Don’t Let Reebok Fool You – Shoes Won’t Tone Your Butt!
by Vin Miller
Reebok claims to have a simple answer to the elusive toned body that so many people want. They’ve created a line of shoes called EasyTone that will supposedly tone your lower body simply by walking in them.
According to Reebok, “EasyTone is designed to help give definition to your legs and butt. Simply walk and let the balance pods under your shoe do the rest. The slight instability created by the pods forces your muscles to work a little harder, toning you up as you strut.” Before you invest $100 or more in these sneakers thinking that they’ll actually improve your muscle tone, here are a few things to consider.
Is Appearance More Important than Function?
The foot is one of the most anatomically complex structures of the body, and unfortunately, we spend most of our lives wearing stiff shoes that restrict its function. This promotes weakness and injury in the foot and ankle, and because each joint of the body influences adjacent joints, it can also cause problems in other areas of the body that might seem unrelated. For this reason, it’s advantageous to wear shoes designed to replicate being barefoot such as Nike Free or Vibram Five Fingers. These shoes allow the foot to function more freely and therefore reduce the compensatory muscle and joint strain throughout the body that would otherwise increase the risk of pain and injury.
The Reebok EasyTone shoes are just as likely as any other typical sneaker to alter natural foot function, and walking with “balanced pods” fixed to the bottom of your feet may even be worse. Although unstable surfaces can be beneficial for rehabilitation and injury prevention, this doesn’t necessarily make it a good idea to be regularly walking on “balance pods” that are embedded in rigid soles. Furthermore, the toes provide support and neuromuscular feedback which is important for balance and is likely to play a role in promoting proper walking mechanics. It seems that the “balance pods” in Reebok’s EasyTone sneakers would reduce toe function even more so than a normal sneaker.
Another concern is that the slight instability created by the EasyTone sneakers likely makes them inappropriate for certain activities, especially sports. Any activity that demands additional strength, balance, and agility, which can be something as simple as running on a bumpy sidewalk to catch a bus, will increase the need for stability. Because Reebok’s EasyTone sneakers are intentionally designed create slight instability, they oppose this need and can potentially increase the risk of injury in such situations. Although most people might consider this to be a matter of common sense, I’m sure there are some who would assume that the EasyTone sneakers are safe to use for any activity that regular sneakers could be used for.
While a toned body may give you some personal satisfaction and bring you additional attention, such benefits aren’t worth very much if you’re in pain and prone to injury. I’m not suggesting that Reebok’s EasyTone sneakers will directly cause you pain, but rather that the concept behind them is very questionable and prioritizes appearance over optimal function. In addition, it’s quite a stretch in my opinion to expect a pair of sneakers to have a noticable effect on your physical appearance.
Sneakers are Not the Answer to an Attractive Figure
Reebok claims that walking in their EasyTone sneakers results in your calf and hamstring muscles being activated up to 11% more than they would be with ordinary sneakers and that your gluteal muscles will be activated up to 28% more. Regardless of the percentages that Reebok quotes, walking isn’t enough of a stimulus to transform legs that are skinny or fat into legs that are toned with muscular definition. This would still be the case even if the EasyTone sneakers resulted in 100% more muscle activation. Despite this, I’m sure Reebok will make millions from their EasyTone line because most people are too attached to the prospect of a quick and easy solution and will be eager to believe that they really can “tone up as they strut.”
Being toned is really nothing more than having a reasonable amount of muscle without a lot of excess body fat. Although this is a simple concept, many people make the mistake of thinking that they need to do special types of exercises and do an excessive amount of exercise to burn calories. By doing so, they’re sacrificing their health for a slim figure when they really don’t need to. All that’s typically necessary to achieve an attractive figure is a moderate amount of exercise and a truly healthy diet, both of which will promote optimal health instead of detracting from it.
If you’re truly committed to improving your figure and don’t want to waste $100 on a pair of sneakers that are unlikely to deliver the results you’re hoping for, I suggest that you focus more on your lifestyle than what you’re wearing on your feet. With optimal health as your top priority and motivating force, stop eating processed foods, especially those containing sugar and refined carbohydrates, and eat more natural whole foods. This is the most reasonable way to lose weight, and you can accelerate the process in a health promoting way by doing low intensity aerobic exercise on a regular basis along with occasional interval training.
To improve your muscle definition, do some moderate strength training with an emphasis on functional and compound movements such as presses, pulls, lunges, squats, and deadlifts. These exercises will improve your physical function as well as improving muscle definition, and the fact that Olympic powerlifters do these exercises doesn’t mean that they’ll make you bulky or that you’ll need to lift heavy weights to benefit from them.
More on Improving Your Figure the Healthy Way
If you’re looking to improve your figure, one of the best things you can do for yourself is realize that most of your success will result from living a generally healthier lifestyle. Attempting to improve your appearance without this foundation will likely be a compensatory effort that will compromise your quality of life in other areas. If you need more guidance getting started with a well rounded exercise program, I recommend reading Core Performance by Mark Verstegen. For more information on the healthy lifestyle habits that will help you live a better life and make it easier to improve your figure, I suggest that you sign up for my free course, 7 Simple Steps to a Leaner, Happier, and Healthier You.
Post this on Twitter
Post this on Facebook
Support this on StumbleUpon
Email this to friends
Leave a comment
I am glad I did not run out and buy some of these. Your article also explains why I probably prefer walking round barefoot most of the time.
Hi Patty, thanks for your comment! As you continue to enjoy walking barefoot, now you can appreciate the fact that you’re doing yourself a favor by promoting full and natural foot function.
Vin – This is a great article. I have to tell you, as a fitness enthusiast, I have several pairs of athletic shoes. My go-to favorite for resistance training is my Nike Free’s. They are easy to slip on, comfortable and perfect for no-impact training. I also have a pair of Nike’s that have a cushion ball for kickboxing and other dance type training that requires me to twist and pivot. My favorite pair of athletic shoes for comfort while running errands, shopping and travel is my Reebok EasyTone’s. I fully understand shoes cannot firm your body, but they are the most comfortable athletic shoes I have ever owned. My daughter bought a pair and my Mom asked for a pair for Christmas. The Nike EasyTone may not meet it’s fitness claims, but they are comfortable all the same!
Hi Angie, thanks for your comment!
I too have pair of Nike Frees and like them, but I only wear them for casual use and prefer wearing Virbam Five Fingers when working out. I think there’s a pretty big difference between the two, and I think working out is an important time to take advantage of that difference. However, I understand that most people won’t want to wear them at a gym.
I can appreciate that the Reebok EasyTones might be comfortable, but comfort is usually the result of cushioning which can impair the foot’s ability to sense the ground, and in turn, can alter foot function as a result. If you only wear them when you know you’ll be on your feet for a long time and will need the comfort, perhaps this won’t make much of a difference.
Working in marketing and advertising, I had to laugh when I saw that Reebok commercial. Glad I’m not the only one who sees how stupid that concept is!
Hi Jon, thanks for your comment!
I watched one of the commercials on the Reebok website but have yet to see one on television (I don’t watch much TV). Fortunately, my wife saw the commercial and told me about it.
It seems that several other shoe companies are promoting similar ideas, and Reebok seems to be investing a lot of money into commercials. All of this is an unfortunate indication of how lazy many of us really are.
I had to laugh when I read this, if you are foolish enough to believe that shoes will tone your body, you get what you deserve.
I am another who prefers to be barefoot as much as possible.
As always, great info. Vin!
Hi meatlessmama, thanks for your comment! I find it amusing too but am hoping I can help a few people rise above the foolishness.
Ha. I’m going to buy up old sneakers, staple tennis balls to the soles, and sell them with the same marketing language. Except I’ll just double my percentages relative to the Reebok figures. I’ll make millions!
Thanks for the laugh, Phil!
If you can put together a shameless commercial like Reebok’s, you just might be on to something!
Thanks for this article! I basically live under a rock (no TV) so I didn’t know about shoes like Sketchers Shape Ups and Reebok Easy Tone until today, literally. So I’m in the mall and I see the advertisements for it. The Reebok Easy Tones were very comfortable, but I do agree that walking around with “balance pods” under your feet is probably more unnatural than regular shoes.
I have some body alignment issues I’m working on (hip, knee, and ankle) and so I need a good walking shoe that will not compound the problem. At first glance the Easy Tone’s looked like a good idea, and hey, benefit, they’d challenge my muscles more (though actually I kind of doubt that since I walk 3-5 miles a day. Not a herculean feat but more than the average Easy Tone purchaser is likely to be doing. I mean if they want special shoes to tone their butt, you know they aren’t doing much for their butt to begin with.)
Probably the uphill walking I do is as challenging to those muscles if not more than Easy Tones would be. Also I read several complaints from people that walking 2 miles in the Easy Tones hurt their feet. To me that’s a bad sign.
Then I read a few forum posts where supposedly podiatrists and chiropractors are seeing more people with joint and foot injuries due to these shoes.
And so… that has led me here. I think I’m going to try on some Nike Frees and see how I feel about them. It sounds like a more sound approach. I really love the Vibram Fivefingers, the lady’s “Performa” is very cool. Makes me think of Catwoman for some reason. I think I’m going to try the Nike Frees through the winter and when Spring gets here opt for the Performa. I’m interested to see how walking outside feels with those shoes. Especially the parts of my walk over grass.
Hi Z, thanks for your comment!
I’ve never worn a pair of Reebok EasyTones, so thank you for confirming my suspicion of the awkwardness. I agree that the uphill walking you do is very likely to increase muscle activation much more than walking on flat ground in the EasyTones. Even if this weren’t the case, I still don’t think it would be worth the possibility of walking mechanics being altered.
Thanks for mentioning the new Vibram Performa model! I wasn’t aware of them until just now. The Moc (men’s version) seems to be even less restrictive than the Classic model that I have, and since all I really use them for is exercising, they’d be perfect. I think I might have to invest in a pair.
Once spring comes, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much more you can feel the ground with the Vibrams in comparison to the Nike Frees, especially if you choose the Performas.
I think I’m going to go with the Vibram Classics. The performa aren’t really meant for outdoors, though I think they’d be fine if you’re mostly in grass like in the park or something. They’re more of an indoor shoe.
I will say what is very disappointing is that Nike seems to be going in the completely wrong direction with their free line. 3.0’s are the most close to barefoot they have, but they have all but discontinued it, and the 5.0’s seem to be going in the same direction. Now their 2010 releases look like they are going in the 7.0 direction which is insane. That’s nothing near barefoot and they’re still billing it as such. It’s like they woke up one morning and said “Oh crap, the 3.0’s and even 5.0’s are like admitting we screwed runners up when we introduced the first running shoe. Better up it to 7.0’s so we still have plausible deniability.”
You can still get 5.0’s and 3.0’s on the website but it doesn’t seem like that will be the case for long.
Either way though I think that either the 5.0’s or 3.0’s will help me build in some better foot strength to transition to the Vibrams in the spring.
Hi Z,
Yes, I noticed that about the Nike Free 3.0 when I purchased mine. It’s too bad, but there’s also some good in this. As another reader pointed out, Nike has been criticized for their involvement with sweatshop labor, so it would be best for us to find an alternative anyway.
I hope you enjoy your Vibrams!
While I agree these sneakers will not deliver the toned legs and butt they promise, I think it’s important to acknowledge the psychological impact these sneakers seem to have. If these shoes are enough to motivate women to get up and go for a walk, even if it is under a false promise, I think it’s worth the hundred dollar price tag.
Hi Mina, thanks for your comment.
It’s hard to argue against anything that motivates people to be active, but there are so many better ways to get people exercising. While the Reebok EasyTones may initially help to get people off the couch, most of these people are likely hoping for the quick and easy solution that Reebok is claiming to deliver. With a mentality like this, I think it’s highly unlikely for their initial motivation to turn into a lifelong habit, especially after it becomes apparent that simply walking in special shoes won’t do much, if anything, to change their appearance.
To Reebok’s credit, their website does provide a small exercise routine to follow, but you have to look for it, and the fact that they do this also contradicts their sales pitch.
I would agree if it weren’t for the unsoundness (is that a word?) behind the idea of “balance pods.” Podiatrists and Chiropractors are already seeing more people in their offices based on these shoes so considering that they may actually be in some way dangerous, I’m against the shoes just on principle.
I think people should be motivated to get moving, but if they need shoes like this to get them off the couch I think their problem is more deeply embedded and this will only serve as a short-term fad, not a long term solution anyway. There is a point of diminishing returns with these shoes, and once you get there it’s not going to tone you anymore, so it’s pointless to use them as a motivator.
Just my 2 cents on the issue.
Thanks for the heads up. I already get plenty of walking time, being a housekeeper in one of Canada’s very busy ski/mountain biking resorts and I thought this might just help a bit towards my thighs, but I guess there’s really no such thing as a quick fix. In my first three months there (four years ago) I did loose two dress sizes but that’s about it. I’ve always been a bit on the plump side (even as a child and not because of McDonalds because that didn’t show up until I was a teenager). I’m glad I didn’t go right out and buy them. As long as I get good arch support I’m set.
But if this helps anyone else get up off their duff and they have the cash to throw around, I’m all for it. I’d say just try a bit at a time and soon enough it’ll show. A sensible diet (not starve yourself diet, but just healthy eating) and regular physical activity (a ten minute walk around the block after dinner to keep the meal from settling on your stomach) is alot less expensive that some fancy shoes and you do that for the amount you’d have spent on the shoes and you’ll probably see progess. The biggest word you have to remember is “Moderation”. That includes physical activity as well as food. If you go gunho on the first try (and I’ve been there) you’ll give up soon enough.
Good Luck All
Hi Amanda, thanks for your comment!
As I said to Mina, it’s hard to argue against anything that motivates people to exercise, but it’s still important for them to be motivated for the right reasons. If health and improved physical function aren’t motivating factors, then motivation will likely fade once it becomes obvious that the EasyTones are unlikely to produce a noticeable change in appearance just from walking in them.
As you suggested, a good diet, regular physical activity, and moderation are much more important.
Good and informative article, you’ve made me think twice about purchasing this shoe. I’m pregnant with my third child and thought that wearing these while running errands and chasing my kids around might do something a little “extra.” The claim of helping to tone muscle while you’re going about your daily business is certainly enticing. So do you think that it really does not provide any kind of extra toning or workout? I’m just curious because I’ve heard so many comments from people that say their legs are so sore after wearing them and they really feel like it’s doing something. Just curious if you think they offer any type of benefit whatsoever. Thanks
Thanks, Kara!
I do believe that the instability caused by the Reebok EasyTones will cause more muscle activation and could possibly also cause soreness for someone who isn’t very active or walks a lot in them. However, muscle soreness doesn’t automatically translate into the muscle growth and fat loss that are typically necessary for toning. Your legs could just as easily become sore from standing for long periods of time, but it doesn’t mean that it’s doing to cause a noticeable change in appearance.
I just bought these sneaks and let me say that in life thus far I have rolled both ankles many times so I am prone to those hurting and continue to roll them especially walking through grass, I also just had a SI Joint injury and was looking for some phisical therapy to reduce healing time and I tell you what these shoes have made a difference in the way my feet feel in just one day. Although I can feel pricks and pains in odd places after taking the shoes off which is the only disadvantage so far as for being of a concern to injury, but I am caught wondering if these pricks and pains that are hurting in the places were I had a sprain in my toe, areas in my ankle that have swolen due to rolling on them so much as a youngen that maybe these shoes are helping to strengthen these areas? So far(these shoes have been out for a long time I have researched) these issues have not been brought up of blogged about that I have found. These shoes are NOT made for everyday ware in my personal opinion only use them for walking outside on smooth surfaces or for use on the treadmil depending on the person. The lady I bought them from at the store was prego and loves them and wears them to work everyday. If I break a bone or continue to roll my ankles I will post back and let you know.
Hi Samantha, thanks for your comment!
I actually wouldn’t be that surprised if the instability of the EasyTones do indeed help to strengthen the supporting muscles of the ankle. However, that’s certainly not what they’re being marketed for, and for someone like yourself who is prone to ankle injury, I wonder if wearing shoes like this all day could be too much.
I think the shoes I mentioned previously like Vibram Fivefingers and Nike Free would also promote better ankle function, and in addition, they’ll promote better foot function rather than restricting it.
Another way to improve ankle strength and prevent recurring injuries is to carefully incorporate some instability training into your exercise routine with something like a Bosu ball or a balance disc.
I just saw an that Avia has Avi-Motion shoes that are promoting the same thing.
Hi Rene,
I’m not at all surprised and suspect that we’ll see other major sneaker manufacturers coming out with similar models as well. Avia’s Avi-Motion shoes actually look like MBT shoes. It seems to me that the thick and rounded sole of these shoes would decrease foot function and promote heel landing more so than Reebok’s EasyTones.
I got a pair for Christmas, I have worn them for a month now, I walk between 16-20 mls a wk. they are the most uncomfortable shoe. I have sciatic pain now in my left leg, my right heel is painfull. I never had probelms before I wore these shoes. Went out today and bought a new pair of Nike’s.
Hi Connie, thanks for sharing your experience! I think it will be helpful for anyone who might be planning to try the EasyTones. Hopefully you’ll have better luck with the Nikes, and I hope they’re Nike Free’s.
Hi, I’m from Liverpool, England and to be honest accidentally stumbled (no pun intended) across your website whilst looking at the Easy Tone trainers on the web and trying to compare them with MBTs. Vin I’d be interested to know what you think?
Btw, I’m training to be a personal trainer and nutritionist and think your website is really imformative and interesting. You talk about subjects that I totally believe in and your philosophy about health and fitness is very similar to mine. Just thought I’d throw that one in!:)
Thanks Vin
Sue
Hi Sue,
While the MBT shoes are promoted to improve aspects of physical health such as posture and joint pain and the similar shoes such as Sketcher’s Shape Ups and Avia’s Avi-Motions are marketed from more of a “toning” and appearance perspective, I think they’re all similar. I haven’t tried any of these shoes, but it seems to me that the rolling motion eliminates and replaces a lot of the natural foot function that would occur while walking barefoot. I have a very hard time believing that this is a good thing.
While the MBT shoes may indeed do what they say, it may also be at the cost of natural foot function gradually weakening. It seems obvious to me that the mechanics of landing, absorbing impact, and then pushing off while walking or running are much different when wearing these shoes. I also think that the very thick soles of these shoes interfere with the body’s ability to sense the interaction between foot and ground which is probably not a good thing.
As long as one focuses on developing proper walking and running technique, I think all of the supposed benefits associated with these shoes can obtained in a more natural way. Personally, I’d much rather rely on how evolution influenced the structure and function of our feet and their influence on the rest of the body than the scientists behind the MBT shoe. Fortunately, the MBT website references some supporting research which I plan to eventually dig into.
Foot function is very complicated which makes it difficult to compare Reebok’s Easy Tones to these other shoes that rely on the rolling motion. However, if forced to choose the lesser of the evils, I would probably choose the Reeboks based on the impression that their “balance pods” would be less restrictive than the super thick sole on the other shoes. From a more superficial perspective, I also think they don’t look nearly as ridiculous since they don’t have those really thick soles.
Thank you for your kind feedback! I’m glad you found the site and wish you the best of luck with your training!
What is a good shoe for just walking at home on a treadmill. Thanks for the article on Reebok EasyTone. I have some co-workers I need to enlighten.
Hi Cheryl,
I think Vibram Five Fingers would be a great choice for walking at home on a treadmill. They will encourage you to land more on the ball of your foot instead of your heel and will help to strengthen the function of your feet. And since you have your own treadmill at home, you don’t have to worry about anyone besides your family members making fun of you for wearing funny looking shoes.
If you’re careful, you could probably even walk on the treadmill barefoot, but I don’t think I would recommend that at a faster pace, at least not without first building up the tolerance of your feet.
I got a pair of these about a month ago. I am in so much pain now! I wore them at work one day and the next morning I woke up with searing pain in my left calf. I didn’t really realize what had caused that pain until I wore them a week later and woke up the next day with the same thing. My leg is taking forever to heal! I can’t walk well and am still in a lot of pain! I am not putting those shoes back on and wish I had my money back!
Hi Beth,
I’m sorry to hear that these expensive shoes ended up causing you pain, but I appreciate you sharing your experience. I hope it will be helpful to others.
Self massage might help to relieve the pain and assist your recovery.
Hello Vin!!
I’m from Singapore.
I got to know about the Reebok Easy Tone from the SHAPE Magazine.
I was so attracted by the positive reviews which one claimed that she lost few inch on her hips after a month working out with Reebok Easy Tone.
I am so excited to purchase one, but I decided to google about this item first.
For most, I saw many of its positive but none on the negative, until I saw your post here.
So, I will like to know for a good recommendation shoe for brisk-walking or powerwalk?
Thanks Vin!
Hi Juwita, thanks for your comment!
I think it’s best to use an nonrestrictive shoe like Vibram Five Fingers or Nike Frees that allow your feet to function more naturally. Depending on the health of your feet, you may need to gradually build up your use of shoes like this and give your body time to adjust to them and regain natural function.
Well I’ve got to say that I love these shoes. I’m on my feet at work and these are the most comfortable shoes that I’ve worn, I don’t want to pull them off when I get home. They also make you stand with better posture. The first day does make your legs sore. I have already bought 3 pairs in different colors and looking for one more pair.
Hi Dianna, thanks for your comment.
As comfortable as the EasyTone shoes may be, keep in mind that this is no indication of how they may or may not be altering your foot function and gait. If either is altered in an undesirable way, you may eventually end up with pain that no shoe will resolve regardless of how comfortable it may be.
This is a great article. I bought some Avi-motion shoes and they felt comfortable walking around the store but when I went on my first real walk I started getting bad sciatica in my left leg and found myself limping the rest of my walk home. My chiropractor told me he has heard the same complaint from many of his patients. I wish I would have found this article before blowing my money. After having 4 back surgeries I thought I was doing myself a favor. Next time I will not be so niave.
Hi Sara, thanks for sharing your experience!
As you can see from some of the previous comments, you’re unfortunately not the first person to have a story like this. When they first came out, I figured these shoes would cause problems, but I’m actually surprised by how immediate and dramatic it’s proving to be for some people. I’m glad to hear that you were quickly able to attribute it to the shoes and I hope that others benefit from your story.
I was looking for product reviews on the sketchers shape ups (similar to the avi-motions) and came across this site. I was surprised at how many imitations of these there are out there. Dr. Scholls even has their own version of this shoe. The first time I saw these shoes I thought to myself “I don’t think I could walk in those everyday” Now I’m glad I didn’t even try. I looked up the Vibram Five Fingers and I couldn’t help but laughing, but I can see how they’d allow for movement. There was only one thing that I was confused about…socks. Do you wear toe socks with these shoes?Or if not, what about sweating? None of the people pictured on their website are wearing socks and it says they’re machine washable…so I assume you’d wash them after each use. Am I wrong? I have gone sockless in regular shoes before and don’t like how sweaty my feet get after a while and couldn’t imagine working out like that.
Hi Heidi, thanks for your comment!
Yes, Vibrams are funny looking and people will probably make fun of you for wearing them, but they’re still great. They’re designed to be worn without socks, but I think there might be socks that you can use with them if you really wanted to. However, wearing Vibrams without socks is a much different feeling than wearing regular sneakers without socks. In addition to being machine washable, the footbeds have some kind of antibacterial treatment to prevent odor. I’m not sure what’s in this treatment and I’m not necessarily a fan of it, but it does work well and you can go quite a while without washing them.
If you’d rather a more conventional shoe, the Nike Free might be a better choice for you.
Hi, I was just wondering if you feel the same way about the new shape ups that skechers now offers. I’m going to buy one and I would like your opinion on which may work better. Any advice?!
Hi Amanda,
As I mentioned in some of the previous comments, I do feel the same way about Sketcher’s Shape Ups. In fact, I think their thick and rounded sole may limit natural foot function even more so than the balance pods on the Reebok Easy Tones.
In regard to shoes in general, I think it’s best to choose a pair that is as nonrestrictive as possible and promote natural foot function. While there may be some circumstances where it’s desirable for shoes to be supportive and restrictive, I certainly don’t think toning is one of them.
I’m an owner of the reebok easytones. I owned them for a month now. My legs ARE getting toned. The other night my husband notice my calves were harder to grab. I don’t exercise regularly. I just wore these for around the house when I’m doing my house chores and when I’m out and about doing errands.
Now I don’t feel sore the next but than again I’m not walking miles. I have yet to fall over wearing these. Tonight I plan on trying them out on the treadmill at the gym
Hi Cristina, thanks for sharing your experience.
Unless you took before and after measurements of your legs and your body fat percentage, it would be difficult to accurately say if your legs are indeed more toned, and it would be even harder to attribute it solely to the Easy Tones. I don’t doubt that the Easy Tones put more strain on leg muscles than regular shoes, but this doesn’t mean it will lead to changes in body fat or muscle size that can be easily noticed. Furthermore, your calves could be more firm to the touch simply because they’re stiff from extra use which isn’t necessarily a good thing. Tight muscles reduce flexibility and increase the risk of injury.
A more important consideration than if they actually tone your legs is how they’re affecting the function of your feet and the mechanics of your gait.
I love the Nike Free and the look of it – but I have a huge issue. I broke my femur many years ago and now right leg is shorter than my left due to my leg healing incorrectly in traction and a clueless doc. I also have wicked knee issues, which resulted in knee surgery last year. As much as I love walking barefoot, it’s not really an option for me due to the fact that I need something in my right shoe to “balance things out”. I can never really find a great shoe that accommodates that extra bit of something I try to fit in there as the shoes always have a pre-exisiting arch and then the item I insert in the shoe also has its own arch. I can just imagine the damage I’m doing to my feet ( and on up) trying to “make things right”. I don’t run anymore (which kills me) and my weight lifting has been majorly reduced as well – as in: no more squats or leg extensions etc. I ride the bike (woo hoo) and do upper body and limited legs. Do you have any suggestions as to what sort of athletic shoes I should be wearing to the gym or for walking, as I’d like to incorporate more walking into my regimen?
Hi Molly,
I’m not sure how much of a discrepancy you have, but I can relate at least somewhat. My right tibia is about a half inch shorter than the left, and it’s not the result of an accident, that’s just the way it is. For a while I was wearing orthotics with a heel lift and a forefoot tilt to correct forefoot varus. The tilt was supposed to help eliminate my knee pain. Once I found a much better way to eliminate the knee pain, I stopped wearing the orthotics but continued wearing a 3/8″ heel lift.
Orthotics and even heel lifts obviously don’t work very well in shoes that are designed to replicate walking barefoot and it left me with a decision to make. Do I risk promoting musculoskeletal problems by allowing imbalances to exist without the heel lift, or do I continue restricting natural foot function with regular shoes. I figured there would be potential for problems either way and opted to go the more natural route (less restrictive shoes without the heel lift). Knowing that I do a pretty good job of staying on top of my posture and alignment with stretching and prehabilitation exercises, I wasn’t too worried. The outcome has been good. It hasn’t negatively effected my knee and I haven’t noticed any aches, pains, or overworked muscles as a result. However, I do still wear the heel lift when I play tennis because my hips and lower back were getting tight from playing without it.
Despite my 1/2″ discrepancy, I still jog 3 to 4 miles in Vibrams once in a while, but at low intensity and not more than a few times a week. I also lift weights in Vibrams. For cycling, I use bike shoes and clipless pedals along with cleat adjustments. I figure since I’m using the bike shoes, I might as well correct the leg length discrepancy too.
I know that’s not really a definitive answer, but hopefully it helps. One thing that’s important is to implement any changes you make gradually.
Thanks for your reply … My difference is more like an inch or slightly more, which wreaks havoc on my back. I can feel the difference when I walk barefoot – and I crave to walk barefoot .. but I usually pay the price. Over the past 20 years, my cartilage has become non-existent and my knees make a horrid grinding noise – my right knee is bone on bone. I checked out your exercises, and unfortunately can do none of them. I’ve always eaten healthy, maintained a healthy weight and always spent plenty of time in the gym. I could move plenty of weight, but always made sure to stretch to maintain super flexibility. I don’t know where I went wrong. Currently, my only source of cardio is to ride the bike – I have the seat pushed forward to the point that my leg does not extend where major knee movement would be required. Can you recommend an exercise that will work my quad without bending my knee? I’ve tried strapping my ankle to one of the machines and doing ‘kicks’, but that mainly works my hip flexor muscle. I really want to isolate my quad, but again, cannot put any pressure on my knee. Again, thanks for your help. I appreciate it.