Does the idea of trimming down your butt and toning up your legs without setting foot in a gym appeal to you? It sounds almost too good to be true – but consumers can now choose from a wide selection of shoes, from a variety of different manufacturers, which claim to be able to help you do just that. They come in a range of colors and styles – some of them look nothing like exercise shoes at all and are very fashionable.
The common approach seems to be to replicate the sensation of walking barefoot on soft, yielding ground – like lush grass or sand for instance. Most of these new high technology fitness shoes feature specially designed soles in order to achieve this. Use of the correct density of materials in the construction of the shoes also seems to be an important factor.
Masai Barefoot Technology Shoes (MBTs)
These are probably the forerunner of the current range of shoes on the market. As a matter of fact, they aren’t really fitness shoes. They were developed by Karl Muller, a Swiss engineer. Whilst walking barefoot across a Korean rice field, he realised that his back pain, a long term problem for him, was very much better than usual.
After performing some research he learned that the Masai tribesmen of Africa are well known for their excellent posture and have an extremely low incidence rate of lower back pain. He designed the MBT range with a curved sole to produce a rolling gait and avoid jarring. Wearers certainly seem very enthusiastic regarding the benefits.
Fitflops Sandals, Boots And Shoes
The Fit flops range of fitness footwear was developed in the UK by ex-personal fitness trainer Marcia Kilgore. These also incorporate a specially shaped sole to simulate walking barefoot on soft ground and incorporate something which rejoices in the name of “microwobbleboard” technology. Testing at London South Bank University and Salford University in the UK has shown that the lower body muscles are engaged for longer when walking in Fitflops, in comparison with standard shoes. Fitflops are, according to the company website, the sandal with the gym built in. They tone your lower body as you walk around during the course of your daily routine.
Of the various specially designed fitness footwear on the market, Fitflops are probably the least like exercise shoes. They have sandals available in a wide range of colors and styles and have introduced clogs, slippers and boots. Over and above the independent testing, wearers of Fitflops have anecdotally reported a wide variety of further benefits which are claimed to be available by wearing these shoes. Reduced cellulite, better posture and less heel spur pain are amongst the various benefits attributed to these shoes. Traditional flip flop type sandals can actually produce foot problems. However, the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) has approved Fitflops.
Skechers Shape Ups
Skechers Shape Ups shoes also incorporate a curved sole which uses specially selected materials in its construction. Again the idea is to reproduce the effect of walking barefoot on soft sand. Clinical studies in both the USA and Japan have confirmed that walking in Shape Ups delivers a number of benefits to wearers.
Reeboks Easy Tones
Reeboks contribution to the latest trend in fitness shoes is the most recent addition to the market. Unlike the other shoes mentioned thus far, these do not incorporate a curved sole but use special balance pods filled with air which are built into the sole. These generate “natural instability” when you wear them and this makes your muscles work harder as they try to readjust to compensate for the instability.
Once again, a number of independent tests appear to support the assertion that the lower body muscles do extra work whilst walking in this type of shoe. There are also a large number of favourable reviews from the wearers of Easy Tones, on the company website (of course) and elsewhere.
Intuitively, it’s just about possible to imagine how shoes that reproduce the effect of walking in soft sand might make your muscles perform some additional work. It’s also reasonable to assume that, if you’re constantly trying to regain your balance, then that might make your muscles do a little extra work. In any event, it’s certainly a tempting prospect – a free lower body workout just by walking around. It may well be worth a try. There are now so many of these high tech wonder shoes available – and at prices pretty similar to standard fitness shoes – that you would probably be able to find a pair that you liked the next time you need new shoes anyway.