Low-cut boots 'pose injury problems’

Press, 6 May 1980, Page 36

Low-cut boots ' pose injury problems’

NZPA Canberra The low-cut boots commonly worn by footballers could be causing them to suffer more ankle and knee injuries, according to a leading American foot specialist and sports medicine researcher. Dr Steven Subotnick has said that the stars of Australian football could also be setting a bad example for young fans to imitate the inappropriate footwear. He. has been in Canberra for a convention on podiatry — the study of tlie human foot. Dr Subotnick who wrote the book “The Running Foot Doctor,” is the medical editor for the United States magazine "Runners World” and has been involved in researching the type of footwear worn by sportsmen and women. In criticising the tow-cut boots preferred by Australian and New Zealand footballers he said -they increased the risk of ankle injuries by about 10 per cent. If they are going to wear lowcut boots then they should either

a tape their ankles or use a lace-up , ankle brace.” Experiments with American ' football teams had shown the ' lace-up ankle braces cut down ’ the injury rate by about 40 per - cent. However, with professional footballers, he said it was a case of looking good i-ather than being safe. The young fans and the amateurs are imitating the people who make their living by abusing their bodies,” Dr Subotnick said. Dr Subotnick said the low-cut boot radition was being carried on because the amateurs picked up the habits of the professionals but “The professionals are paid to sacrifice their bodies to the sport.” He said the Australian Rules matches he had watched, with the high marks, leaps and jumps, posed, a large risk of ankle injury. However, when asked liis opinion of Australian Rules as-Op-posed to the gruelling American gridiron he said Rules had won him as a fan. Tl