Health Dangers of Roller Shoes Or 'Heelies'

Children love to wear "Heelies." They get a thrill out of rolling across a flat surface, even though they have neither a pair of skates nor a skate board. Health professionals, however, now question the safety of those roller shoes.

When children wear roller shoes, their hips and knees are forced to perform at the very limits of their range of motion. In order to appreciate the dangers hidden in that forced performance one must first learn more about flexibility. 

The term flexibility refers to the ability of a joint to comfortably pass through the total range of motion of which that joint is capable. Note that the above definition included the words "comfortably pass." Doctors feel that the range of motion demanded from the joints of roller shoe wearers does not involve comfortable movements.

Kerry Teackle, a body stress practitioner has warned that roller shoes make children put their bodies in "unnatural positions." She cautions that the wearing of "Heelies" can strain growing bodies. She has pointed to the frequency with which children wearing roller shoes have chosen to walk on their toes.

When children repeatedly walk on their toes, then they take on a stance very similar to the stance taken by an older woman in high heels. Common sense would underline the dangers presented by allowing a child to assume such a position. It affects their muscles, their back and their feet.

Why has it taken so long for health professionals to speak out about the dangers of roller shoes? Refer back to the start of this article. As mentioned above, one of the key concerns about roller shoes is their tendency to push the limits on joint flexibility. When health professionals focus on fitness, they often tend to overlook concerns about flexibility.

Parents too seldom suggest that their children act to promote the flexibility of their joints. After all, how many parents say to their children, "Don't do a lot of running and jumping until you do some stretching."? The act of stretching is what serves to promote greater flexibility.