© AlamyA new type of shoe could stop ice slips.
Canadian researchers have developed a new material which contains microscopic glass fibres which act as tiny spikes, gripping the ground in even the most nerve-jangling icy weather.
Thousands of people are left injured in Britain each year after slipping on pavements and steps during the winter and the team believe the invention could prevent many accidents, particularly among the elderly.
"I think anyone who has slipped or fallen on ice can testify that it is a painful or nerve-raking experience," said Dr Reza Rizvi, a postdoctoral fellow at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute who works on developing materials that can provide better traction on ice.
"Now imagine being frail or disabled - a slippery sidewalk or a driveway is all that it takes to trigger a life-changing fall.
"A serious fall on ice resulting in a hip fracture can be a death sentence for an older adult."
Ice is so dangerous because when the temperature get close to freezing a thin lubricating layer of water forms at the surface.
The new material is made up of thermoplastic polyurethane, a rubbery plastic, embedded with tens of thousands of tiny glass fibres that protrude out of the rubber like microscopic studs and give the material the feel of fine sandpaper.
© The Telegraph, UKA prototype of the new rubber sole.
The incline is increased until volunteers wearing shoes with soles made from the textured rubber start to slip. The lab is also equipped with a padded wall and a safety harness to prevent any dangerous falls.
The team has now found a way to mass produce the material and, once they have made the rubber more durable, are hoping to attract shoe manufacturers.
"Many older adults who feel trapped indoors for long stretches in the winter because of the fear of falling," said Tilak Dutta also from the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, a lead member of the research team.
"The lack of activity and isolation have major negative impacts on health. We need to give older adults better footwear so they feel confident maintaining their outdoor activity levels in the winter.
"This work has the potential to have a real impact on the massive, expensive public health problem of winter falls, not to mention the dramatic improvement in quality of life for those living in northern climates."
The research was published in the journal Applied Physics Letters.
This invention is marvelous. When you live in a country where glass is everywhere during many months and when you have to walk like a penguin when you go outside, you understand that shoes like this is fantastic. No more the "walk of the penguin"