Sydney: Slippers you prefer to wear at home can be comfortable but dangerous. A new survey conducted by researchers from the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute in Sydney has found that out of 95 people with an average age of 78 who were recovering from a fall-related hip fracture were found wearing slippers at the time of their fall.

Twenty-two per cent were found wearing slippers, compared to 17 per cent who had walking shoes on and eight per cent wore sandals. Only two per cent were wearing high heels at the time of their fall.

The authors said three quarters of patients had been wearing shoes with at least one "sub optimal feature" such as lack of buckles, zippers, laces or Velcro, or excessively flexible soles.

The findings, published in the journal 'Age and Ageing', Catherine Sherrington and Hylton Menz said a range of footwear features have been shown to influence balance in older people.

"Many older people who have had a fall-related hip fracture were wearing potentially hazardous footwear when they fell. The wearing of slippers or shoes without fixation may be associated with increased risk of tripping," the researchers conclude.

ANI