TMC with a quick review of a recent fad to hit the health and fitness community.
“Burn more calories, tone muscles, improve posture, reduce joint stress.”
“Train muscles your trainers never knew you had.”
“It’s the shoe proven to work your hamstrings and calves up to 11 percent harder. And tones your butt up to 28 percent more than regular sneakers just by walking.”
These are the claims made by marketing folks from Skechers Shape-Ups, MBT (Masai Barefoot Technology) and Reebok Easy Tone. These shoes are currently all the rage in footwear.
I’m sure you’ve seen people walking around in your gym or on a track with them. You can’t miss em as people “grow a couple of inches” when worn. 
Can you say TOTAL SCAM?
ACE just did a recent review of the shoes found here.
Their bottom line:
“Do you feel different when you’re wearing these shoes? Of course you do because you’re walking on probably an inch worth of cushioning,” explains Porcari. “They feel different, and that’s why when people first wear them they’re probably going to be sore because you’re using different muscles. But if you wear any sort of abnormal shoes that you’re not used to wearing, your muscles are going to get sore. Is that going to translate into toning your butt, hamstrings and calves? Nope. Your body is just going to get used to it.”
“When you think about it, it’s kind of the same old song and dance,” he says. “People will still fall prey in their search for the quick-and-easy fitness solution. These shoes are just another attempt to find that magic bullet.”
As with most things TMC sees in the health and fitness industry, there is never a quick fix or magic bullet.
If you want to change your appearance, lose body fat and improve your strength/endurance, there is no substitute for planned, regular exercise.
Both resistance and cardiovascular training in combination with sound nutrition work best.
Have at it!
MIHWCS
5 responses so far ↓
1 Greenie // Aug 11, 2010 at 9:53 am
That ACE article link is incredible — a really in-depth look and the science shows absolutely ZERO benefit.
Maybe we can convince people to hop on one foot as they walk around the mall. At least that would represent true activity.
2 LaurenDolce // Aug 11, 2010 at 3:19 pm
nice…those are lazy shoes if you ask me
3 JayAnhski Campbell // Aug 12, 2010 at 11:04 am
I like them because it gives me at least 1 inch height and makes me look taller and perfect for when I wear pants that are too long. But as for working out, it makes NO difference compared to my flat PUMA’s. ~Anhski
4 Linda // Aug 16, 2010 at 2:56 am
I have to make a comment here – I purchased MBT’s for the first time 2 years ago. I work as an operating room nurse and am on my feet for the majority of my day. I don’t believe any of the toning claims, but I can attest that for the first time in over (gulp) 30 years of being on my feet (for the last 11 or so for 10 hr days), I leave work with no back, hip, knee, or foot pain. I have worn various sneakers, shoes, and clogs throughout my career, and to have no discomfort at the end of my day (and at my age!) is HUGE. I have a friend who has been a runner for almost 40 years, was ready to consider knee replacement, and now is an MBT convert. To be fair, I also have co-workers who disliked them. Plus, they ain’t pretty, lol. But then neither is walking gimpy at the end of the day. Just my $.02.
5 Jay Campbell // Aug 17, 2010 at 8:45 am
Great reply Linda! There is no doubt the shoes due to their design are comfortable. As you can attest, sometimes that in and of itself serves a purpose. We will stand by our belief they do nothing even relevant to their claims of improving peoples condition or fat loss efforts.
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