MBT / Curved Walking Shoes -- to Buy or Not to Buy

I have spent alot of time at the podiatrist for foot problems since my high school years. I recently asked him about these shoes and He said they are great for orthopedic surgeons, because they generate business

Well, I am here to tell you, you dont have to spend 125 or more for these shoes. Head down to your local Payless and buy a pair of 39.99 converse rockers. Amazing. If you have a hearty walker, really pump up the Jam when you walk, these WILL help. You will feel the difference right away. And best of all..if you are not impressed, you paid just a fraction of what you would on the name brand. I actually think the Payless brand is far more confortable in the arch and sides of the shoe than the name brand. Payless also carries and air walker as well, by Converse, that transfers air from heal to toe that are great to treadmills and running. You dont have to spend a fortune to get good shoes. Besides, research suggests you change your shoes out every three months if you are runner, and ever six if you are a runner. I might sound like a commerical...but you can still LOOK good and Pay Less, lol! : ) Have an excellent day! *Oh..one note. DO NOT wear these shoes all day. They are for your work out ONLY!!! Anything that makes you process a forward motion should be used sparingly..ie: walks ONLY!

watch out for these shoes! i am a trainer and owned a popular gym in los angeles for years...i work a LOT with moms. i have a pair of MBTs and also a pair of FIT flops. These shoes should ONLY be worn for 4 or 10 minutes a day in the beginning and 15 or so at most by a tired mom! although its true certain muscles fire from the imbalance, if you are loose jointed - as many moms are -- you overwork muscles (that stiffness in your back) (your calves) which can lead to incredibly bound up, painful muscles and stiffness. proceed with caution and make sure to stretch. they are a cool invention and not a substitute for exercising whatsoever! if you feel pain or aching in your body --- even in a wierd place -- its probably from the MBTS == so take them off! i prefer the fit flops -- they are less intense if you insist on wearing them! :)

they work and i wold have sold you mine as i can't wear them. II didn't know they come in M and W. I love tehm thtey made me loose weight on my innerthigh and i walk alot. I kept noticing my pinky toes curling and now i have a bunnionette and there is nothing to do about it except surgery. The destroyed my feet, but my daughter has tehm and loves them so just watch your feet.
good luck
there are 3 different types of them for 3 different things.

I think it's funny how the only people who seemed to have any real knowledge of kinesiology or biomechanics said Don't get them. Honestly, things that are different feel good to us, but if we were Supposed to walk that way, we'd have rocking feet. My guess is they were Created by chiropractors...to generate business. hahah

I have to agree with Ann H., these shoes are not a good idea. The MBT, high heels, or any shoe that alters your alignment when standing or your gait while walking or running is potentially very harmful to your body in the long term. As your body adjusts to your new shoes, the parts of your body that should engage, relax and other parts that should normally be relaxed engage, and your entire body alignment is thrown of. For example, wearing high heels leads to a tightening of the achilles tendon, which then pulls and causes strain all the way up to you neck, well these MBT's can cause you to further grip your psoas (front lower abdominals/hip area) muscle and cause a host of back problems later. The thing is, right now you are probably feeling all these "new" muscles working and other ones relax, which feels really good. But, long term wear of them will exacerbate problems when you are in any other shoe, or more importantly bare foot. I suggest you look at the source of any ailments while bare foot, rather than mask the symptoms in MBTs.

As a CMT/Reflexologist... I recommend getting reflexology for the pain in your toe as that can lead to other areas in your body (like a stiff and achy neck as this is the area it is related to.)

Also, I am waiting for a ban on these shoes as I feel those w/ joint issues will overdo these. The entire body is connected in so many ways that I can see how the ankles, knees, pelvis/hips and upper body can be affected in a negative way due to walking this way.

My best advice for anyone purchasing or consider getting these shoes: Seek a professional's advice in fitness and diet to gain the results you want. Yoga works amazingly well and new moms can incorporate routines with their baby. (My five year old practices w/ me.).

It's not recommended to wear shoes that do not offer support. Heels, flip-flops and even most boots can lead to Plantar-Fasciitis, as well as other body-joint issues. This is how I see these 'balance' shoes.

I do Yoga and love it, but I also wear MBT shoes when I walk 30 minutes during my lunch break I absolutely love them they make me feel great and I know they work because I have seen the difference in a month. I have walked for years but never with this much of a result. Love these shoes and as long as you are not wearing them all day I see no problem.

Just my two cents here--I've been seeing a chiropractor since having my son three years ago. When I asked him specifically about these shoes, he urged me to stay far away, citing similar issues as previous posters. One thing he mentioned pointedly was that barefoot-like shoes were better for the body's alignment and helped work the muscles in the feet correctly. The huge rocker soles might work other muscles, but they do throw everything else out of whack to compensate. So maybe you spend a small part of your day in these shoes...or since they're a hot ticket item, you could resell them? (This may seem a bit conservative, but I'm sure I've paid for my chiropractor to take a nice vacation at this point...don't need to be creating problems for myself!) Either way- have fun and stop if it hurts!

I've had severe ankle/knee/hipo problems since birth. I was born with a severely hyperextended arch (which means not only was my foot flat, but it sometimes suctioned the floor when they were wet). I got reconstructive surgery for my ankles/feel way too late in life - for my muscles and bines had grown to conform and compensate for my disability rather than grow noramlly.

From the age of 12 I could no longer run or jump... and by 17 walking fast and standing for more than 10 minutes was excrutiatingly painful. After my surgeries at 20 y/o, the pain was worsened.

These Shape Up and MBT shoes are AMAZING. I'm a Nursing student and I wear these shoes DAILY almost every day. Without these shoes, I could not make it thru my clinicals - for there is A LOT of standing.

i bought a pair of sketchers like this...wow took alot of pressure off my back-i try wearing them for work all day-but 1/2 way thru i have to change shoes-im going to buy a pair of the reebox shape ups-im pretty short-and the sketchers just kinda keep me off balance after a while-surely not meant for workin on your feet all day an climbing stairs...

I have had a pair of MBT's for about 9 months. I have not been back to the chiropractor since wearing them. Previously I was going twice a week. I definitely feel a difference when I wear them. They also support my high arches. Yes, they are pricey but well worth the investment.

These shoes sound awesome. But being that I'm a nursing student, a pair of $250 shoes is not in a budget. Maybe when I graduate...

I know that I am responding late to this but wanted to chime in anyway. My husband has been in the shoe industry for over 20 years and after seeing MANY fads come and go as well as seeing what shoes can do to your feet from a layman's viewpoint - he has voiced his opinion to me and his friends that they shoes are really just a marketing ploy to make a lot of money and that they are not going to give you those firm thighs, calves and that firm booty that the commericals show you. I too have also heard that the shoes can do more harm than good.

I've been wearing my MBT's for 3 years now, same pair, everyday. It is not a HUGE difference in my butt and legs, but there IS a difference.

I bought the Shape Ups and I love them! The MBT's hurt my foot and I was not crazy about the price or the look of the shoe. I love, love, love my shape ups. I wore them around Disneyland and also on at the relay for life where I walked for 15 hours. Happy feet and tushy. :)

Are the Curved Walking Shoes similar to the Reeboc Easy Tone Sneakers?

I LOVE my Shapeups & I own two pair one for everyday wear & the other for when I go to work. I'm on my feet alot due to I'm a Housekeeper for a fairly large Casino and I'm on my feet for 8 hrs a day. Before purchasing these awesome shoes my feet,legs,back hurt tremendously but now I'm pain free! I would say they help & their not dangerous one bit & I would tell others to buy them to help relieve any type of pain that thier having & to save on going to a Dr. On my next purchase I'm going to buy the Shape up brand Mary Jane dress shoes & flip flops to fit my other daily needs of comfort too!

I owm 2 pairs of the sketchers shape-ups. one pair for all day and 2nd pair in black for work. they r the best shoes that I purchased...you need to wear them alot for resaults..

Not sure if this has been mentioned - I know a trainer who's used them for 20+yrs and recommends them for forward moving only (like walking) and not for all day use. If used for sideway exercises (like side lunges), you'll bulk up areas you don't want to bulk. Good luck!

will tell you this..have thought about buying some myself...remember being in basic training... heel .. toe..is the step in basic training (which is basically the way they have the shoes made..they made us do a heel beat..MY GOODNESS MY CALVES THIGHS AND BUTT! I guarantee you'll appreciate them...just make sure which one has the best arch support..cause it will be a prob..till your foot gets used to the new muscle use

Having read lots of the answers.... I disagree they are dangerous.
I own a pair of MBT. Having suffered arthritis for years and struggled to walk or even play with my children due to pain in my feet and hips I finally bought those big, heavy soled shoes (MBT) I really did not want too.
Well, I have danced, played, walked with my children for hours and still been able to wear a fancy pair of dress shoes for shorts evenings out.
Having just had a joint fusion on my greater toe to remove the arthritis I am so looking forward to getting back to wearing them.
For some to say they are dangerous, It is a personal choice based on health and lifestyle. I chose them for medical reasons and even our hospitals in New Zealand make them for patients so they can't be all that bad and yes the muscles from the calves to the bum feel better too.
Signing off from a family of 3 MBT lovers...

I had cancer in my left leg, had it removed, radiation, chemo the whole nine yards. My leg became 31/2 inches smaller than my other leg. I have a hard time finding shoes that I can walk in. My knee is very sensitve. I bought the Shape-ups just to see what would happen. I have had them for weeks. I don;t care what the experts say - my legs feel great. The experts (P.T., doctor, ortho surgeon) also told me the lump in my leg was a bakers cyst for over a year. Thank goodness I stopped listening to these experts. Anyway, my legs are more toned and my knee hasn't bothered me since I got them. My butt is already getting tighter and my pants (and underwear)look better. You can see the musles in my bad leg start to tighten and become toned. I will say I have a few friends who bought the ones from Payless and they love them just as much and they were cheaper. Can't argue with actual results.

A couple of years ago I was plagued by some serious pain in my feet and back due to arthritis. I had been in and out of physical therapy for several months, seen a specialist, etc. etc. My sister-in-law recommended the MBT shoes and while I was reluctant to try them (cost, weirdness factor,etc), I did. And they have been a godsend. Not only have I not had to return to physical therapy, my legs feel stronger and more toned. I walk straighter and taller. And others have commented also that I look thinner. I would stick with the MBTs because they're the originals. I don't trust knock-offs to do the same or have the same quality.

I'm very fit and don't need any gimmicks to look good. But I recently bought a pair of Shape Ups to wear while I'm working my desk job. Why? For my posture. When I wear them, I consciously tuck my butt and tighten my abs every time I get up and move around the office. So maybe that's an expensive "string around the finger" reminder, but I think they work for me. I would never wear them running or to the gym, but definitely hit the grocery store with them on. I have read a lot of reviews and many people feel their foot-knee-hip issues are helped by these. Worth trying on in a store so you can walk around a lot.

I got a pair of the basic Sport style after suffering from pretty severe plantar faciitis for nearly a year, and I don't hesitate to say that these shoes were the fix. Love, Love, LOVE them! For foot or heel or any other pain, I tell people that they absolutely need to get MBTs rather than the knock-off Sketchers or Avias (after trying the others on and experiencing pain once I took them off).

As for the toning benefits, I didn't see any, but the muscles in my legs were pretty toned to begin with given my lifestyle. I did have some soreness after my first full day in them (which was 3 days after I got them), so they were probably having some effect that would've been more pronounced in someone else. And contrary to what one of the other posters said, you can jog in these once you are confident in them at the walk.

Two years later, I need to send mine in to have the sensors (the squishy heel cushion) replaced or I need to spring for a new pair. But given that they were the only shoe I wore for the first 6 months, and still my primary shoe after that, it's not so bad.

The prices have come down now that they have some competition. So find a dealer in your area, try on the style you want for fit, and then check out the sellers on eBay or Amazon for the best price. You won't regret the purchase!

I wasn't aware that these type of shoes were apparently bad for our bodies. Anyway, I did get myself a pair of the Skechers Shape-ups and although my friends think I look like I belong on the moon, I am a big fan! I don't have much time to work out right now with an almost 4 and 6 year old, so I walked in them at first and noticed a difference, especially in my lower back. I kept wearing them and slowly my back wasn't bothering me anymore, as my core was strengthening. Althoug I know it isn't recommended, I actually went on to jog up and down the hills with them, and started really noticing my body was changing. The extra weight in the shoe alone helps to make a more effective work-out. Everyones body is different, but If I was standing on my feet all day, these would be the shoes I would want to wear. There are now cuter, more fasionable styles for everyday wear. I have already recommended them to many friends.

I know this is old, but wanted to throw in my thoughts anyways. I'm glad you like them. I bought a pair of Shape-Ups not to lose weight but to help my knee pain. They were recommended by my sister-in-law, who is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, meaning she went to school for 7 years, and she focused on this degree the whole time, and she gradutated with a doctorate and a 4.0 gpa. Needless to say, I trust her opinion. My knee feels MUCH better, and so does my back. My posture got better and I've had less pain in general. Started losing weight, but I think that's due to other factors-not the shoes. I honestly don't trust anyone who says not to get them b/c I can feel the improvements in my own body and "little miss 4.0" said they were good, and explained why. I was her matron of honor, and I know she'd NEVER steer me wrong, and she certainly has the knowledge of EVERY joint, bone, muscle, tendon, etc and how they all work together. (To be a doctor of physical therapy takes a LOT of knowledge, and she does work and keep up with new info, etc. It's not like she got the degree and job and doesn't do anything with it.)

I have the curved soles shoes and found them to be a fair purchase. In the beginning it has help my feet....yet on the other hand if you have weak ankles it might not be the best purchase cause your foot wiggles in them when stepping.

I bought MBT's about 4 years ago when I had some heel pain. They are very comfortable but took some getting used to. In the beginning I avoided wearing them if I had to carry loads of laundry up & down stairs cause you have to adjust your balance.

I bought a pair and I love them. They are definitely only for walking and things that you do while walking...no running or climbing..they are not the same as gym shoes. I bought Sketchers and they are great. You can feel a difference in your legs and muscles after your walk. I would recommend them.

I have two pairs of MBT's. Love them. Didn't have any trouble adjusting to them they were new to me. Don't care about all the claims, positive or negative. They feel good and they improve your posture.
I was proctoring the TAKS test all week, on my feet all day for 5 days, then proctored the SAT, ranging the gym for 5 hours, right hip socket began to ache, and I began to have to limp a bit to accomodate. Went home, and changed to MBT's. No further problems.
The people I know who have bought the ShapeUps by Sketchers love them. They're just a great shoe. Not sure where all the hoopla negativity about them comes from. They probably don't, in an of themselves, reshape your butt, etc., but if they're incredibly comfortable, and that allows you to be more athletic, where's the negative? I love mine!

Love'em. Love'em. Love'em! I have a pair, my sister has one and my husband has three. They do everything they say they do. I can feel the difference and my friends can see the difference on me. I guess you figured out my husband loves them too. He has a pair of sandals, closed toe shoes for work and a dress pair.

The only thing I can't do in them is climb ladders and things that I need good footing on a small surface. This is because of the curved bottoms. My sister and my husband don't seem to have that problem. I haven't tried the other brands because this one worked out for me so well. I have had my pair for three years and I see no wear on them plus MBT has a policy to replace the bottom after it is worn for a small price as long as the original owner has the shoes. They tell you to work into them by only wearing them a few hours at a time but I didn't find that necessary. I can stay in them all day until I'm ready for bed.

Hope I helped!

M.