What are toning shoes?
Toning shoes are athletic shoes that have a "rocker bottom." Toning shoes are designed to create instability, making leg muscles work harder during normal, daily activities-even walking. By creating instability and awkward balance, toning shoes are designed to burn extra calories and to tone leg muscles.
Who manufactures toning shoes?
The largest manufacturer is Skechers U.S.A., Inc. ("Skechers"). Skechers is a California company. It markets and promotes toning shoes, including "Shape-ups." Some of the company's slogans include "Shape up While You Walk" and "Shape up While you Work."
Other companies-Reebok, AVIA, MBT, New Balance, Champion-also make toning shoes.
What is the benefit of toning shoes?
According to the manufacturers, toning shoes promote weight loss and toned leg muscles. Despite these claims, an independent study has concluded that no benefit exists. The study, a joint project between the American Council on Exercise and the University of Wisconsin noted that "across the board, none of the toning shoes showed statistically significant increases in either exercise response or muscle activation during any of the treadmill trials." The study then concluded that "there is simply no evidence to support the claims that these shoes will help wearers exercise more intensely, burn more calories or improve muscle strength and tone."
For more details, read the complete American Council of Exercise study.
What is the problem with toning shoes?
Toning shoes change the way people walk. By design, toning shoes seek to make the wearer feel as though she is walking on sand-a soft, uneven surface.
Unfortunately, walking on soft, uneven surfaces can lead to chronic and painful injuries-injuries that include tendon and ligament injuries, joint injuries, and stress fractures. And, instability and imbalance can lead to falls resulting in multiples fractures and other injuries.
Contact Us
Clark Perdue has extensive experience handling injuries caused by defective products. For a free consultation with a Columbus Ohio toning shoe injury lawyer, please call us toll free at 866-603-1668, or by e-mail. We promise to respond promptly.
