The 'Skinny' on Muscle Toning Shoes

How it all began

It all began in the 1990's when Swiss Engineer Karl Muller, who suffered from chronic back pain, vacationed in South Korea and noticed that his back pain virtually disappeared during that time. He concluded that walking barefoot on soft ground could eliminate back pain. He also found that back pain and arthritis were practically non-existent in the Masai tribe in Africa. This was contrary to our culture, where a number of people have joint and back pain and foot related problems due to factors such as walking on hard surfaces and wearing the wrong kind of shoes. This led Muller to develop a totally different shoe - one that was designed to mimic walking barefoot on uneven, soft ground such as sand, based on the principal of "natural instability". In 1996 came the birth of the MBT shoe, which stands for Masai Barefoot Technology, also known as the "anti-shoe", the first physiological footwear that has a positive impact on the entire body, not just the feet, unlike conventional shoes.

MBT Shoes became available in the US in 2003. Since then, the Muscle Toning Shoe category has flourished and today there are a variety of footwear brands in the market - MBTs, Skechers Shape-Ups, Sano by Mephisto, Earth Shoes and Orthaheel.

Muscle Toning Shoe Brands

MBT - The Anti-Shoe

MBT Shoes feature a unique patented sole construction that is curved, not flat. The Masai Sensor, located directly beneath the heel, simulates walking and standing on uneven ground. This "natural instability" forces your body to maintain its natural balance, encouraging the use of core muscles. In addition, the midsole requires an active and controlled rolling movement with every step, causing your muscles to work harder.

Benefits of MBTs:

• Activates and exercises body's entire musculoskeletal system
• Strengthens muscles in the buttocks, stomach and back
• Improves posture and gait
• Reduces stress on the joints and relieves back pain

Skechers Shape-Ups

Skechers Shape-Ups combine the stylish features of the popular Sketchers lifestyle shoes with the latest fitness technology designed to help you "shape up while you walk." It features a unique kinetic wedge insert that absorbs shock, a dynamic rolling bottom sole and dual-density midsole.

Benefits of Shape-Ups:

• More toned and strengthened leg, back, buttock & ab muscles
• Reduced body fat
• Improved circulation, aerobic conditioning and exercise tolerance
• Improved posture, relieving muscle tension and back/joint problems

Sano by Mephisto

The Sano by Mephisto is a cutting-edge fitness walking shoe that offers more compression and shock absorption than any other style by Mephisto. Experience a new healthy lifestyle with all the positive health benefits with a world re-renowned brand you can trust.

Benefits of wearing Sano include:

• Stimulate long ignored muscles
• Improve physical condition
• Tone and tighten abs, thighs and buttock muscles
• Improve circulation and posture

Earth Shoes

What makes Earth shoes different is the Kalsø® Negative Heel Technology® - a unique inclined sole that positions the toes 3.7° higher than the heels, the anatomic arch support and the Biofoam™ cushioning.

Benefits of wearing Earth shoes:

• Burn 4 times more calories with every step
• More lean body mass
• More efficient walking time
• Straighter posture
• Better breathing

Orthaheel

Orthaheel footwear is podiatrist-designed line of footwear that helps restore natural foot function and well being with every step. Each collection of Orthaheel sandals, slippers and athletic shoes are designed with a flexible and lightweight construction and include a unique built-in orthotic. Orthoheels are clinically proven to reduce pronation, which can improve foot function and relieve associated heel and ankle pain. Orthaheel is recommended by Dr. Andrew Weil, an internationally-recognized pioneer of integrative medicine. Orthaheel footwear supports
Dr Weil's philosophy of health and well-being from head to toe.

Clinical Studies

Many of the wonderful health benefits of muscle toning shoes are backed by clinical studies.
Below are some of the results:

MBT Shoes

In June of 2004, a comprehensive study by the Human Performance Laboratory (HPL) tested the mechanical effects of MBT shoes with eight (8) test subjects that used MBT shoes in the average 9.5 hours per day for two weeks. They assessed the results for kinematics, kinetics, muscle activity, soft tissue vibrations and oxygen consumption during standing and/or walking using an unstable MBT device against a conventional control shoe.

The results revealed the following facts:

• Increased movement of the center of pressure, producing an increased demand of muscle activity in the lower extremities to balance the body
• Increased rotational ankle joint impulse for foot plantar-flexion and foot inversion for the first half of ground contact
• Reduced rotational ankle joint impulses for the knee joint (average reduction 27 %)
• 2.5 % more oxygen consumption for the same walking task, thus requiring more mechanical energy
• Strengthening of muscles

A study conducted in August 2004 revealed that MBT shoes promote less forward lean during walking suggesting a more upright posture. The probable effect is a more optimal alignment, which may suggest reduced stress on the lower back.

Skechers Shape Ups

In a 6-week trial conducted by Skechers on the benefits of Shape-Ups on weight loss, body composition, glutei strength and low back endurance, eight participants were assessed wearing Shape-Ups during their normal walking activities and usual diet strategies.

The results were:

• An average weight loss of 3.25 pounds
• An overall average improvement of body composition (reduction of body fat) of 1.125%
• An average improvement of glutei strength by 41%
• An average improvement of low back endurance by 37%

Orthaheel

Clinical trials conducted by experts in podiatry, physical therapy and lower limb biomechanics reveal the following:

• Orthaheel Sandals reduce both the rate and amount of pronation
• Knee Pain Relief - A 52-week study concludes that the combination of physiotherapy and pre-fabricated orthotics may improve both short-term and long-term knee pain relief.
• Heel Pain Relief - 90% of study participants showed significant or total relief from heel pain symptoms after wearing Orthaheel Orthotics to treat plantar fasciitis for 12 weeks.

Earth Shoes

In a study to examine the effects of wearing inclined sole footwear, as revealed in the "10,000 Steps" daily regimen, results revealed the following:

• Average body fat percentage decreased 4 times more than the decrease experienced by the non-Earth footwear group
• Reduced mean body mass by approximately .7 pounds
• Faster walking time by an average of 4.65%, or 24.6 seconds
• Better breathing - a higher level of maximal oxygen consumption, thereby enhancing aerobic capabilities and endurance