When it comes to picking exercise shoes, we are pretty much spoiled for choice. General trainers, squash shoes, tennis shoes, running shoes – there are plenty to choose from. Clearly it’s important to choose the correct type of shoe in order to get the most out of your exercise regime – and also to avoid injury.
The latest development in exercise footwear is shoes which actually increase the effectiveness of your workout – or which give you a lower body workout just by wearing them as you walk around normally. Typically, these incorporate a specially designed sole – often with a curved shape – and use carefully selected materials in their construction.
Fitflops exercise sandals, Masai Barefoot Technology (MBT) shoes and Skechers Shape Ups are all examples of the latest innovation in exercise footwear. They are all based upon the principle of extending the duration for which the lower body muscles are active when walking – something which will help to trim and tone both the legs and buttock muscles of the wearer. Considering that the average person takes around 15,000 steps daily, you can see how a small increase in lower body muscle activity when walking would be beneficial.
This type of shoe is said to reproduce the sensation of walking on soft, yielding sand in your bare feet. If you’ve done this then you’ll know that this is somewhat more tiring than walking on a smooth, hard surface. So it kind of makes sense that this could produce a more effective walking workout. As well as this “common sense” approach, there have been several independent scientific trials which have confirmed that this type of shoes genuinely does increase muscle activity. User feedback also seems to confirm that the benefits are real – at least for some users.
Reebok Easy Tones are the latest addition to the range of super efficient exercise shoes. These don’t feature a curved sole, unlike most of the other shoes in this category. They are designed to keep you very slightly off balance – which results in increased muscle activity. This imbalance theory is also used by Fitflops – by means of their superbly titled “microwobbleboard” technology – but Fitflops also use a curved sole.
In general, these shoes cost around about the same as standard exercise shoes – and there is a very good selection of styles and colors available. Many of them don’t look anything like traditional exercise shoes – sandals, clogs and boots are available. Whether you fancy a pair just to walk around normally or if you want to maximize the efficiency of your dedicated exercise program, there’s probably going to be a style that will suit your needs. It’s probably a good idea to break your new shoes in gradually – especially if you haven’t taken regular exercise for a while. In the first instance, try wearing them for no more than a couple of hours a day. As you become accustomed to them, say over the course of a couple of weeks, you can gradually increase the length of time for which you wear them.
Check out the full range of Fitflops shoes, sandals and boots and tone your lower body while you walk.
