Toning Shoes: What is Behind This Trend
Toning shoes have quickly become one of the fastest selling trends in footwear. They come with a lot of lofty promises too. A handful of the shoe manufacturers producing these toning shoes have done studies claiming that wearing these shoes regularly will help tone or shape up the thighs and buttocks. The idea is that walking on a shoe with a slightly unbalanced heel will cause different muscles to come into play for stability. The question is: Do they really work?
While this will cause certain muscles to be used differently thus strengthening those specific muscles, it seems unlikely that these changes will actually cause a visibly noticeable difference in shape. However, reports that have been coming in more and more as toning shoes gain popularity seem to imply that there may be some other benefits.
Many people have reported a decrease in joint pain, specifically in the ankle, hips, and knees. People that had previously experienced daily pain now have little or even know pain in those areas! There have also been reports from people who saw a similar decrease in muscle or tendon pain from previous injuries. Some people also say that it their posture improved as they began to use different muscles for stability.
There is one other aspect to the benefits of toning shoes that I think is worth mentioning. The psychological aspects of these shoes are without a doubt causing an impact on many people’s lives. They believe it is going to make them walk “better” and it ends up causing them to walk “more.” They believe it is going to improve their posture, so they pay more attention to their posture in an attempt to keep tabs on any improvement – but those constant checkups and increased awareness are probably contributing at least somewhat to any improvement. This goes for the pain too; I would not be surprised if there is some sort of placebo effect in place. People buy the shoes hoping it will help decrease their constant pain – and it does do to the power of the human mind. I am certainly not saying it is “all in your head” but I do think some of it is.
Basically what I am trying to say is that there are a few things that need to be looked at when determining whether or not the toning shoes work. You can look at it on a strictly physiological level as many so called “experts” are and state that those small muscles being used for extra stability are not going to make any real difference in giving you a nicer butt. OR you can look at the other possible benefits as well as the psychological effects of the shoes that may very well make your purchase worthwhile.
Perhaps they believe it is going to help them become more fit, toned, and to shape up and that belief instills in them a desire to exercise more to give it even more of a boost. In which case, the extra toning may be attributed to the increase in exercise. but I believe the shoes have still done their job. If a new pair of shoes is all you need to motivate you to go to the gym regularly or to start taking an evening walk, then I would say it is worth the investment!
Is wearing a pair of toning shoes while you sit in your cubicle from nine to five going to do much for you? Probably not. But there are definitely benefits to be gained from these shoes.
In the end, the best way to find out is to try a pair of toning shoes for yourself!
Find out more about the toning shoes that work and learn about John Warren.
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