These put style in your stride. The pods beneath the forefoot and heel of Reebok EasyTones act as mini balance balls beneath your feet, so they're soothing.
Cool factor They work your muscles with bounce, not roll. We give EasyTones props for comfort. MBT Foras's rounded soles force you to roll from heel to toe and aim to improve circulation in your legs and feet, alleviating soreness and aches. The shoe order was randomized as the subjects were asked to walk at 3. To measure muscle activation, researchers recruited a second group of 12 physically active female volunteers, ages 21 to 27 years, who performed a similar battery of five-minute treadmill trials as explained above rotating shoes at random.
Researchers used electromyography a. EMG to record muscle activity in six muscle areas: gastrocnemius calf , rectus femoris quads , biceps femoris hamstrings , gluteus maximus buttocks , erector spinae back , and rectus abdominis abs , as subjects walked in each of the four pairs of shoes. As a baseline for EMG analysis, maximum voluntary isometric contractions MVIC on all muscles were also performed using manual muscle techniques prior to testing.
Across the board, none of the toning shoes showed statistically significant increases in either exercise response or muscle activation during any of the treadmill trials. There is simply no evidence to support the claims that these shoes will help wearers exercise more intensely, burn more calories or improve muscle strength and tone Table 1. As for the muscle-activity testing, the results were strikingly similar.
There was no significant difference in EMG levels in any of the muscles tested between the four types of shoes Figures 1—6. Then how do researchers account for the anecdotal evidence found on blogs, etc.
Is that going to translate into toning your butt, hamstrings and calves? Your body is just going to get used to it. These shoes are just another attempt to find that magic bullet. But to evaluate that will require another longer-term study. Here is a gimmick-free fitness solution to getting the most benefit from your walking workout. Free E-newsletter Subscribe to Housecall Our general interest e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics. Sign up now. I've seen ads for several brands of toning shoes.
Can these shoes make my legs more toned? Answer From Edward R. With Edward R. Show references Horsak B, et al. Effects of toning shoes on lower extremity gait biomechanics. Clinical Biomechanics. Landry SC, et al. Standing in an unstable shoe increases postural sway and muscle activity of selected smaller extrinsic foot muscles.
Gait Posture. Federal Trade Commission. Accessed June 20, Are toning shoes unsafe? Reports of injuries raise concern. Consumer Reports. Consumer Product Safety: New product complaint database. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Horsak B, et al. I had the impression that I walked farther and faster than I actually did.
Overall, the shoes seem like they would work if worn for a long period of time during daily activities. MBT I incorporated a pair of MBT Foras into my daily commute, and after three weeks, I didn't notice a discernible difference in inches or muscle tone. However, I chalk that up to my relative lack of motility—I can definitely see how the shoes could super-charge a more serious walking regimen.
I could feel different muscle groups being put to work when I had the shoes on, particularly in the lower butt and hamstrings. Plus, the curved soles were easy on the balls of my feet, which are constantly inflamed from years of running around in high heels.
On the negative side, the shoes affected my gait in a funny way; I felt as though I were bouncing with each step. Also, the clunky design of the sneaker makes them stick out like a sore thumb with any outfit—even athletic wear.
Reebok EasyTone The Reebok EasyTones were comfortable, and the rounded bottom made me feel as if I were walking slightly forward—almost like it was propelling me forward. Though I wouldn't wear the shoes to work out because of the center-of-gravity issue a friend told me she tried it and lost her balance , I did wear them on my daily two-mile walk.
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