Do Toning Shoes Genuinely Work or Is It All Just Spin?
Toning shoes are a very recent development in the world of exercise shoes and, based upon the reaction to them, they look to be one of those things that you either love or hate – there doesn’t seem to be a middle ground. The theory is that – thanks to the use of a specially designed sole – they cause the lower body muscles to work a little harder than usual when you walk around in them.
The various footwear companies offer different design approaches – but the production of imbalance and instability whilst walking seems to be a common theme. This causes the muscles in your lower body, your butt and your legs in other words, to work a little harder as they attempt to regain the body’s natural balance.
Thick, chunky soles – such as those used by both Skechers Shape Ups and MBT shoes are meant to replicate the feeling of walking on soft sand. Reebok Easy Tones use special air pods in their soles. The Easy Tones sole was designed by an ex-NASA scientist and is intended to work a bit like a balance ball. FitFlop shoes are somewhere in the middle. They are shaped, but aren’t quite as chunky as the MBT/Skechers type of sole. FitFlops make use of “microwobbleboard” technology – based on the balance boards that you might find in gyms – to generate small instabilities when you walk in them.
Negative heel shoes are a further design variant. What that means is that the heel of the foot is a little lower than the toe. This is intended to lengthen your calf muscle, change your gait and give you a more upright posture.
Clinical trials have either been performed or commissioned by the various manufacturers in order to establish the validity of their claims for toning shoes. These have supported the claims of the manufacturers, by an large – but the fact that the money for these studies was provided by the footwear companies is, in may people’s opinions, sufficient to raise doubts about their independent nature.
Tests commissioned by the American Council for Exercise (ACE) seemed to demonstrate, according to ACE at least, that the claims made for toning shoes were unsubstantiated. Even these tests have been called into question – with the age range of the participants and the small sample size being raised as being likely to unduly influence the results.
So, the scientific evidence is somewhat ambiguous, and will probably not change in the near future. What is crystal clear is the fact that there is a huge consumer demand for toning shoes. Sales have rocketed from just $ 17 million in 2008 to $ 252 million for the first four months of 2010. Sales figures for the whole of 2010 are yet to be finalised – but a figure in excess of $ 1 billion is predicted for the full year.
The chief beneficiaries have been Reebok and Skechers. Both have seen their market share increase – mainly at the expense of Nike, who has steered clear of the toning shoes market. The market is beginning to mature and budget priced “me too” offerings are becoming increasingly available – something that will produce a downward price trend in 2011.
That should be a good thing for consumers. Customer feedback has been very positive. Separating a woman from her Shape Ups or Easy Tones could easily develop into a life threatening situation and should only be attempted with extreme caution. Nike, ACE and a variety of scientists may be overlooking this fact.
There’s not a lot of point in trying to be too scientific about shoes – especially in the women’s sector. The dangers of high heels are well established and widely known. Aside from the fact that wearing them can result in sprains, twists and falls, they lead to a posture which is bad for the body. Nevertheless, women all over the world still want their killer heels.
For a great many busy modern women, toning shoes must seem like the answer to their prayers. Workout while you walk – get in shape without setting foot in the gym – better legs and a better butt with every step. A small selection of some of the current advertising slogans – which are understandably appealing.
If they do all that’s claimed for them then that’s brilliant. If not, then you’ve still got yourself a pair of cool new shoes. What have you got to lose? And – on a more practical level – if toning shoes encourage people to walk a little further and more often than normal, then that’s a very positive thing in itself.
http://www.twinpossible.com
I'm going to do a blog version of this tomorrow, or the next day, just in case you are interested in viewing it, you can keep an eye out for it.
Here I discuss Skecher's Shape Ups, and my experience with them, dating back, 4.5 months ago, and what I think of them now. Is it all hype, or worth the price? Well, you are just going to have to watch the video for yourself, to find out, won't you? *Smile*.
These sneakers, or as I call them, 'Footwear for fitness', or 'Fitness footwear', are quite the rage, and are said to help speed up weight loss, calorie and fat burning, and help mold and shape your legs and buttocks, and give you a greater workout then walking alone.
They aren't cheap, but if they did that for you, would you be willing to pay the price? I did, so find out my personal experience here, in my updated video review, and decide for yourself before purchasing.
Happy walking!!
xoxo Shelly
