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We’ve all seen the ads for toning shoes that claim to tone your legs as you walk. These types of shoes are typically a little heavier than regular running shoes and have special shaped soles that provide instability as you walk. The idea is that the instability will strengthen your muscles as you walk. Manufacturers like Reebok and Skechers now offer toning shoes, some to the tune of $100 or even $200 a pair. But do toning shoes really offer an advantage to normal running shoes?
There American Council of Exercise (ACE) is a nonprofit group that recently concluded that there is no evidence to support claims that toning shoes are more effective that regular running shoes for toning muscles or burning calories. Some feel that increasing the distance you walk, no matter what type of shoes you are wearing, will help tone your legs and burn calories.
It could also be argued that wearing these types of shoes could potentially aggravate certain existing muscle/posture problems. The science of body mechanics is a somewhat complicated discipline and it is possible that a “one-size-fits-all” approach to shoes may not always be best.
However, if you’re generally healthy and buying a new pair of trendy Skechers gets you walking, there’s certainly no harm in that. Sometimes all we need is a little inspiration to get us off the couch whether it’s a new workout outfit or a stylish new pair of shoes. Increasing physical activity appears to be the bottom line.
Author: Christi Larson, Pharm. D.
Dr. Larson is a pharmacist, author of Empowered Medicine; A Guide for Consumers and creator of Empowered Medicine. You can read more about her by visiting www.EmpoweredMedicine.com and clicking on the 'About Us' tab. EmpoweredMedicine.com is committed to providing evidence-based medical information from a pharmacist's point of view.
References:
(www.npr.org, August 6, 2010)
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