Skechers, a toning shoe manufacturer, claims that their toning shoes will improve the bottom half of your body. On its website, Skechers touts the key element to shaping up with their toning shoes:  the curved bottom that “guides you back to the body’s barefoot stride” and “adjusts your stride to naturally align your body’s center of gravity.” The makers of these so-called toning shoes say the shoes can give wearers shapely abs, butts and legs.

But a number of health professionals are claiming that toning shoes, sold by MBT, Reebok, Avia, New Balance and Skechers, are not delivering on their marketing promises. The shoes could cause a number of injuries to consumers because the design of the sole forces the wearer’s leg muscles to stretch with every stride. The curved soles of toning shoes may destabilize the wearer since, at any given time, only a small portion of the sole makes contact with ground. The wearer may experience loss of traction on smooth sidewalks or on slippery or wet surfaces, increasing the risk of falling.

Dr. Barbara De Lateur of John Hopkin’s School of Medicine warns that wearing toning shoes can change the way a person walks and may present difficulties for people who have issues with balance. The instability that the shoes create makes muscles in the core, back and legs work harder. Unfortunately,  strains and sprains of muscles or fractures in the leg, foot or ankle may result. A number of injuries have already been reported.

As for the claims that toning shoes make a better workout, the American Council on Exercise says otherwise. It tested three popular brands against standard running shoes “calorie to calorie.” Those wearing the toning shoes compared equally to those wearing the standard shoe: each runner burned about five calories per minute. The Council also tested the muscle activity in the back,  abs, buttocks and legs and found there was no difference between standard running shoes and toners.

Skechers is currently facing a class-action lawsuit in California that accuses the company of making unfounded claims about the health benefits of its toning shoes. The lawsuit also alleges that toners pose a risk of injuries to legs and ankles due to the instability and bulkiness of the design. New Balance is also the subject of a lawsuit filed by a California woman who claims that the shoes don’t work.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that about 48 million, or one in six Americans, will become sick from tainted food this year; 3000 will die. In a report that was made public in December 2010,  scientists said the statistics do not offer insight or guidance into how to prevent major outbreaks. Knowing the food source that is linked with the disease is key in answering questions around, for example,  how much salmonella is coming from pork vs. beef, chicken or eggs. Researchers admit that little is known about foodborne illnesses. In fact, four-fifths of foodborne illnesses reported each year are caused by “unspecified agents” that may include pathogens or chemicals in food that have not been discovered or identified as the cause of illnesses.

Despite the large number of Americans who are sickened every year by tainted food, there are a number of simple things you and your family members can do to avoid becoming a statistic:

1. When shopping, always check the freshness date on the product to make sure that you are not buying spoiled food.

2. Use care when buying pre-ground hamburger,  as this cut of meat can easily become contaminated with fecal matter from cows.

3. Always thoroughly wash and drain fresh vegetables and fruit before use.

4. Buy your groceries from reputable stores that have a high turn-over of food items, as your chances of buying safe, fresh food are increased.

5. Use two different cutting boards, one for meat and another for fruits and vegetables. Clean cutting boards with hot, soapy water after use. Wash your hands before and after preparing foods.

6. Trust your senses. If the food looks or smells bad, don’t eat it!

7. If possible, keep hot food at 150 degrees and cold food under 40 degrees. Foods prepared with mayonnaise are especially susceptible to bacterial growth in the summertime heat.

By following these easy tips for preparing food, you can reduce the risk of exposing yourself and your family to foodborne illnesses. However, if you or a family member experience the symptoms of food poisoning, nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, fever, fatigue, or abdominal or stomach pain/cramps, you should see your physician or go to the emergency room to be evaluated. If possible, save a sample of the food that you suspect may be the cause of your illness.  If you believe you have been sickened by food you have consumed at a restaurant, or at a public or private gathering , call your local health department to report your illness and check whether others who may have eaten at same restaurant have made reports. Although the majority of food poisoning cases cause mild symptoms, food poisoning can be life-threatening.

If you or a loved one have been the victim of a foodborne illness, have been hospitalized or have sustained a serious injury from tainted food, please call the attorneys at the Law Offices of Henry Hanflik. We can help you now!

Despite many warnings about the risks of developing skin cancers, nearly 30 million Americans tan indoors every year,  and more than a million visit tanning salons each day. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 120,000 cases of melanoma are diagnosed every year in the U.S. So why do people continue the dangerous practice of tanning?  Many tanners say they like their darker skin tone, they feel they look healthier, more youthful. But scientists have long suspected that frequent exposure to the ultraviolet (UV) radiation in tanning beds has the potential to become addictive, and for some people,  tanning is a tough or impossible habit to kick.

Results of a recent study at the University of Texas Southwest Medical Center seem to indicate that frequent exposure to UV rays actually changes brain activity.  By means of radioisotopes injected into a group of frequent tanners, those who tan three or more times a week, the researchers were able to peer into the brains of their subjects.  Scientists monitored how tanning affected their brain activity and discovered that the brain activity and blood flow of subjects who received the UV rays during tanning sessions mimicked the patterns of drug addiction. During tanning sessions when UV rays were filtered out, the subjects, who were not told if they were receiving UV rays, seemed to know that they had not received their usual dose of UV rays and expressed  a desire to tan some more. When subjects received the UV rays, their desire to tan was satisfied.

The author of this study said the research indicates that some individuals seem to be addicted to tanning, as long-term tanners have difficulty cutting back or stopping their tanning sessions despite serious health risks. One dermatologist involved in the study expressed concern about her young adult patients who immediately went back tanning after she cut out their skin cancers.

In addition to the risk of skin cancer, tanning can cause other serious changes in the body, including premature aging of the skin, immune suppression, eye damage (from UV radiation) and allergic reactions. There are no safe tanning beds or sun lamps.

This story can be found on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s website:

Melanoma: One Woman’s Story

Brittany Lietz Cicala of Chesapeake Beach, Md., began tanning indoors at age 17. She stopped at age 20 when she was diagnosed with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. The former Miss Maryland says she used tanning beds at least four times a week, and sometimes every day.

“Growing up, until I started using tanning beds, my parents were very strict about me wearing sunscreen,” says Cicala. Although she also tanned in the summer sun during her 3 years of tanning bed use, Cicala estimates that 90 percent of her UV exposure was in tanning beds during this period.

In the 4 years since she was diagnosed with melanoma, Cicala’s surgeries have left her with about 25 scars. Cicala gets a head-to-toe skin exam every 3 months, which usually results in removal of a suspicious growth.

This article appears on FDA’s Consumer Updates page, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.

Updated: May 11, 2010

U. S. Coast Guard statistics show that July was the month of the year 2010 with the greatest number of personal watercraft incidents: 1140 accidents and 108 deaths.  The total number of personal watercraft-related accidents in 2010 was 4607, including 672 deaths. The year 2011 is shaping up to be a similar year as many seek  to escape the oppressive heat of the summer on personal watercraft.

The number of personal watercraft fatalities are second only to those involving open motorboats. At the top of the list of injuries occurring in 2010 and involving personal watercraft, are broken bones, lacerations, scrapes and bruises, concussions, and hypothermia. The least publicized injuries are those to the groin and abdominal area.  Victims are seriously and permanently injured when they fall off the backs of their personal watercraft and suffer severe damage from the jet nozzle. Because injuries to the vagina, anus and rectum have received little attention from the media, most operators and owners of personal watercraft are unaware of the dangers. Those who rent personal watercraft are often given little instruction on how to operate the vehicle and race away without the benefit of supervision or training.

While some safety experts are calling for manufacturers to redesign and improve personal watercraft by adding a reverse thruster, braking-type system to help slow the vehicle when approaching a hazard and install protective seatbacks that would prevent the driver or passenger from falling directly behind the craft into the jet nozzle, operators of personal watercraft can take some simple precautions to prevent accidents:

1. Pay attention at all times while operating the craft.

2. Seek knowledge and training on how to safely operate the vehicle prior to leaving the dock. Log on to PWCSafetySchool.com for information.

3. Do not use alcohol while operating the craft.

4. Use a proper lookout.

5. Avoid congested or hazardous waters.

6. Load the craft properly.

If you or a loved one are injured in a personal watercraft accident, you may need an attorney to represent you. The experienced and compassionate attorneys at the Law Offices of Henry Hanflik can help you now.

Many hospitals around the country are advertising robotic surgery as a means of attracting patients to their facilities, as robotic surgery represents state-of-the art technology to consumers who seek quality medical services. The truth is robots have been used to perform surgeries since the mid-1980s. Perhaps the most widely known robotic surgery, performed for several decades, is abdominal or gallbladder surgery, where a video camera and long-handled surgical instruments on a tube are inserted through a small incision. With the aid of a video monitor, human surgeons watch the magnified images as they guide the instruments.

But do robots make better surgeons than humans? Robots are merely computerized systems, with arms capable of interacting within an environment. They assist surgeons who sit at control consoles that display three-dimensional images on video screens and allow the surgeons, using computer controls, to easily maneuver the surgical instruments inside the body. Currently, more than 800 hospitals across America and Europe offer some type of robotic surgery for prostate cancer, hysterectomy, and heart surgeries.  Although widely used, robotic surgeries present advantages and disadvantages.

Some advantages of robotic surgery are that most procedures are simpler, minimally invasive with less pain and scarring, as incisions are smaller than those in traditional surgery. Recovery periods are generally shorter as healing is faster, so hospital stays are shorter, by about 50%, than those associated with conventional surgery. However, some studies have shown that recovery times for laparoscopic prostate surgery are about the same for both traditional and robotic surgery, with no real improvement in functional outcome, i.e. impotence or urinary functions.

While there are distinct advantages to robotic surgery, there are several disadvantages patients should understand. First, there is a good deal of time required for a surgeon to master the technology involved with robotic surgery: there is a steep learning curve. The high cost of buying and operating the equipment, $1million and up, makes these devices unaffordable to smaller hospitals, and the cost of a surgery may be higher than a conventional procedure. There is less space for health care professionals to assist in the operating room, as the cart holding the device occupies a good deal of space.  Finally, some surgeons feel hindered by the lack of tactile sensation, as the natural feel of operating is lost.

While health care facilities and manufacturers of robotic devices are heavily promoting robotic surgery, more research is needed to compare the benefits of conventional vs. robotic surgery. Patients should educate themselves about the risks and benefits of each type of surgery and chose a physician who has performed many procedures using robots.

As a followup to our April 20, 2011 blog about the importance of lawnmower safety, we are again stressing the urgency of operating lawnmowers with the utmost of care, especially when young children  may be present. In a tragic accident, a 5-year-old West Michigan girl died May 17, 2011 when her father ran over her with his riding tractor.  The father of the girl said he did not see his daughter until his machine hit her and ran over her. The Kent County sheriff’s office investigated the accident and says that the child may have run out of the house to play during the evening hours, and then tripped in the grass, making it difficult for her father to see her. The sheriff’s office stated that the man may not have been paying attention as he was operating the tractor, was looking in another direction, and he”never noticed her until the tractor was on top of her.” Another report states that the tractor may have rolled sideways or backward over the child, which may indicate a failure of the lawn mower manufacturer to install adequate safety systems, such as rollover protection or a “no mow in reverse” system, that may have contributed to this accident.

The attorneys at the Law Offices of Henry Hanflik have extensive experience in handling lawn mower-related accidents and injuries. If you or a loved one have suffered a serious injury as a result of a defective lawn mower, contact us at 888-905-4632 for a free consultation.

The U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a warning to consumers to stop participating in a new activity called water walking.  Water walking is the newest craze among children and teens, is popular at malls, carnivals, amusement parks, resorts and even at children’s birthday parties. Water walking involves a large, transparent plastic ball, sometimes called a hamster ball,  that is large enough to hold one person. An individual climbs into the ball as it is inflated with a blower through a zipper opening. Then the zipper is closed, making the ball essentially air-tight. The ball, with the individual locked inside, can then roll around on various surfaces, including grass, ice, water and pavement.

While water walking may sound like a fun-filled activity, several non-fatal, but serious injuries have been reported in the relatively short period of time this product has been available. In one instance,  a child was inside a ball for only a few minutes before becoming unresponsive, and emergency medical treatment was sought. Because the ball is airtight, the air supply inside the ball may be inadequate as the oxygen becomes depleted and carbon monoxide increases. In another case, a person fell from from an above-ground pool, while inside a ball, onto a hard surface and suffered a broken bone. The risks to water walking “riders” include suffocation, as there is no emergency exit available from inside the ball, and a potential for drowning if there is a leak or puncture when the ball is used in open water.  Brain injuries, skull fractures, spinal cord injuries and even death can occur if the head comes in contact with a hard surface. Individuals with pre-existing medical conditions, involving lung, heart or breathing issues may experience an exacerbation of their symptoms while locked inside a water walking ball.

The CPSC has informed state amusement ride officials about the potential dangers associated with this product. While some states have already banned water walking balls, others have allowed water walking balls to be marketed and sold to amusement parks and to private individuals as well.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury water ball-related, contact the experienced injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Henry Hanflik. Call us at 888-905-4632. We can help you!

Warmer weather is just around the corner. Soon the buzzing sound of lawn mowers will be heard throughout cities, towns and the countryside, a sure sign that summer has arrived. Just as the power lawn mower provides a convenient and easy way for homeowners and lawn services to mow lawns, the power mower can also be one of the most dangerous tools around the home, especially for children and adolescents.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2007, nearly 210,000 people, including 16, 200 children under age 19, were treated for lawn mower-related injuries. Lawn mower-related injuries often require a team of doctors with various specialties to perform reconstructive surgeries on hands, feet and faces. Patients may experience long and painful recovery periods. The lawn mower operator or those nearby may be at risk for serious injuries; deep cuts, loss of fingers or toes, burns, injuries to the eyes and broken bones. These simple precautions must be observed to help prevent injuries from occurring:

- Children should be at least age 16 to use a ride-on mower. Children under 12 should never operate a push mower.

- Do not wear loose fitting clothing that can become entangled in mower parts. Do wear sturdy shoes-not sandals or gym shoes- when mowing.

- Before you begin mowing, pick up sticks, stones and other objects from the lawn to prevent injuries from flying debris. Use a collection bag for grass clippings or install a plate over the opening where grass clippings are released.

- Wear safety glasses and hearing protection.

- Shut off mower before refueling, making repairs or adjustments. Allow engine to cool before refueling. Refuel and start the engine outdoors-not inside a garage.

- Never carry passengers on a riding mover. A riding mower is designed to carry one person.

- Beware of slopes, holes and hidden hazards. Generally,  it is safer to mow slopes in a up and down pattern, but do not attempt to mow a steep slope where the mower loses traction.

- If you prefer a push mower, use a mower with a control handle, that when released, will prevent it from moving forward.

- Avoid pulling backward or mowing in reverse unless essential. Be extra careful to look for children behind you.

- Blade settings and adjustments to dislodge debris should be done by adults only. The mower should be off and the spark plug removed/disconnected to prevent injuries.

- Children should be away from the area you are mowing.

If you observe all of these precautions, chances are you will prevent a lawn mower-related injury from occurring. However, lawn mower manufacturers may fail to install adequate safety systems, such as rollover protection or “no mow in reverse” systems, that contribute to a wrongful death or serious injury. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Henry Hanflik have extensive experience in handling lawn mower-related accidents and injuries. If you or a loved one have suffered a serious injury as a result of a defective lawn mower, contact us at 888-905-4632 for a free consultation.

On November 30, 2010, a 41-year-old Lapeer, Michigan man broadsided a vehicle in Lapeer County, killing a 78-year-old woman. On March 9, 2011, the Lapeer man was charged with causing death while texting and driving, the first such case of its kind in Michigan. The state trouper who investigated the accident said that texting was a contributing factor to the accident because the offending driver failed to stop at the stop sign.

Texting while driving, as in the Lapeer accident, is only one form of distracted driving that can cause serious injury or death. Many sources of distracted driving tend to be located within a vehicle, including talking with passengers, phone use (including texting), and focusing on other technology, such as an ipod, cd changer or radio. Simply reaching down to pick up an item from the floor or observing the actions of passengers in the vehicle are distractions.

So what does distracted driving mean?

There are three principle types of distracted driving:

1. Visual – taking your eyes off the road

2. Manual – removing your hands from the steering wheel

3. Cognitive – loss of focus, attention to the task of driving

Distracted driving has become such a serious, life-threatening practice that the U.S. government has created a website, distraction.gov, to disseminate information and issue warnings about this dangerous practice. While many states (including Michigan) have adopted laws that ban the practice of texting while driving, cell phone use, with some restrictions for younger drivers, is still permitted.

When driving while using a cell phone, a driver is distracted by each of the types of distractions listed above. The driver is manually distracted when picking up the phone to operate it, leaving one hand on the wheel. The driver is visually distracted when looking away from the roadway to dial a number or accept a call. Lastly, the driver is cognitively distracted because he/she is thinking about something other than driving and may miss audible or visual cues to avoid a crash. Even hand-free devices are cognitively distracting and will degrade a driver’s performance.

The reasons for distracted driving are numerous. Many people rely on cell phones or Blackberrys as a primary source of communication and feel the need to be in contact at all times, even when driving. Distracted driving can involve children or pets that can visually, manually and cognitively distract a driver. Stressful jobs and busy lifestyles are contributing factors to distracted driving.

The key to safe driving is to be vigilant when behind the wheel and avoid, unless it’s a true emergency, using a cell phone. For your own safety and the safety of others, pull off the road if you need to talk, take care of children or pets or rearrange items in your vehicle.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued new advice for breast implant recipients: there may be an association between both silicone gel-filled and saline breast implants and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), a rare form of cancer.  ALCL is lymphoma, a type of cancer involving the cells of the immune system, not to be confused with cancer of the breast tissue.  Breast implants are placed in the body behind the breast tissue or under chest muscle. Over time,  a scar capsule forms around the implants separating it from the rest of the breast.  Breast implant recipients should understand that they may have a small but significant risk of ALCL developing in the scar capsule adjacent to the implant. Of the 34 cases reviewed, the median age of  patient was 51, with the youngest 28 and the oldest 87. In the study, 24 silicone and 7 saline implants were involved. Three implants were unspecified. The review looked at the time frame from implant placement until diagnosis of ALCL, which ranged from 1 to 23 years, with 8 years being the median. However, until there is a large, comprehensive study, there is insufficient evidence to suggest that the fill of an implant (saline versus silicone) or the texture of an implant (smooth versus textured) increase a woman’s risk of developing ALCL.

Most cases reviewed by the FDA were diagnosed after patients experienced pain, lumps, swelling or asymmetry that developed after their surgical site around their implants were fully healed. Their symptoms were attributed to a collection of fluid, hardening of the breast area around the implant or masses surrounding the implant. When the fluid and capsule around the breasts of these patients were examined, a diagnosis of ALCL was made.

The physicians and researchers at the FDA advise women with implants to be vigilant in monitoring their breasts for any changes and to continue to receive regular breast screening evaluations. While the FDA is not recommending that women who are having no symptoms remove their implants or seek immediate medical attention, those with silicone gel-filled implants should get periodic MRI’s to detect ruptures.