How good would it be if all you had to do to get a lower body workout that would tone your legs and trim your butt was to pull on a different pair of shoes in the morning? It sounds like an impossible dream – however, there are now a number of different exercise shoes on the market that promise exactly that.
Masai Barefoot Technology (MBT) shoes, Fitflops exercise sandals and Skechers Shape Ups all feature a specially shaped sole which is said to reproduce the sensation of walking barefoot on soft ground or sand. This reduces stress on the legs, spreads the body’s weight across the entire foot and reduces impact shock.
It also promotes a rolling motion and prolongs contact between the sole of the shoe and the sole of the foot. The amount of time for which the lower body muscles are active is raised by up to 16% whilst walking in these specially engineered shoes.
An additional 16% of muscle activity may not sound like all that much – but if you wear your special exercise shoes daily, it can really have an impact. The average person takes around 15,000 steps every day. If every single one of these was delivering some extra exercise you can imagine how it would have a positive effect fairly quickly.
Another point to note is that this lower body workout can be delivered just by wearing the shoes and going about your normal daily routine. No need to take time out of your day to visit the gym, no need to get all hot and sweaty and no need to pay any expensive gym membership fees. It’s pretty much the ideal scenario whether you’re a fitness fanatic or even if you wouldn’t normally be seen within a mile of the gym. People who like to take exercise will increase the efficiency of their workout whereas people who wouldn’t normally take exercise will get a workout for free.
The claims made by the makers of these types of shoes have been tested and substantiated by a number of different scientific and academic institutions – for example the London South Bank University (LSBU) and Salford University in the UK. There are now a number of different manufacturers marketing these shoes in a wide variety of different colors and styles. You have, when all is said and done, little to lose by trying them. The next time that you decide to treat yourself to a new pair of shoes you can probably – with the possible exception of stilettos – find a pair of high tech exercise shoes in a similar style to what you were looking for anyway.
Have a look at the massive selection of styles available from Fitflops – sandals, boots, clogs and slippers.
