Shoes That Offer Comfort AND a Great Behind?

Wear a pair of shoes and give your derriere an instant lift? If it sounds too good to be true, a new line of women’s athletic footwear is promising that and more. But whether these shoes live up to their marketing promises is still to be seen.

Store owner of Foot Solutions in Shelby and board certified pedorthist (C.Ped), Elaine Pearson says that the concept behind shoes like the Reebok Easytone, Skechers Shape-Ups, MBT and Chung Shi, is actually not that new. In fact, the idea of a rocker shoe, the original albeit non glamorous term for which shoes like the Easytone and Shape-Ups are named after, was developed in Europe about seven years ago to promote foot health.

“Rocker shoes are not new. The main intention for the rocker shoe was initially for medical reasons. People with back pain, those who stand all day at work, individuals who suffer for plantar fasciitis or those who are prone to poor circulation were the primary customers for whom the rocker shoe was created,” says Pearson.

The Science

Rocker shoes, are heavily-cushioned shoes with a curved sole that forces the wearer to work harder to maintain their balance and posture while the shoe takes pressure off the forefoot. The result is less force placed on the hip and knee joints as well as on lumbar spine.

While in the past rocker shoes were sold as therapeutic orthotics for those with podiatric conditions like arthritis of the feet, today as the design and comfort of the shoe improves, its popularity has also increased.

The Benefits

As the shoes activate the deep muscles in the legs causing them to work harder, leg muscles strengthen and tone. Wear these shoes for a few hours every day or during your entire workday, and you just might feel and see a difference in not just your derriere but your quadriceps and calves as well.

In addition, the shoes can increase circulation and may reduce edema and the presence of varicose veins. Pearson often observes this in some of her customers who rely on the rocker shoes for their everyday wear.

Not only are the shoes comfortable – some wearers attest that they will never wear another flat or high-heeled shoe again – but rocker shoes almost instantly improve posture.

“The shoes give your body the experience of walking in a natural environment. This then takes pressure off your joints and your back and immediately helps you stand straighter,” says Pearson.

In addition, conditions like neck pain and TMJ, which is related to posture, may improve after wearing rocker shoes,” she says.

Cautions

But not every shoe is good for every foot. Pearson encourages any curious wearer to test them out for at least one hour before purchasing them. Since the shoes are inherently unstable, anyone who has problems maintaining  balance should avoid them. Additionally, someone who lifts heavy objects all day long should probably look elsewhere for a more appropriate shoe.

Yet despite these drawbacks, the rocker shoes can be worn all day long, especially if you have a job in which you are on your feet, rocker shoes can have numerous benefits. When it comes to exercising, walking on the treadmill is a safe activity to wear your new Easytones but running, jogging or engaging in any side-to-side movement like side lunges should be avoided, cautions Pearson, even if the manufacturer says it’s OK.

People with tendency to over-pronate should also avoid rockers shoes as the shoes’ instability can aggravate the condition.

It may be a bit presumptuous to invest in a pair of designer rocker shoes for the sole purpose (no pun intended) of improving your behind. Since these shoes are meant to be therapeutic medical devices, Pearson like other pedorthists is concerned that the money being used to market these shoes for strictly cosmetic benefits increases the risk that they will be placed on the wrong feet. Just as you would not get fitted for a pair of prescription eye glasses by a worker from the Sunglass Hut, similarly, rocker shoes should not be purchased by just any shoes sales person.

Ultimately, the choice comes down to your own personal preference, comfort, health and fashion sense. Just make sure to get fitted for any rocker shoe by a trained pedorthist but whether or not you can stop doing those squats and lunges still remains to be seen.