Fat Loss 4 Idiots Opinion

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Reduce Lower Back Pain And Trim Your Lower Half - Wear The Right Shoes

By Fiona Saunders

Whilst walking barefoot through a Korean rice field, Swiss engineer Karl Muller noticed that his back pain - which was a perennial problem for him - was very much reduced. Curious, he performed a little research and found that the Masai tribesmen of Africa are famous for their excellent posture and do not suffer from back pain.

Muller came to the conclusion that walking barefoot on soft ground was better for your back and joints than walking on a hard surface. He decided to design a shoe which would mimic the effect of walking on a soft yielding surface such as grass or sand.

What he finally came up with was the Masai Barefoot Technology (MBT) range of footwear. It is, according to the company website, so different to standard footwear that it deserves the title of "anti-shoe".

MBT shoes incorporate a specially developed curved sole without a heel, which produces a rolling action when your foot makes contact with the ground. It's just like walking on sand in your bare feet in fact. The use of materials of different densities also contributes to the effect by further lowering jarring and impact shock.

Independent scientific studies have verified that this is genuinely better for your back and joints. There are further proven benefits in addition to better posture. For instance, whilst engaged in normal walking in MBT shoes, the wearer's muscles will be in use for longer (in comparison with similar walking in traditional shoes). The muscles are in use for approximately 16% longer. Wearers also tend to take slightly shorter strides. Both these effects raise the amount of work done.

The result of this is that each step you take wearing MBT shoes will provide you with additional exercise. It's like a lower body workout when you walk around. So, as well as improving posture and lowering back pain, MBT shoes can help to firm up your buttocks and tone your legs.

You would think that would be sufficient wouldn't you? However, in spite of all these benefits, some people find that MBT shoes are a little chunky and not that pleasing to the eye. MBT shoes are also a little more expensive than standard shoes (although the benefits may make them good value for money). Happily, there are now other alternatives available which work on the same basic principle but which are more aesthetically pleasing. Both Skechers Shape Ups and Fitflops have similar curved soles which are specifically designed to increase the length of time that muscles are active and to tone both legs and buttocks whilst doing nothing more strenuous than walking normally.

Whichever footwear you select, the possibility of reducing back and joint pain whilst simultaneously trimming and toning your lower body - all whilst engaged in nothing more strenuous than normal daily walking - seems very attractive. - 17269

About the Author:

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home