West Virginia offers plenty of opportunities for exercise every day. In some parts of the state, just walking to the car in the morning can mean a couple of miles on cross-country skis. For those of us who want less strenuous exercise, Skechers developed the Shape-up line of footwear. Now, dozens of individuals are dealing with serious injuries from using the special shoes.

The shoes' design is defective, according to a class-action lawsuit filed by 37 victims. In addition to citing serious injuries ranging from hip fractures and torn cartilage, individuals claimed negligence and fraud.

Skechers claim its Shape-up shoes are a workout, according to commercials. The shoe's rolling bottom is a patented design, the company touts, challenging an individual's way of walking. Because different muscles are being used, the individual firms up.

One customer reports buying a pair of Shape-ups about 18 months ago; she was inspired by an ad. During the first few months, the woman slightly twisted her ankle twice. Serious injury occurred after nine months of wear. Tendons were torn, as were ligaments, in her left ankle.

The plaintiffs' attorney states some of these injuries occurred during falls, while other customers were hurt from wearing the shoes all day, every day for months. The attorney added that it's no wonder people are having trouble, because the shoes change the way they walk. It turns out Skechers did not perform any safety testing on the shoes, but this information was not shared with the public.

Skechers may have caught the attention of the Federal Trade Commission, too. Reebok's false claims about its toning shoes -- similar to Shape-ups -- led to a $25 million fine from the FTC.

Source: 10News.com, "Lawsuit Claims Dozens Injured By Company's Special Shoes," Jan. 13, 2012