The American Council on Exercise (ACE), a non-profit organization that certifies fitness professionals, recently released a study on toning shoes that showed no evidence that the shoes help wearers exercise more intensely, burn more calories or improve muscle strength and tone.
Researchers from the Exercise and Health Program at the University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse designed a pair of studies to evaluate the exercise responses and muscle activation that take place while walking with toning shoes versus traditional athletic shoes. Twenty-four physically active female volunteers, ages 19 to 27, completed a dozen five-minute exercise trials of walking on a treadmill while wearing each type of shoe, including Skechers Shape-Ups, MBT and Reebok's EasyTone, along with traditional New Balance running shoes. The study found that the tested toning shoes showed no statistically significant increases in either exercise response or muscle activation during the treadmill trials, when compared to the normal athletic shoes tested.
ACE's Chief Science Officer Cedric X. Bryant, Ph.D. said toning shoes can have a positive effect if they motivate sedentary people to become more active. But Bryant added that “it is important to note that, based on the results of this study, it appears that consumers can more economically achieve the same results wearing normal running shoes.”
The study sparked a story in The Boston Globe that also talked about injuries coming from wearing toning shoes. One podiatrist told the newspaper that patients who have worn toning shoes for several months, particularly the style with rounded soles, have complained of pain and tightness in the heel, calf, and Achilles tendon. The article also implied that some injuries are being caused by misuse. Skechers recommends limiting use to 25 to 45 minutes per day for beginners and also offers specific advice on how best to use them.
Speaking to The Boston Globe, Leonard Armato, president of Skechers Fitness Group, said Skechers’ own studies refuted ACE's study results. Skechers conducted a six-week test that showed Shape Ups users lost an average of 3.25 pounds. He also said injury concerns were overblown.
“We are aware that people are injured in shoes all the time whether they have rocker bottoms or high heels or other forms,’’ said Armato. “None of those experts have conducted any studies. We’ve done numerous studies showing the benefits of our shoes.’’
Reebok's independent lab tests showed that EasyTone shoes generated up to 28% more muscle activation in the buttocks, compared with ordinary sneakers, because of the mini balance balls in the bottom of the shoe.
The American Podiatric Medical Association also recently gave EasyTone shoes a seal of acceptance that recognizes products that allow normal foot function, promote quality foot health, and show “evidence of usefulness and safety.”
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