Toning shoes have become incredibly popular over the last couple of years or so. As recently as 2008, toning shoe sales were a mere $ 17 million. In 2010, sales are estimated to be somewhere between $ 1 billion and $ 1.5 billion. At the moment, there are 6 pairs of toning shoes in the top ten best selling fitness shoe list – 2 Reebok Easy Tones and 4 Skechers Shape Ups.
It’s perfectly understandable. The prospect of toning your legs and trimming your butt simply by pulling on a different pair of shoes is an extremely attractive one. However, recent events may be giving some prospective buyers pause for thought, and possibly even making them wonder if wearing toning shoes is safe.
A 48 year old Ohio woman is suing Skechers, claiming that use of their their Shape Up Shoes caused her injury. It’s far from a cut and dried case – it seems that extended use was involved. Nevertheless, there has been a lot of publicity and there is even a special website by injury lawyers ready to “assist” anyone who wants to initiate a claim against certain shoe companies.
The facts of the matter are clear: Toning shoes should be treated like any other item of fitness equipment and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Improper use, or over use could lead to injury – as is the case with virtually any form of physical exercise. Regardless of whether or not you wear toning shoes, running or jogging to excess, particularly on hard, unyielding surfaces, can result in strains, sprains and repetitive injuries.
However, assuming that you do not suffer from a pre-existing medical condition, if you pay close attention to the manufacturer’s instructions and avoid attempting something that your body can’t achieve, then toning shoes, in combination with a walking exercise program, will provide you with a low injury risk, low impact method of exercising and getting into shape. Take some sensible precautions, do a little homework and toning shoes will be not only safe to wear and use, but beneficial to you.
Choose the correct type of toning shoe. There are plenty of different styles and brands to choose from. Most of these are intended for walking, although there are some toning shoes which may be used for running or jogging available now. Select the type most suitable for your intended mode of use. Don’t wear toning shoes which are designed for walking for running, jogging or playing sports in.
Look for the American Podiatric Medical Association’s seal of acceptance. There are a range of different toning shoes which have been assessed by the APMA – Reebok EasyTones and FitFlops for example – and which have received the APMA seal of acceptance to indicate that they are “foot friendly”.
After you’ve picked the right toning shoes for you, don’t forget to break them in and let your body get used to them. Wear them for short periods only until you become accustomed to them. Make sure that they are a good fit and, whilst they may feel a little odd at first, they shouldn’t alter your walking gait to the point where you feel unstable. Read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and follow them.
As previously mentioned, walking is a low injury risk, low impact form of exercise, it’s still a good idea to stretch prior to your walking workout. Take it easy at first and have a cool down period at the end.
Finally, if you suffer from any medical conditions (and even if you don’t), it’s always a good idea to seek medical advice before you embark upon any new exercise routine. Whilst there is a wide variety of different styles and brands of toning shoes, almost all of them operate on the principle of introducing a small element of instability to the walking process. If you have problems with your balance, then toning shoes might not be a good choice for you.
However, for the vast majority of people, toning shoes, combined with a low impact walking exercise regime, will be something which is not only safe, but very beneficial. Rather than thinking of toning shoes as some kind of magic pill, think of them as no more than a useful exercise aid which can help to increase the effectiveness of your workout regime. Be sensible and you’ll be able to get into better shape as well as gaining a wide variety of other health benefits into the bargain.
Check out the latest Skechers toning shoes. If you’re expecting wintry weather you can still be cool and trendy in a pair of Hunter boots – as worn by royalty!