Reduce Back Pain And Get A Work Out – Just Change Your Shoes




Swiss engineer, Karl Muller, was walking barefoot through a Korean rice field when he noticed that his back pain – something he suffered with – was quite a bit better. Intrigued, he carried out a little research and discovered that Africa’s Masai tribesmen are well known for their good posture and do not suffer from back pain.

Muller deduced that walking barefoot on a yielding surface was much better for both your back and joints than walking on a firm surface. He resolved to develop footwear that would replicate the effect of walking on a soft surface such as sand or grass.

What he finally came up with was the Masai Barefoot Technology (MBT) range of footwear. It is, according to the company website, so different to standard footwear that it deserves the title of “anti-shoe”.

MBT shoes incorporate a specially developed curved sole without a heel, which produces a rolling action when your foot makes contact with the ground. It’s just like walking on sand in your bare feet in fact. The use of materials of different densities also contributes to the effect by further lowering jarring and impact shock.

Independent scientific studies have verified that this is genuinely better for your back and joints. There are further proven benefits in addition to better posture. For instance, whilst engaged in normal walking in MBT shoes, the wearer’s muscles will be in use for longer (in comparison with similar walking in traditional shoes). The muscles are in use for approximately 16% longer. Wearers also tend to take slightly shorter strides. Both these effects raise the amount of work done.

The result of this is that each step you take wearing MBT shoes will provide you with additional exercise. It’s like a lower body workout when you walk around. So, as well as improving posture and lowering back pain, MBT shoes can help to firm up your buttocks and tone your legs.

You would imagine that would be sufficient wouldn’t you? Despite all these benefits some people find MBT shoes a little chunky and not very aesthetically pleasing. MBTs are a little more expensive than conventional shoes (but the benefits may make them great value for money). Fortunately there are now alternative offerings available which utilise the same basic design and are more cosmetically attractive. Both Skechers Shape Ups and Fitflops have similar curved soles which are specially engineered to increase the muscle activity duration and tone your legs and buttocks whilst engaged in normal, everyday walking activity.

Whichever brand of footwear you go for, the opportunity to reduce back pain and trim your lower body at the same time – all whilst doing nothing more energetic than walking normally – seems to be very attractive.

Check out MBT shoes or have a look at the Fitflops range.

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2009 December 9      by Fiona Saunders
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