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| posted Feb 25, 2008 6:52:23 AM | To All |
Anyone heard of mbt shoes
They are suppose to help with back pain and posture. A walking shoe that was developed with a new technology. Just wondering if it is worth the price tag. Thanks |
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| posted Mar 10, 2008 4:01:32 PM | To All |
Love MBT's. Worth the price. I am a craniosacral and aquacranial therapist, taught yoga for years, would not wear any other shoes. Also do massage wearing MBT's. Cured my plantar faschitis. Great walking shoes. Not so great on slippery, wet or muddy surfaces.
Noticable improvement in thigh, low back and butt muscles, improves posture. Have clients in thier 70's wearing them for walking to improve posture. Sandels good. One and a half inch great. My husband wears them too. www.aquacranial.com |
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| posted Mar 14, 2008 7:50:01 AM | To All |
Ditto with the above! 
I have several pairs, and wore them throughout my second pregnancy.
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| posted Apr 12, 2008 11:20:46 PM | To All |
I've been an enthusiast for several years.
I first got a pair of the MBT sandals in the summer about 5 years ago. When winter came and we started getting snow depths in Boulder greater than about 4 inches, I realized it was time to go back to my normal shoes. After about 2 days of this my feet let me know: "We are not happy! If you continue to leave those rockered sandals at home, we will escalate our protests." Since my feet had rarely talked with me until that point in my life, I paid attention and got a pair of closed shoes rapidly.
I'm also a fan of the Chung Shi shoes ( chungshiusa.com ). They are a somewhat different design -- there is no soft springy area under the heel -- but they actually work in a very similar fashion.
I strongly recommend locating an MBT walking class to learn to use these shoes most effectively. Ellie Hermann ( ellie.net ) does classes in NYC, SF, and a few other cities. Otherwise, ask around. If you're taking Pilates classes, check with your instructor. Or maybe ask on craigslist.
This may sound like a funny recommendation, but these shoes will challenge your body in a way that shoes never have before; getting some expert instruction is decidedly worth the trouble.
I'm starting a podcast soon. In prep for that, I'm getting a bunch of interviews in the can. I interviewed an MBT trainer at the IHRSA in March; that was a very interesting segment. I'll make a posting here when I have that episode of my podcast available.
BTW: MBT's world-wide website is swissmasai.com . You posted the URL for a particular vendor in the US.
--phil
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| posted Apr 24, 2008 9:43:27 PM | To All |
On Apr 23, 2008 7:05:07 AM Cherre wrote: How do MBT shoes and Earth shoes compare? I thought the negative heel technology of Earth shoes was good for posture, etc. and they sure are comfortable.
Nice blog, Michelle.
I have never used the Earth Shoes, so I had to do a bit of research.
The Earth Shoes have a negative pitch; they encourage a longer SBL (Superficial Back Line) than we normally hold. I would guess that they also counterbalance our tendency to round our upper back.
With the MBTs (and the Chung Shis), you will have a similar configuration at the instant when your heel strikes the ground. At that point, the soft foam of the MBT's heel counter will instantly start you rolling towards your mid-sole and your toes. The Chung Shis have no padding in the heel, but the bottom of the heel is offset higher than the rest of the shoe. Again, you will roll from the heel to mid-sole and to your toes. I listed the two websites in my first posting; look there for some pictures.
They're both destabilizing shoes; they require the engagement of your Deep Front Line in order to move gracefully. The manufacturers strongly recommend that you phase in the use of these shoes, and I agree with them.
At the MBT booth at IHRSA, they had a special treadmill from Europe that shows the forces on the treadmill surface when walking. Forces are far more uniform with the MBTs than with any flat-sole shoes. That makes sense; it is a smooth, continuous transition from the heel to the toe. Flat-soled shoes recorded distinct impacts on the heel and toe on the machine. You would also get that same smooth transition if you were walking barefoot on soft soil or on sand.
I'm using terminology from Thomas Myers's book "Anatomy Trains." The Deep Front Line runs from the arch of the foot to near the pituitary gland in the brain. It's what people are functionally talking about when they refer to "core strength." I'm fairly flat-footed; my experience is that these shoes have helped develop the arch in my feet over time.
I'd recommend trying the shoes at a store. I've had very good experience with Foot Solutions stores locally; they train their salesmen well.
Edited by: FloatingBones on Apr 25, 2008 1:22:24 AM |
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| posted May 11, 2008 2:54:35 PM | To All |
Would MBT shoes help alleviate over pronation and fallen arches? Also, any recommendations for strengthening the arches of the foot? I have very high arches but the muscles are weak.
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| posted Jul 4, 2008 6:48:27 PM | To All |
On May 11, 2008 2:54:35 PM Libby wrote: Would MBT shoes help alleviate over pronation and fallen arches? Also, any recommendations for strengthening the arches of the foot? I have very high arches but the muscles are weak.
It's very perceptive/intelligent to notice the weakness in your arches even if they are high arches.
I like the MBTs because you wind up using your feet in all sorts of orientations that you don't with flat-soled shoes. Besides the fore-aft rolling of the foot, you can create some side-to-side rolling as well. I also like that you can incorporate a slight rising-falling motion -- cued to your breathing -- when you're "standing still."
If you look at the book "Anatomy Trains," you'll see that the Deep Front Line starts at the arches of the feet, continues to the center of the body, right in front of the spine, and ends near your pituatary gland in your head. It is that entire chain of tension that lifts your arches and gives you a graceful and flowing walking gait.
I'm a big fan of the Airex Balance Pad (you can Google on that term) to have in your office. When on a phone call, it's great to stand in your bare of stocking feet to engage your core strength. This pad is very springy and will give you feedback when you are in or out of balance. It feels somewhat like wet sand when walking at the beach.
If you can arrange to do some of your work standing, all the better.
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| posted Jul 9, 2008 2:21:25 PM | To All |
I used this shoes for the last two years I've had 3 pairs . I don't think that they are worth the money. I walk alot I replace my shoes every 4-6 months. The price makes it hard to do that plus I didn't see or feel a difference.
Hope that helps
P |
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