Are Toning Shoes a Worthy Possession?

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<h1>Are Toning Shoes a Worthy Possession?</h1><strong> Author: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/profile_Anna Baxter.aspx'>Anna Baxter</a></strong><br /><p>Walking is one of the best exercises for young and the old alike. It helps burn calories and keeps oneself fit. What if you could get all these benefits and more in a shorter duration? The different brands of Toning shoes available in the market today makes this exact same promise. Get that perfect curve. Shape your butts, abs, feet and legs by slipping on the toning shoes when you walk – need not necessarily be those morning walks; put them on while you move around the house. A very old saying goes thus: ‘No pain, No gain’. It is also common experience that good things do not come easy. Then why this hype over toning shoes? Do they after all, really work? Priced well above $100 are they really worth the money? Well, experts disagree. The basic idea of toning shoes can be traced back to the Rocker Sole shoes used for treatment of ankle problems and certain foot conditions. Manufacturers claim that the unstable and strongly curved soles of these toning shoes causes instability, which the body tries to balance by using different muscles in the feet, legs, butts and abs giving the wearer a well toned body. A study was conducted recently by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-La-Crosse involving 12 women in the age group of 19 to 24. These women were made to walk on treadmills while wearing Shape-Ups, MBT, Reebok’s Easy Tone, New Balance running shoes and Skechers. Another group of 12 women belonging to the same age group were made to walk on treadmills wearing ordinary shoes of various types. Astonishingly, this study, released by the American Council of Exercises (ACE) noted no significant difference in the muscle usage or calories burnt. With a large number of women and men trying to squeeze in their fitness regime in their already cluttered daily schedules, toning shoes are hard to resist irrespective of such study outcomes. Claims of muscle soreness are also common among the users of these toning shoes. But to go by what experts say, the soreness is of course caused by the wear tear that happens to the muscles when they tries to balance the body weight and posture on the unstable soles of the toning shoes. Our body will soon and easily adjust to this and the soreness will subside. This temporary soreness is not proof enough to make one believe the claims made by these toning shoe manufacturers. When research says otherwise, shoe makers have their different views. Some even goes to the extend of saying that ACE is helping the fitness trainers retain their customers. Obviously if staying fit was this easy without the need to diet or hard workouts, who would approach fitness trainers? But doctors, physicians and fitness experts are still skeptical about these products. Cary M.Golub, a podiatrist in Long Beach, N.Y is of the opinion that for an ordinary person who is not an athlete or seasoned walker, toning shoes can be more harm than good. Also, associate professor of internal medicine at Rush Medical College, Najia Shakoor, MD says that toning shoes – the very idea being derived from the Rocker Sole shoes – doesnot provide any of the benefits provided by Rocker Sole shoes. Shakoor is also of the opinion that the claims made by toning shoe providers with respect to improved posture could be true. The curved soles which are obviously hard to balance can cause the body to assume an erect posture in order to properly balance the weight of the body. Are you a proud owner of the latest pair of toning shoes? Then this might come as a little shock. Some of the major players in the toning shoe market have happily withdrawn a few of their lucrative claims. Reebok Easy tone, following an investigation by the U.S Federal Trading Commission, withdrew their claim that these ‘Easy Tone’ shoes give wearers 28% more stronger buttock muscles and 11% more stronger calf muscles in comparison to ordinary trainers. The FlipFlop’s claim of 30% improved bottom muscle activation and up to 16$ hamstring muscle activation were proved wrong. Though Skechers Shoes did show some good muscle toning results, the effect was visibly less than what the regular trainers gave. MBT is another popular toning shoe available which claims that the distinctive curved sole of these shoes causes increased muscle activation resulting in better posture and balance. Though test conducted proves some of these claims correct – they do give better toned buttocks and activate calf muscles when compared to normal trainers – normal trainers are much superior to these toning shoes when it comes to working the thigh muscles. All this said, yes walking still remains the easiest and very effective form of exercise that helps us to stay fit. But there is no magic wand. These are no magic shoes. Good things do not come easy. Happy walking!</p><strong>About the Author:</strong><br />Shoes Elite Online Stores is your one stop shop for a large collection of footwear and the best online deals. Womens, Mens, Kids - Shoes, Boots, Sandals, Slippers and more from over 150 of the best online stores. Discount Coupons, Free Shipping Coupons and other Discounts. Visit <a rel="nofollow" href=http://www.shoes-eliteonlinestores.com>http://www.shoes-eliteonlinestores.com</a><p> Article Source: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Are-Toning-Shoes-a-Worthy-Possession_219775.aspx'> http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Are Toning Shoes a Worthy Possession?_219775.aspx</a></p>

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