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free skin care · Mon Sep 27, 2004 10:10 am

Anybody heard of these?

Some type of shoe/trainer that is supposed to improve posture, banish joint and back pain, tone thighs and calves and even get rid of cellulite.

They look real ugly though. Pricey too at £120.

free skin care · Mon Sep 27, 2004 2:45 pm

oooooooooh they are on my shopping list!!!! I don't give a stuff about the cellulite (though a j lo arse would be cool!), BUT the difference they make to posture and joint pain, well gimme! Laughing

Tue Sep 28, 2004 5:51 am

Oh yeah, I've seen nicer shoes than that. Do they actually work though? My posture sucks!

free skin care · Tue Sep 28, 2004 8:18 am

Mabsy wrote:

Oh yeah, I've seen nicer shoes than that. Do they actually work though? My posture sucks!

I don't know anybody who has tried them so couldn't say with any confidence that they do work. My boyfriend knows somebody who has a friend (still with me?) who has tried them and she says that they have improved muscle tone in her legs and bottom and that her posture has improved.

Supposedly they were originally developed as a medical aid to help with back and foot problems so there must be some science behind it.
I also noticed that you don't buy them in your normal shoe shop. You get them from physiotherapists, osteopaths, pilates instructors, podiatrists etc. I read in an article that you have to be taught how to walk in them as it's so totally different from walking in normal footwear.

They are still at that 'new fad' stage in London so I think I will keep an eye on the situation and see if the positive press continues and if I find that all the press reviews reflect that the shoes really do work then I may have to invest in a pair. My back and knees will thank me for it. Not to mention my bum and thighs! Very Happy

Thu Sep 30, 2004 4:30 am

Thanks Toe! Let me know if you end up getting them - I wanna hear ALL about it! Smile

free skin care · Tue Oct 05, 2004 6:28 am

very cool website, but whoa, pricey, pricey.

I wonder if they really work. Here's the website:

http://www.mbt-uk.com/

I would also like to hear if anyone gets them and how well they improve posture...I've been trying to work on that since I started some work with a massage therapist.

Tue Oct 05, 2004 1:15 pm

I saw Dateline news do a program about trying to get rid of cellulite, and what products really work. They tested these shoes and they didn't work. I don't know if they improved the tester's posture or anything, though.

free skin care · Tue Oct 05, 2004 1:52 pm

shoes...get rid of cellulite?
hmm

How do they come with these wild claims Question

even I'm not that gullible...posture, o.k., cellulite, nah Rolling Eyes

free skin care · Mon Jun 11, 2007 1:23 pm

I don't know about cellulite, but the few people I've talked to about these said they LOVED them for back and joint problems. But then people rave similarly about Earth brand shoes and posture/joints/back, so I don't know. I'd want to try them on for a WHILE in the store before I decided to spend THAT much money!

free skin care · Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:52 pm

ginnieliz: GO FOR IT! I've had mine for about 2 years and the soles haven't worn out yet, even on concrete. Great for circulation, as you find yourself Rocking in them when standing still. I don't think they helped with cellulite, but they do tone your calves and core muscles. If they ever wear out, I'll def buy another pair! Heard on eBay they might be cheaper.
My feet never felt better, but fitting is tricky. They ARE kinda ugly, but they really put a smile on your face for how great they feel Very Happy

free skin care · Fri Jun 15, 2007 9:26 pm

I've had a pair of sandals for almost 2 years. LOVE them and worth the money.

Took them to Spain. Walked 5+ miles a day and I was the only female NOT complaining about her feet.

There's another thread, do a search for MBT.

The con though is that it's difficult to stand still... I end up rocking.

Sat Jun 16, 2007 3:22 pm

I'm not too sure who to send my CC bill to at the moment. Toe for starting this thread? Ginnielizz for reviving it? Or Fawnie and Rjez for the "go for it" responses Smile

I had what I would call a "moment of retail weakness" this morning. Read this thread, googled for NYC stockists, got on the subway, went and bought the shoes, came back home. *sigh* I must be going nuts.

Ok, these are some ugly shoes! They're not the worst I guess but they're not going to be winning any beauty competitions any time soon, or ever! They feel funny on (I think if I ran in these I'd fall over), and I keep rocking in them when I want to stand still. I'm getting some slight lower back tension now after wearing them for about 20mins. I've only worn them around the house as it started raining but I'll go for a nice long walk along the river this evening and we'll see how they feel. Btw, they come with a DVD Laughing

And for those of you interested, there is another company that seems to make the same type of shoe. They're called Chung Shi.

Sat Jun 16, 2007 3:30 pm

Sorry, I forgot to add that these are not shoes you should buy without trying on. I took trying on three pairs to find the best fit and they don't seem to be consistent between their different styles. I'm a 38 1/3 in their Sport Walk Low, but a 39 in their M.Walk style.

free skin care · Sat Jun 16, 2007 7:02 pm

Yup, you def need to try them on first.
Also, the shoelaces i got with mine didn't stay tied, so I bought a pair of elastic ones atwww.sahalie.com. Much better! You'd think for the price they'd give you better shoelaces, and I emailed the company about it, but never heard back. So much for customer service, but the shoes are great!

free skin care · Sat Jun 16, 2007 8:56 pm

Mabsy wrote:

I'm not too sure who to send my CC bill to at the moment. Toe for starting this thread? Ginnielizz for reviving it? Or Fawnie and Rjez for the "go for it" responses Smile

I had what I would call a "moment of retail weakness" this morning. Read this thread, googled for NYC stockists, got on the subway, went and bought the shoes, came back home. *sigh* I must be going nuts.

Ok, these are some ugly shoes! They're not the worst I guess but they're not going to be winning any beauty competitions any time soon, or ever! They feel funny on (I think if I ran in these I'd fall over), and I keep rocking in them when I want to stand still. I'm getting some slight lower back tension now after wearing them for about 20mins. I've only worn them around the house as it started raining but I'll go for a nice long walk along the river this evening and we'll see how they feel. Btw, they come with a DVD Laughing

And for those of you interested, there is another company that seems to make the same type of shoe. They're called Chung Shi.

Haha, if you think this CC bill is bad, wait until after my reviews - I've made two EDS orders in the past week! Wink

I bugged my boyfriend for his opinion several times and he finally said I wasn't allowed to buy MBT shoes because they're ugly and they look like the kind of orthopedic shoes for people who have two different length legs! My arguments about how both soles are equally thick (and ugly) did not sway him. But now I may have to go Google me some Chung Shi, so I'll have to send you my CC bill, Mabsy! Ha, this forum is so great and yet so evil.

free skin care · Sat Jun 16, 2007 9:09 pm

Ooh, interesting: I found one article that compares MBT and Chung Shi and rates the latter as better, and one that rates the former as better!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Chung-Shi:-Sizing-up-to-MBT?&id=356577

and

http://www.walkerswarehouse.com/chung-shi-shoes.asp

Happy informed shopping! Smile

free skin care · Sun Jun 17, 2007 10:19 am

For those who have them, do they really help with posture? And if yes, is it just while you're wearing them, or is posture improved in general?

free skin care · Sat Jun 23, 2007 3:17 am

What a coincidence! I have been thinking and plan to go to a store nearby to try, might buy a pair some time next week. So tempting. I don't know about the posture, but excellent for feet I heard.

Would any of you recommend a pair less ugly? Thanks.

jeannie

free skin care · Wed Jul 25, 2007 1:36 pm

I have them - and they are absolutely INCREDIBLE. Can't recommend them highly enough. I'd be happy to answer anybody's questions if you're trying to decide whether or not to go for it. I've had mine a fortnight and they're already shaping up to be a sound investment!

free skin care · Thu Jul 26, 2007 8:42 pm

I love my pair, and honestly, they're really not ALL that ugly. They're just a chunky pair of sneakers. Ad they hve def. improved my posture a bunch! They're so comfortable, and they were easy for me to get used to. I highly recc!

free skin care · Sat Jul 28, 2007 2:15 pm

I also LOVE my pair. I have some health issues and these shoes really have helped me when I have to walk a lot. My legs and back don't ache like they use to.

Sun Jul 29, 2007 6:35 am

I have a love/hate relationship with my pair. I can FEEL them working, I really can. But, they give me blisters - huge blisters the likes of which I have not seen before! Sad

I've gone back to the store (pretty much two days after buying them) and they have checked the fit and said that they are properly fitted. I kept them because I was hoping to sort of break them in, but it's still happening. I read online that this is a common complaint and that the solution is to lace them up really tight to prevent foot movement in the shoe. There's only so much I can do though without cutting off my blood circulation Confused

Anyway, for those that wonder about their benefits to core muscle strength. Having had back surgery before, and thus having a set of back stabilising exercises, I can feel these shoes working my lower back muscles and it feels the same as what my physio exercises feel like. This is not to say that the effect is the same but I do feel that there is a positive impact on my lower back (until the blisters kick in Smile

).

Any suggestions on how to combat the blisters? TIA Smile

free skin care · Sun Jul 29, 2007 6:50 am

Mabsy wrote:

I have a love/hate relationship with my pair. I can FEEL them working, I really can. But, they give me blisters - huge blisters the likes of which I have not seen before! Sad

I've gone back to the store (pretty much two days after buying them) and they have checked the fit and said that they are properly fitted. I kept them because I was hoping to sort of break them in, but it's still happening. I read online that this is a common complaint and that the solution is to lace them up really tight to prevent foot movement in the shoe. There's only so much I can do though without cutting off my blood circulation Confused

Anyway, for those that wonder about their benefits to core muscle strength. Having had back surgery before, and thus having a set of back stabilising exercises, I can feel these shoes working my lower back muscles and it feels the same as what my physio exercises feel like. This is not to say that the effect is the same but I do feel that there is a positive impact on my lower back (until the blisters kick in Smile

).

Any suggestions on how to combat the blisters? TIA Smile

I have that same problem, Mabsy. Are the big blisters on the back of your heel? That's where mine are. I'm going to try them with my thick hiking socks. Not ideal for summer (even for a drowned rat English summer), but they might help, I hope.

free skin care · Sun Jul 29, 2007 9:01 am

Mabsy,

I wonder if that new BandAid Blister Block product would help:
https://www.bandaid.com/couponBlisterBlock.jsp

I haven't tried it but have seen it in local drug stores lately.

free skin care · Sun Jul 29, 2007 10:02 am

Ug, the blisters and having to put stuff over them sounds like such a pain. It would make the already clunky shoes even bulkier.

I was on the verge of buying. Hmm, I'll have to think about it. Also, I'm starting physical therapy next week for back pain related to moderate scoliosis (23 degrees), so maybe I can ask my therapist about it.

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