Exercise sandal
The gymnastic sandal consists of an anatomically shaped wooden footbed with a thin rubber outsole, which is held by a cross strap ( adjustable leather strap padded with felt or foam rubber ) over the ball of the foot.
Mode of action
The construction of the shoe with the cross strap (formerly made of smooth leather underlaid with felt; today made of synthetic leather with a nubuck look and padded with foam rubber) requires an active claw movement of the toes with every step (gripping reflex) so that the sandal does not fall off the foot. When running, the muscles of the lower leg (which act on the foot through tendons) and the foot itself are trained through the continuous alternation of muscle tension and relaxation, the blood circulation is promoted and various foot (e.g. flat and flat feet) and leg diseases (e.g. varicose veins) prevented. The wooden sole has an air-conditioning effect.
history
Gymnastic sandals appeared in the mid-1950s when the Hamburg manufacturer Berkemann brought them onto the market with the support of the then German orthopedic pope Professor Wilhelm Thomsen. The sandal itself goes back to an invention of the sports teacher Wiessner (mid-1930s).
The gymnastic sandal established itself and was trendy in the 1960s. According to the company, more than 1 million sandals were sold a year in a few years, and in the early 1970s the company celebrated the sale of the 25 millionth pair. When the bottom of the sandal snaps up under the sole of the foot when it rolls off, a clapping sound is created. This is why the terms “Holzklepper” or “Klapperlatschen” have established themselves for these shoes. In the 1960s, this led to sandals being banned in some schools because of the noise they created. Originally the straps of the Berkemann sandals were only available in white, brown and red. Later blue and black were added as standard colors as well as a multitude of other colors as special colors. The straps were or are also offered individually as replacements because they wear out earlier compared to the very durable wooden footbed.
In the early 1960s, Birkenstock launched its first sandal with a deep cork footbed (Birkenstock footbed). This was also called "gymnastics sandal" and was held in place with a cross strap. The Birkenstock gymnastic sandals not only focus on training the foot and calf muscles, but also on the principle of protection, ie the foot is relieved and supported by the anatomically shaped footbed during natural step development.
By 1970, over 10 million pairs of Berkemann gymnastic sandals had sold. In the 1990s, a much weaker fashion wave for wooden sandals set in again.
The company Dr. Scholl (Chicago / USA) brought a very similar model onto the market in the 1950s (William Scholl, grandson of the company founder, discovered this wooden sandal in Europe after the Second World War , and produced and sold it as a health shoe in the USA), but gave up because of the low success. With strong marketing and PR support, the company managed to establish the model in 1996. In contrast to the Berkemann sandals, the straps on this model are not interchangeable, but are attached to the wooden sole with rivets or screws.
In the GDR , the VEB Pantolette Naumburg manufactured a foot exercise sandal that was very similar to the Berkemann model. These wooden sandals, popularly known as "flapper slippers", enjoyed great popularity among the population.
Since 2003 there has been a successor to the original Berkemann gymnastic sandal , the Berkilette (visually snappy , thinner bottom with a slightly different "surface relief ", additional thin EVA midsole and a cross strap made of nubuck padded with foam rubber).
use
The gymnastics sandal is used by people of both sexes as slippers or as summer shoes . Due to its robustness and extensive water resistance, it is also popular with sauna-goers . As work clothing, it is particularly widespread in the medical sector, but, like all shoes that are not closed at the front, does not meet the requirements of the professional association for accident prevention. Walking with gymnastic sandals requires a little practice at first, because the feet first have to get used to the rigid wooden soles and the necessity of grasping the toes. Furthermore, the desired health effect only occurs if the sandals are regularly worn as often as possible over a longer period of time.
literature
- Helge Sternke: Everything about men's shoes . Nicolai, Berlin 2006, ISBN 3-89479-252-3 .
- Died: William Scholl . In: Der Spiegel . No. 14 , 2002, p. 202 ( Online - Mar. 30, 2002 ).