Tone your legs! Strengthen your core! Improve your posture! These are some of the claims made by athletic shoe companies now producing toning shoes. Some of these claims might be right on the money, but before you put down the big bucks for the newest fad in shoes, you may want to have more information. There are actually five different types of shoes that may employ some instability or a rocking motion:

Toning Shoes may look odd but utilize various designs to force the core muscles in your body to work harder to obtain balance.

                The original rocker bottom shoes were designed by a Swiss engineer and were called MBT, for Masai Barefoot Technology. The shoes were designed to mimic the rolling motion from heel to toe that the Masai people typically have in their barefoot gait. Once MBT’s caught on, other shoe companies followed with their own toning footwear. In fact, toning shoes are the fastest-growing shoe category since the 1970s.  Rocker bottom and toning shoes can change your walking or standing posture. They can change how you walk, and the muscles of the body adjust and compensate. Because you will be using new muscles, your podiatrist might recommend that you wear these shoes for shorter walks or on alternating days for cross training. In some patients, rocker bottom shoes can cause injuries such as Achilles tendinitis or ankle sprains. But in others, the slight adjustment in gait can help tone and strengthen muscles. However, it is important to remember that anyone who already has an unstable gait should be very cautious about using these types of shoes.  Most doctors agree that if these shoes can get people motivated to walk, thereby improving their health and fitness, they are worth the money. However, make sure to check with your podiatrist, who can recommend the best shoe for you for any activity. Also, be sure to start wearing them in gradually, and stop immediately if any pain or discomfort develops.  A number of toning shoes, sandals and boots have been granted the American Podiatric Medical Association’s Seal of Acceptance. A  complete list of the footwear with the APMA Seal can be found on the APMA website (www.apma.org).