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When X-Rays were used at the Shoe Store

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Re: When X-Rays were used at the Shoe Store

#12
post #5

An older friend of mine told me the times were surreal. Doctors would casualy xray you for many minutes even when you got minor symptoms. Then suddendly xray was considered harmful and you would only get on static image when you had serious problems.

[deleted]

Re: When X-Rays were used at the Shoe Store

#13
post #6

I'm 49 and I'm sure I remember there still being machines in stores when I was 7 or 8. Is that possible? I don't recall them actually in use - but they were visibly present. (I'm in the UK) EDIT: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoe-fitting_fluoroscope#Regul... Looks possible.

There was one in a store we used to visit in the late ‘40s. It wasn’t a shoe store - more of a small department store.

I’d stand on the thing, stick the fronts of my shoes into the two holes, lean over and look through the viewport (which was rather like an old stereopticon), push the button and wiggle my green toes.

The clerks never bothered me. I think I knew enough to keep the time short. I don’t remember if it had a timeout - it probably did.

Re: When X-Rays were used at the Shoe Store

#14
Interesting and also scary - I guess it was ok for customers, but the employees using the machines would probably over time get a serious amount of radiation literally in their face (from what it looks like)? If you think that nowadays while making X-rays the medical personnel will either wear lead-lined aprons or leave the room altogether...

Re: When X-Rays were used at the Shoe Store

#15
post #4

Tangent. People are still getting conned when it comes to shoes. Custom designed soles, with padding in the "right" places based on the shape of your foot, in order to "absorb impact" or "correct overpronation". Which is nonsense and unnecessary unless you have foot deformities. Your foot is perfectly capable of absorbing impact and whatnot. This is all marketing aimed at gullible new runners who want to go from couc…

The proper shoe shouldn't reinforce bad running habits. If you got pushed that way by a one-on-one shoe fitting, you certainly did get "conned."

As someone who has had only one professional running shoe fitting in my life, I found it invaluable. They were able to immediately identify where my stride was going wrong. They advised me not just on the shoe, but on improving my gait. I bought one full-price shoe once, then was able to buy similar shoes on sale/clearance. Following the fitting (and guidance), I've not had the same knee pain since.

YMMV, but it's not all cons. It's a middle-ground between nothing and a full-fledged sports therapy.

Re: When X-Rays were used at the Shoe Store

#16
post #7
post #4

Tangent. People are still getting conned when it comes to shoes. Custom designed soles, with padding in the "right" places based on the shape of your foot, in order to "absorb impact" or "correct overpronation". Which is nonsense and unnecessary unless you have foot deformities. Your foot is perfectly capable of absorbing impact and whatnot. This is all marketing aimed at gullible new runners who want to go from couc…

I'd be interested in reading deeper. Do you have references countering the marketing claims?

One of the best resources in the net. It won’t give clear cut answers but plenty of good starters to make up your own mind: https://fellrnr.com/wiki/The_Science_of_Running_Shoes

Re: When X-Rays were used at the Shoe Store

#17
post #6

I'm 49 and I'm sure I remember there still being machines in stores when I was 7 or 8. Is that possible? I don't recall them actually in use - but they were visibly present. (I'm in the UK) EDIT: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoe-fitting_fluoroscope#Regul... Looks possible.

Same age, also UK, and yeah, they were still doing those when I was at school - definitely had at least one, vague memories of two.

Re: When X-Rays were used at the Shoe Store

#18
post #8
post #6

I'm 49 and I'm sure I remember there still being machines in stores when I was 7 or 8. Is that possible? I don't recall them actually in use - but they were visibly present. (I'm in the UK) EDIT: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoe-fitting_fluoroscope#Regul... Looks possible.

Yes I also recall seeing them in Clarks but unused

I remember seeing and using the one from 1996 in my early childhood as displayed in this article:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32738088#_=_

Not sure if these actually used X-rays but it'd be interesting to find out if they did.

EDIT: In hindsight, I really don't think the type I remember used X-rays.

ANOTHER EDIT: Looks like this is the company that made the ones I can remember: http://sensatech.com/applications/index.html

Re: When X-Rays were used at the Shoe Store

#20
post #5

An older friend of mine told me the times were surreal. Doctors would casualy xray you for many minutes even when you got minor symptoms. Then suddendly xray was considered harmful and you would only get on static image when you had serious problems.

Now we know how Dijkstra's paper editor come out with the infamous phrase "considered harmful" :-)
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