Toning shoes and boots will be the versions that have a curved high heel. The shoe's rocker sole produces an instability that engages muscle groups—especially in your feet, thighs, butt, and abs—which, in some cases, can lead to weight loss with Supra Pilot Hightop shoes being a cheaper option.
Furthermore, these shoes and boots can also alter your natural posture and gait, relieving stress from your achy, overused joints as seen in Men Supra Vaider Shoes for sale.
Ultimately, wouldn't you like to emulate Skechers Shape-ups' spokesperson Kim "Get healthy without putting feet in the gym" Kardashian?
However, are these magic toning shoes and boots—made by Masai Barefoot Technology (MBT), Reebok, various companies, and Skechers—a real deal or just hype?
An injury case has been reported by Holly Ward, an Ohio waitress, who claims that wearing Shape-Ups caused severe injuries to her body, leading to physical rehabilitation and moving around with a cane.
Moreover, toning shoes and boots—initially marketed exclusively to women—are now designed for men and younger women.
Cartoon ads, alerting pre-teen girls to the benefits of toning their bottoms and thighs, are shown on kid-friendly networks like Nickolodeon and the Cartoon Network.
However, according to Scheels Athletic Shoe sales associate Rachel Jacobson, the curvy-heeled athletic shoe is still mainly favored by middle-aged women.
"People who love them, love them a lot," she said while modeling a pair. "And those who don't, would never be caught dead in them."
Jacobson herself falls into the latter category.
"When you wear them, it feels like you're walking in mud," she described.
This is the sensation wearers want from their toning shoes, explained Sioux City podiatrist Paul Coffin.
"It's that imbalance," he explained, "similar to walking on a wobble board or on a sandy beach, which requires someone to readjust using different muscle groups."
However, Coffin quickly points out that manufacturers' claims of a quick and effortless exercise fix are "wildly overstated."
Citing studies conducted on the effectiveness of toning shoes, he explained they "do not help you train more intensely, burn more calories, or increase your overall muscle strength and tone."
In fact, rocker-bottomed shoes can cause debilitating issues such as plantar fasciitis (the connective tissue at the bottom of your heel bone), peroneal tendonitis (which can affect your ankle), and Achilles tendonitis (which impacts your calf muscles).
"This is not a new concept," Coffin observed. "I remember when fluffy Earth shoes were the rage. Thirty percent of its wearers ended up with Achilles tendonitis due to the shoe."
While acknowledging that these shoes do engage several muscle groups, he explained that the benefits are not long-lasting because the muscles quickly adapt to the changes.
In the end, Coffin said one-third of people will find themselves liking toning shoes, one-third will find themselves getting injured, and one-third will decide not to wear them.
That is also Jacobson's impression.
"These shoes are not for everyone," she said while removing the Skechers from her feet. "Personally, I prefer running shoes and hiking boots."