Reduce Backache And Get A Free Workout – Just By Choosing The Right Shoes

When he was walking through a rice field in Korea barefoot, Karl Muller – a Swiss engineer – found that his back pain (which had been a recurring problem for him) was very much better. Intrigued, he did a little research and discovered that Africa’s Masai tribesmen do not suffer from backache. They are also known for their good posture.

Muller concluded that walking barefoot on soft, yielding ground was significantly better for your back and joints than walking on hard surfaces. He decided to try to come up with a shoe which would mimic the effects of walking in this manner on a soft surface such as sand or grass.

What he came up with was the Masai Barefoot Technology (MBT) shoe. According to the company website, this is so different to normal shoes that it can accurately be called the “anti-shoe”.

MBT shoes have no heel – they incorporate a specially designed curved sole. When your foot makes contact with the ground, a gentle rolling actions is the result. It’s like walking on sand in fact. The sole is constructed using materials of differing densities which further aids in reducing jarring and shocks.

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 example, whilst walking in MBT shoes, the wearer’s muscles will be activated for longer (when compared to similar walking in traditional footwear). The muscles are used for about 16% longer. Wearers also tend to “walk properly” and take slightly shorter strides. Both of these effects mean that extra work is done.

The significance of this is that every step you take wearing your MBT shoes is giving you a little more exercise. It’s a lower body workout, without visiting the gym. MBT shoes can help you to tone and trim your legs and buttocks as well as reducing back pain and encouraging better posture.

You would imagine that would be sufficient wouldn’t you? However, despite all of these benefits some people find MBT shoes a little chunky and not very pleasing to the eye. MBTs are also a little more expensive than conventional shoes (but the benefits may make them great value for money). Fortunately there are now other, more cosmetically appealing, offerings available which utilise the same basic theory. 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.

Regardless of what footwear you choose, the potential to reduce back and joint pain whilst simultaneously toning and trimming your lower body – and without requiring a visit to the gym – seems very attractive.

Find out more about Skechers Shape Ups and MBT Shoes