5/31/2010

Every few years a shoe company comes out with a shoe that allegedly tones and strengthens your glutes and thighs while you simply walk in them. How does this work? Supposedly, by increasing the height at a specific point in the shoe. Myself, and other body professionals (chiropractors, personal trainers, PT's and kineosologists) all agree: they do more harm than good. The theory behind the shoes is that they mock a certain yoga position that is used to tone and strengthen the legs and hips. The problem is that our bodies were not meant to function and locomote for a period of time in this position. Every single person that walks thru my door that has purchased these shoes have complained of hip and low back pain that is effecting their quality of life. Not to mention a nice dent in their wallet with no results. Our bodies are a very precisely engineered machine. If you adjust the foundation it will not function properly. My advice? If you want to work on your hips and legs stick with what really works: squats, lunges, weights, walking, running, etc. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as the easy way out in exercising.