Trim Your Lower Body Just By Putting On The Right Type Of Shoes
Welcome back!
Whilst walking barefoot through a paddy field in Korea, Swiss engineer Karl Muller noticed that his backache, which he suffered with, was quite a bit better. He did some additional research and found that the Masai tribesmen of Africa did not suffer from bad backs. They are also famous for their excellent posture.
Putting two and two together, Muller deduced that walking barefoot on soft, yielding ground was much better for your back and joints than walking on hard surfaces. He decided to try to produce a shoe which would reproduce the effects of walking barefoot on a soft surface such as sand or grass.
The final result was the Masai Barefoot Technology (MBT) shoe. In fact, according to the company website, it is so different to a traditional shoe that it merits the name of “anti-shoe”.
MBT shoes have a specially designed curved sole without a heel, which encourages a gentle rolling action when your foot makes contact with the ground. Just like walking barefoot on sand in fact. The use of different density materials in different areas also adds to the effect by further reducing impact shock and jarring.
Scientific studies have verified that this is genuinely better for your back and joints. In addition to better posture, there are other proven benefits. For instance, when walking normally in MBT shoes, the wearer’s muscles will be active for longer (in comparison with similar walking in traditional footwear). The muscles are in use for about 16% longer. Wearers also tend to “walk properly” and take somewhat shorter strides. Both of these effects raise the amount of work done.
The end result of this is that every single step you take whils wearing MBT shoes is providing you with ”free” exercise. It’s a lower body training session while you walk. So, as well as improving back pain and improving posture, MBT shoes also help to tone your legs and trim your buttocks.
You would imagine that would be sufficient wouldn’t you? However, in spite of these benefits some people find MBT shoes a little chunky and not very pleasing to the eye. They are also a little pricey (although considering the possibilities they may well be worth every penny). Fortunately there are now other, prettier, offerings available which use the same basic design. Both Skechers Shape Ups and Fitflops Fitflops have similar curved soles which are specially engineered to maximize the muscle activity timespan and tone your lower body whilst engaged in everyday, normal walking activity.
Whichever footwear you choose, the possibility of reducing back and joint pain whilst simultaneously toning and trimming your lower body – without needing to visit the gym – seems very attractive.