The Bottom Line
MBT©, Masai Barefoot Technology shoes are designed to mimic the walking patterns of the Masai. The rocker bottom forces you to adopt correct upright posture and reduced forward lean, reducing strain on the lower back. The gait also uses the gluteal muscles more than regular shoes, toning and firming the buns. The rocker bottom forces you to roll through each step, reducing shocks to the foot.
Pros
- MBT©, Masai Barefoot Technology mimics walking barefoot
- Reduces loads on knees and joints
- Tones gluteal muscles
Cons
- Changes your gait, may need to get used to them.
- High price.
Description
- MBT©, Masai Barefoot Technology shoe design for sport walking.
- Relaxes your standing position, erects your vertebral column, relieves back, knee, pelvis, feet.
- Increases muscle activity in your buns for extra toning.
Guide Review - MBT Sport Walkers by Swiss Masai
MBT©, Masai Barefoot Technology shoes look a bit strange. The rocker bottom is the key to the design. A good walking shoe has a slight undercut to the heel, to assist walkers in rolling through each step from heel to toe. MBT shoes enforce that with a vengeance. The company sponsored gait research to see what effects this has on walking. The results of the Sheffield Hallam University study seem to support claims that the shoes may help reduce lower back strain, as they force you to abandon forward lean and adopt a correct upright walking posture. This also reduces strain on the knees and joints. Meanwhile, it increases the workout of the butt muscles - the gluteus maximus, and wearers report an increase in tone in their butt muscles. The rocker bottom of the shoe enforces a roll-through of each step, which reduces transient peaks in ground reaction forces - in other words, it smooths out the shocks of each step. However, the shoes are heavier than many normal shoes and there is more of an overall impact with each step due to the weight. For those who have been trying to correct their walking posture or eliminate lower back pain, these shoes may be worth a try.Study: Tim Vernon, et. al. "Changes in gait characteristics of a normal, healthy population due to an unstable shoe construction" The Centre for Sport and Exercise Science, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK. August, 2004.
