What Are Toning Shoes, and Do They Work?
Toning shoes are just one example of a fitness trend that has taken off in the last few years. In 2010, The Sports Business Journal reported that the toning shoe industry was projected to become a $1.5 billion segment of the athletic footwear market that year. The burning question, however, is whether they have proven to be effective at what their manufacturers claim they can achieve.
Toning shoes are available in a variety of styles, but most of them are designed in such a way that the wearer must shift his or her weight to achieve balance on an unstable sole. Many of the shoes have curved “rocker bottom” soles, preventing the feet from lying flat. Some are worn only when exercising, while others can be worn throughout the day. The most common style is an athletic shoe, yet there are also more casual versions such as sandals and flip-flops.
The short answer to the question of whether toning shoes work is yes. They do seem to succeed at accomplishing certain objectives, but wearing them does not necessarily confirm all of the health claims that have been made by their manufacturers. The shoes are also a relatively expensive investment. Why, then, are they so attractive to consumers?
Claims Made by Toning Shoe Manufacturers
The three most common claims in the toning shoe industry are that the shoes will increase exercise intensity, they will help burn more calories, and they will improve muscle tone. While there are subtle design differences between the leading brands, their advertisements make the same general guarantees across the board.
The pioneer in toning shoes, the Masai Barefoot Technology (MBT) shoe, was created in 1996 by Swiss engineer Karl Muller, who dubbed his creation the “anti-shoe.” Available in the United States beginning in 2003, the design of these shoes was based on Muller’s theory that walking barefoot is most beneficial, which he based on his study of the Masai tribe in Africa.
Another popular brand is Skechers Shape-Ups, which claim to tone and strengthen muscles, improve circulation, and reduce body fat. Likewise, Reebok EasyTone shoes also emphasize instability, which activates different muscles and causes them to work harder in order to maintain balance.
There are also toning shoes made by Earth Shoes and several other traditionally nonathletic brands. Sano fitness walking shoes are another example. In addition to the standard arguments in favor of toning shoes, these manufacturers also claim that their shoes relieve stress on joints and improve posture. Their “negative heel technology” means that the toes are positioned higher than the heel to tone muscles and reduce pressure on the spine.
Findings of Recent Research Studies
Scientific studies of toning shoes have produced mixed results in recent years. In numerous cases, the test groups were so small that the validity of the results has been questioned.
In 2010, the American Council on Exercise (ACE) published the results of a study carried out by exercise scientists at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. Researchers compared results from wearing toning shoes versus regular athletic or running shoes, testing muscle usage and exercise response. According to the summarized findings, there were no noticeable differences between the two types of shoes when it came to factors such as muscle usage and the number of calories burned.
Reebok, New Balance, and nearly every other manufacturer of toning shoes have cited their own studies, touting the effectiveness of their products. The most common criticism of such research, though, is that the companies who sponsor the studies can manipulate the statistics to say whatever they want. Opponents of the ACE study have argued that it used a small group of participants, and it was not published in a peer-reviewed journal. Furthermore, critics of the ACE study findings have accused its members, many of whom are fitness trainers, of engaging in a “turf war” with the toning shoe industry, out of fear that people who buy toning shoes will see their trainers and gym memberships as unnecessary.
Views from the Medical Field
Physicians have found that wearing toning shoes might be effective for improving posture, but not necessarily for losing weight or increasing muscle tone. Initially, the leg muscles might have to work differently, but they would soon adjust and the long-term toning benefits would be minimal. The shoes might also improve balance for some, but additional studies are necessary before such claims can be confirmed. A number of people have argued that the shoes alleviate their heel pain, yet some experts warn that people with Achilles tendon issues should avoid wearing toning shoes.
The fitness claims that have been made about toning shoes have been, for the most part, unfounded, and there have even been some reports of injuries. The bright side is that most medical experts agree that at least some people are out walking in their new toning shoes, whereas they might not have been physically active before.
People who want to put toning shoes to the test should follow the instructions for wear and be realistic about the potential results. Physicians warn that certain individuals, such as those with arthritis, should not wear them at all. Instead, they suggest shoes built with a flat bottom that are more flexible and put less pressure on the joints. In general, podiatrists recommend traditional walking or running shoes instead of toning shoes. In many cases, the people who have successfully lost weight or gotten in shape while wearing toning shoes usually have done so in conjunction with better eating habits and working out more frequently.
Sources:
Porcari, J., Greany, J., Tepper, S., Edmonson, B., Foster, C., & M. Sandve with M. Anders. “Will Toning Shoes Really Give You a Better Body?” ACE Certified News, August 2010. <acefitness.org/certifiednewsarticle/720/>
Park, M. “Shoes’ Toning Claims Draw Experts’ Doubts.” CNN Health, August 14, 2009. <cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/08/12/shoes.fitness/index.html>
Brooks, A. “Research Calls Into Question ‘Toning Shoe’ Benefits.” NPR: All Things Considered, August 6, 2010. <npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129027089>
Muscle Toning Shoes. <toningshoes.com/>
Mann, D. “The Truth About Toning Shoes.” WebMD Health & Fitness, September 14, 2010. <webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/truth-about-toning-shoes>
Toning Shoe Studies. <toningshoestudies.com/>
Unknown Author. “Toning craze helping shape up shoe market.” Sports Business Journal, June 21, 2010. <sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2010/06/20100621/This-Weeks-News/Toning-Craze-Helping-Shape-Up-Shoe-Market.aspx>
No, these shoes don’t work. In fact, it makes no sense that a “shoe” can create toning. Many of these so-called shoes even claim toning for the glutes! Nothing can be further from the truth!
Another fad, another lie, another “stretch.”
I have a pair of sketchers shape-ups and I love them. I don’t know if they provide any ‘toning’ benefit but they are the comfiest shoes I have ever had. I have bunions and flat feet so comfortable shoes are important. They also add a couple inches to my height.
I wear them at my Job as a nurse. My long history of lower back pain is gone. its like walking on cushions instead of a hard floor with impact with every step I did not buy this shoe with the intent to tone but for my posture as well as my back. Most of all, my feet and calves no longer hurt after a 12 hour shifts. I will not go back to any other shoe for work!!
Discovering MBTs changed my life. I wear them all the time cuz they’re the only shoes that don’t make my knees hurt. They have definitely tightened up my backside – calves, hamstrings and upper abs (which I was totally not expecting). I have to be careful to stretch the backs of my legs a lot or they get too tight.
I tried a couple of the other brands, but they just don’t have the effect of the MBTs.
I have a pair of Skeechers, just like the photo. I have been wearing them for a year. About a month ago my left heel and ankle really started to ache. I continued to wear them about three days a week, however, my heel and ankle proceded to get worse. I discontinued using them and my heel and ankle are starting to feel back to normal. I believe it is the rolling back does not provide the heel and the ankle enough support. I loved the comfort of these shoes, just going to have to stay away from them for awhile. Did they tone my legs and hiney? I don’t think so. Hard exercise and eating right is what gets you in shape, not toning shoes. Wishful thinking.
I know why they are so popular–people think they are going to be a ‘magic pill’! ‘If I simply wear these I’ll look as great as the models and/or celebrities in the commercial!’ We know to get in shape and stay in shape takes a lifelong commitment and plenty of work not just a shoe. I tried MBTs because I thought it might be more comfortable for my bunion (and they are) and simply because they are so much fun when I put them on. I never even considered them for exercise or for shaping. I use them for the occasional walk on the road.