.

[jolsonbear]

Here's a simple solution for those of us annoyed by kids in stores with wheels on their heels. Please note that this only works in stores with shopping carts.
Get behind one of them and "accidentally" run into thier ankels with your shopping cart. I tried it in Walmart the other day and bagged three of them....it was liberating.

[toolmangler-2009]

As a young man I was a Semi-Pro Rollerskater. Not good enough to compete at the top level but still good enough to wow the girls. I still have my skates and can still get around on the rink very nicely, thank you. My current age has slowed me somewhat and the risk of a bad break of my legs or back is enough to make me cautious but not to make me quit and I still ride my motorcycle also. You parents who have given your kids, wheelies without teaching them how to be careful and responsible are asking for a bad injury to your progeny. Please use common sense and realize that young people generally do not have common sense till they survive something that could kill or injure them. Kids, have fun but 'strive to stay alive'.

[michellem99-2009]

I hate skateboards.I have not heard of the fancy foot wear that is a fad. I can hear skate boards. I tell em be careful.They can spill easy as the side walks are not level.I as a blind person do say sorry if I bump into a person. I feel it don't help if one tell em where to go as rudeness is not the answer.It is my business to use manners and care about the next person and not me. That fat person as one postee said, maybe a person who can't walk but would like to. Mary -61 get a book on manners please. The issue here is bad parenting. I don't like brats. Some adults are brats as well. I am 52.

[toolmangler-2009]

The best way to prevent injuries from this type device is a liberal coat of 'super-glue' on the bearings.

[sjw1253]

I believe that I saw Charla wearing these (on The Amazing Race) a few times. I recall seeing Myrna pulling her along - especially in the airport...

Pretty nifty. My mind would live to see me do this too - but being 53 and disabled - I know it is totally unrealistic for me...

[mary-61]

Well as far as being run over by kids on Heeley's that is first of all the parents fault for not controlling their kids. But I can definitely say that I have been hit more than once by an elderly person or just a fat lazy person in the wheel chairs that stores provide. Should we ban them too. One old guy even used that as a chance to grab my rear.
I can't believe how filthy mouthed some of you people are on here. If 'ms38654ob' came up to me in the store talking as he is on here I'd turn him in for his foul language. And if he spoke to my child like that there would be another offense.
The issue of the Heeley's is as 'lorint' said. there is a learning curve, and a parent that buys his/her child anything with wheels should realize that. But a kid can get hurt just as easily walking along in regular shoes. Trust me I know kids will be kids and they goof around. You as a parent have to be a responsible person and teach your kids how and when to use them. My kids have Heeleys and we haven't had a problem because my kids are respectful and they're athletic to begin with. They know there are dangers with any sport. If you outlaw Heeley's then outlaw the electric scooters such as the neibhbor kids ride in and out of traffic with out looking, and the wheelchairs in the stores, and the golf carts people use to get around and that young children drive with little or no training. Adults have stopped being responsible for raising RESPONSIBLE children. That is the issue.

[LorinT]

I'm 37, and have been heeling for the last 4 years. It's phenomenal in airports when you've only got a few minutes to try to make a connecting flight. And most parking lots as well. Granted that it takes some patience while you're learning to "get the hang of it", but after becoming proficient I find it to be an excellent timesaver. Don't be fooled with how simple it looks, it ends up being moderate exercise. You can really only go maybe 50% faster than walking on most sidewalks due to all the cracks. In Wal-Mart or Costco where there's a nice surface you can get up to about twice walking speed in an 100% safe manner. I walk 100% in the busy sections at the front of the store or aisle intersections, and heel in the empty aisles to make my way to the back of the store. (Seems like everything you really want is always in the back of the store, right?) It really is 100% safe. I've never run into anyone.

The #1 question I get asked when I'm heeling: "wow, where did you find a pair in your size?" They're available on eBay or at Mervyn's and Big 5 sports. Remember that there's a significant learning curve involved here, and you'll build up ankle muscles you never knew you had. But after you're practiced up, it's an excellent way to get around.

[jedstarkiler]

BareEmporer Thats funny I agree. The whole problem and alot of today's problems with youth stems back to bad parenting.

[bareemperor]

Wheels on heels without head protection?
Do the parents have a death wish for their loved ones?
I am waiting for the opportunity to sue the 'responsible adult' chasing the out-of-control child who knocks me down in the mall...

[jedstarkiler]

I dont have an issue with the shoes but theres a time and place for them in a store isn't it. I think they would be a great and fun thing for kids. Making them illegal isn't the answer. The kids should just know the approprate places to roll and walk.

[ms38654ob]

What I don't like about these shoes is the parents of the little ba*tards who wear these things let them zoom around grocery stores and the like without any concern for their fellow shoppers. Last week I got knocked on my *** by a fat kid who slammed into me. He zoomed off without even saying "sorry."

I tracked down the parent of the little brat and gave her a piece of my mind only to be told to "mind my own business." Well, being knocked on my *** by her little brat is my business.

If a kid gets hurt in a store, are the parents going to sue the store? What if that little brat who hit me hurt himself, would they sue me?

Ban those dangerous things from stores. If the kids want to hurt themselves on the playground, that's fine with me. Just keep them out of stores.

[dicky_b]

"I took away her trampoline" after reading about trampoline injuries. "It went right to Goodwill," Dr Catanese said.

--
Yes, donate something dangerous to charity today! How about that beartrap in the loft, or the box of grenades grandpa brought back from Normandy?

[bobnjersey]

[dumbest idea for kids' shoes i've every heard. ]
[Posted by jetlizhan at 09:14 AM : Jun 04, 2007]

"The company says it has shipped more than 10 million pairs since their introduction in 2000. Heelys reported first-quarter income of $8.5 million, five times higher than last year. "

q107 income is five times what it was last year ... not so dumb from a business persepective.

[talkingham]

These things are no where near the problem of 4-wheelers in the South and Mid-west were po-dunks get their kids out of the house on ATVs that go 45-mph in the blink of an eye. One doctor in this area reported near de-captitations when kids drove right through barb-wire fences.

Friend of mine's daughter just broke her are at a skating rink. Maybe we should shut that down too.

[dragonmouse-2009]

I think they GREAT...Kids LOVE them. They love them enough to get away from the TV and go hang outdoors.

For DECADES...kids have gotten hurt on skates, skateboards, bicycles and a jillion other "toys". Perhaps they should be wearing "protective gear" but then back in the day...we survived "play" without a suit of armor. People are really getting silly about this. A kid breaks a finger...big deal. Chances are a kid is going to break something with or without wheels unless he/she is stagnant in front of a TV playing a video game...oh wait...now they're going to be at risk for carpal tunnel.

I think all the hullabalu about kids swooping around in crowds is by a bunch of very jealous adults. I've been bumped into by kids just running on regular shoes 100 times over those on heelys.

Pfft. Put the kids in an armored bubble so they won't get hurt.

[olebd]

These can't be any more dangerous than the skateboard. As long as it keeps them active, let them roll!!!