Abstract: Athletic footwear is equipped with a device for detecting absence of movement of the wearer's foot for a period of time and a device responsive to the detecting device for alerting the wearer of such absence of movement. In a preferred embodiment, the detecting device comprises a device in the sole and/or heel of the footwear for detecting that the wearer is standing flat-footed and for energizing, after a time, an alerting signal, such as vibration or electric shock, for alerting the wearer that he or she is standing flat-footed.