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Home › Articles › Safety › Those Colorful Clogs

Those Colorful Clogs

Are Crocs Worth the Risk?

By Lisa A. Goldstein

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Poor Fit

If you've ever looked closely at a child's Crocs, you'll probably notice that the shoe isn't exactly the best fit. These shoes were actually originally designed in 2002 as footwear for boating with a non-slip tread and waterproof tendencies. Now people are wearing them everywhere, missing the original purpose of its design.

"The main concerns with Crocs is the fact that very little support is offered in the shoe itself," says Dr. John Anderson, spokesperson for the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society. "This causes the foot to carry 'the brunt of the burden.' An injury occurs when the stress applied exceeds the load capacity of the foot, so any shoe that can take stress off the foot can potentially reduce injuries. This is achieved through the material properties of the shoe. A stiffer shoe typically offers more support."

Of particular concern, Dr. Anderson says, is when Crocs are used for activities for which they weren't designed, i.e., athletic activities or running or jumping. "Injuries I have seen include fractures and severe sprains or strains of the foot, usually within this context," he says.

"As a father who has children who all have Crocs, I understand their popularity, but I insist they wear regular athletic shoes when running around in the yard or playing outdoor games," says Dr. Anderson, who hadn't heard any of the reports about escalator injuries.

Nataly Blumberg's 20-month-old son and 4-year-old daughter got Crocs from her brother as a gift. "At first, I was very excited: [they were] trendy and great for the pool, sprinklers, beach and something that they did not have," says Blumberg, a resident of Great Neck, Long Island. "My daughter never really wore them because she said that they were too big and felt like they were coming off her feet, even though it was the 'right size.'"


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