About MBT shoes
MBT shoes are physiological footwear - the first footwear that has a positive effect on the entire body. MBT stands for "Masai Barefoot Technology."MBT shoes and casual shoes are designed using a multi-layered, curved sole which makes for a unique and rewarding walking experience. Few shoes can keep your muscles engaged in a purposeful way, but this is what MBT has done.
The many benefits of MBT shoes are not only substantiated by numerous scientific studies; they are also being enjoyed on a daily basis by more and more health- and fitness-conscious people who improve their physical fitness by merely wearing this physiological footwear. MBT shoes can activate neglected muscles and tone and shape the entire body.
Doctors and physiotherapists recommend MBTs as an effective therapeutic tool, and top athletes like Benni Raich and Michael von Grünigen use their MBT shoes as mini training and regeneration centers. Shoes designed by MBT can have a positive impact in improving posture and gait, reducing stress on the knees and hips, and even help with joint, ligament and tendon injuries.
MBT Associated Studies
A 2009 University of Calgary study says MBT shoes distribute pressure throughout the feet while standard shoes channel most of the pressure to specific points. This study was conducted in part by one of the developers of the MBT shoe design, however. The study says the MBT shoe is designed to enhance stability, decrease pain for those who stand a lot and improve walking efficiency and shock absorption. Professional Skeptism
Professional Skeptism
Although there are many positive reviews of MBT shoes, some contributors at Podiatry Arena, an online forum for foot health professionals and students, question whether MBT shoes would cancel the benefits of prescribed orthopedic devices. The journal Clinical Biomechanics published a 2006 study that the MBT unstable shoe design is beneficial only during long periods of standing, but when compared with a stable control shoe, the study found the MBTs made no real difference in reducing joint impact in the knees and hips. Conclusion
Conclusion
Most sources say the MBTs are beneficial for people with abduction, eversion or dorsi-flexion dysfunction and for those who stand a lot, but consult your physician or foot specialist for a medical opinion specific to your feet.
