Whilst walking barefoot through a rice field in Korea, Swiss engineer Karl Muller noticed that his back pain, which he suffered with, was quite a bit better. He did some further research and found that the Masai tribesmen of Africa did not experience bad backs. They are also famous for their good posture.
Considering the evidence, Muller deduced that walking on soft ground in bare feet was better for your back and joints than walking on hard surfaces. He decided to design a shoe which would attempt to produce the effect of this type of gait on a soft surface such as grass or sand.
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 feature a specially designed curved sole which has no heel. This produces a gentle rolling action when your foot makes contact with the ground. In fact, it's just like walking on grass. Different densities of material are used in different areas of the sole which helps further by minimizing jarring and impact shock.
Independent scientific testing has confirmed that this design is genuinely better for both joints and back - and there are further proven benefits. For example, walking in MBT shoes means that the wearer's muscles are used for longer (in comparison with walking in normal footwear). There is about a 16% increase in the duration of muscle activity. There is also a tendency to "walk correctly" and take marginally shorter strides. These effects mean that extra work is performed.
What this means is that each and every step you take when wearing MBT shoes provides you with extra exercise. It's like a lower body workout - but without the need to visit the gym. As well as reducing backache and improving posture, MBT shoes can also help you to tone your legs and reduce the size of your buttocks.
You would think that those benefits would be all the motivation required. However, some people do find MBTS a bit chunky and, dare I say it, a little ugly (beauty is in the eye of the beholder). However, there are now other, more cosmetically appealing, alternatives to choose from if you wish. Skechers Shape Ups and Fitflops both incorporate similar curved soles which will tone and trim your lower body whilst engaged in normal walking activities.
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.
Considering the evidence, Muller deduced that walking on soft ground in bare feet was better for your back and joints than walking on hard surfaces. He decided to design a shoe which would attempt to produce the effect of this type of gait on a soft surface such as grass or sand.
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 feature a specially designed curved sole which has no heel. This produces a gentle rolling action when your foot makes contact with the ground. In fact, it's just like walking on grass. Different densities of material are used in different areas of the sole which helps further by minimizing jarring and impact shock.
Independent scientific testing has confirmed that this design is genuinely better for both joints and back - and there are further proven benefits. For example, walking in MBT shoes means that the wearer's muscles are used for longer (in comparison with walking in normal footwear). There is about a 16% increase in the duration of muscle activity. There is also a tendency to "walk correctly" and take marginally shorter strides. These effects mean that extra work is performed.
What this means is that each and every step you take when wearing MBT shoes provides you with extra exercise. It's like a lower body workout - but without the need to visit the gym. As well as reducing backache and improving posture, MBT shoes can also help you to tone your legs and reduce the size of your buttocks.
You would think that those benefits would be all the motivation required. However, some people do find MBTS a bit chunky and, dare I say it, a little ugly (beauty is in the eye of the beholder). However, there are now other, more cosmetically appealing, alternatives to choose from if you wish. Skechers Shape Ups and Fitflops both incorporate similar curved soles which will tone and trim your lower body whilst engaged in normal walking activities.
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.
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