Learn to walk again (M.B.T Trainers / Shoes)

Member Name: Tracy_1127

Product:	M.B.T Trainers / Shoes
Date:	08/08/08 (524 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: can be good for muscles, convenient way to exercise

Disadvantages: expensive, can be bad for imbalances,

Shoes to help you walk correctly and improve core strength and posture. These shoes are available in trainers or sandals, the sandals aren't very attractive though. Ranging from £70 to about £170 they don't come cheap either!

Most places online do not actually sell them online as they prefer you to go for a fitting, learn the correct way to walk and get used to them a bit in the shop. They must fit snugly so some people need a size smaller than they normally wear, if your feet are sliding about in them you will not be walking correctly, you'll be bunching your toes up to grip the shoes.

Walking in these shoes requires a proper roll over the foot, no swinging from the hip and pronating like so many of us do which does not use the glute max. In the modern world so many people have underused glute max muscles which lead to back problems due to a lack of support of the pelvis by the glutes and tight back muscles, hamstrings and hip flexors. So these trainers should address the problem, as long as you walk correctly.

Walking in them is odd to start with, you feel strange rolling over the foot in what seems like an exaggerated gait. But they are comfortable, you feel like your feet are cushioned and it's the "new trainer walking on air" sensation.

Initially you wear them for a few bursts throughout the day and build up to all day. They are essentially exercise equipment built into a shoe so the longer you wear them the more exercise you are doing (as long as you're walking and not just sitting down showing them off!).

After wearing mine I had some stiffness in my legs. This concerned me as I'm already hamstring dominant (hamstrings contract to extend the hip before the glute max which is wrong) so the last thing I needed was more hamstring strength. I had a bit more glute activity but the post-exercise feeling in the muscles pointed towards more hamstring work.

I searched online and although I can't remember the exact figures (or find it again in amongst all the rubbish that comes up) the percentage of increased muscular activity was highest for the hamstrings. That's not ideal unless you have weak hamstrings.

So if you're aiming to target the glutes with these and you have overactive hamstrings (very common) these are probably not a good idea. Increasing the imbalance will just worsen the situation. If you don't have much strength/activity difference between the glutes and hamstrings you'd be fine with these but make sure you check this out before spending that amount of money on a pair of MBTs. In the shop where they allegedly teach you how to wear and walk in these they will not be looking for that kind of detail.

Overall, these can be helpful and are comfortable but know your muscles before you commit.

Summary: Check your muscles before you buy them