MBT Shoes
MBT stands for Masai Barefoot Technology, and the company bills itself as the anti-shoe—they will help make walking, even on hard, flat surfaces, comfortable again. They are designed to relieve stress on your joints, your back, and yes, even your feet, and also to improve your gait.
MBT says they named their footwear MBT, and refused to call it a shoe. MBT’s are completely different:
-the have a curved sole
-they are unstable (intentionally)
-they activate your muscles
-they affect the whole body positively
The movement when you step wearing your MBT’s is also different. It’s a step, then rolling action. These simple movements help solve knee and back problems, ease joint pain, relieve tension in the neck, burn more calories when standing, walking, or running than ordinary shoes, help to tone and shape firm buttocks and thighs. There have even been studies done which show MBT’s help improve cellulite by daily wearing.
All of the above claims have been studied through various research projects and stood up. Many doctors are now prescribing MBT’s, and fitness instructors are recommending them as well.
When you wear MBT’s, your body is forced to maintain its natural balance, which stimulates and exercises your supporting muscles, resulting in a number of benefits to your body. They strengthen your smaller supporting muscles- the body’s “natural shock absorbers.”
MBT’s are constructed with the soft Masai Sensor at its core. This is placed directly beneath the heel and is a simulation for walking and standing on uneven ground. The natural instability it creates causes your body to respond with minor, intuitive, compensatory movements. The midsole construction requires an active, rolling movement with each step- working in tandem with the Masai Sensor, which causes the entire musculoskeletal system to become engaged.
Jogging or slow running in MBTs is really a great workout for you. You will feel a little different jogging in these shoes—they use the whole leg all the way up to the hip joint to move. First, you step down on the middle of the Masai Sensor, and then you roll through the mid-foot and off the toes, with no pressure. The movements should make you feel very relaxed. When you do light jogging wearing your MBTs for relaxation and recovery, the end result is a feeling of active massage. In the end, you will feel a full leg swing and also low heel recovery, and also feel like you’re floating.
MBTs are wonderful for healthy people who are on their feet all day. The design was created to decrease pressure on your skeletal system. Whereas a regular shoe impacts you directly through the heel shock they cause and travels into your joints and entire body. Compare that to MBTs, which transfer the shock behind the heel and your body. MBT suggests rocking back and forth in your MBTs as you stand, as it increases your circulation, reduces shock to the body, and allows you to stand for long periods of time — without discomfort and pain.
MBT offers a full warranty for twelve months from the date of purchase, and they also have a partnership set up with Resole America should your MBT’s need new soles after many miles of use.
MBT’s now come in many different styles, including boots and sandals, Mary Jane’s, and loafer styles- so that you can find a pair which will fit in whatever you are doing. You can buy them at many comfort shoe stores, or find them online. Check out the MBT website for further information.
