Mbt Shoes

[nantynannie]

Hi Everyone,

I saw a post about these shoes under a different topic, so I wanted to create a seperate topic so it is more noticeable. Has anyone tried these shoes? I know for me, higher heels help me stand longer by contracting the calf muscles. It helps to rock back and forth heel to toe, which also contracts the muscles so I am now wondering about these shoes. I would like to get some feedback because they are VERY EXPENSIVE! But worth it if they work.

Thanks!

Ann

[mkoven]

As I said in the earlier post, with eds, I have very finicky feet and ankles, and need maximal stability. I wear birkenstock clogs of different ilks. Not really elegant, but the only thing that agrees with my feet.

[MightyMouse]

I have MBT's and while I think they really do help me keep my calves pumping more during the day, I also am pretty sore the next day. Also, they are HEAVY, so for my day at work, my feet felt like they weighed 100 lbs by the end of the day. You're supposed to work up to wearing all day, that's probably part of my problem.

Nina

[flop]

Hi, I suspect it was my post in another thread that you saw. I had a few physio sessions because of backache and the physio assessed my balance and said it was awful, she had me doing exercises standing on one leg and standing on a wobble board to make me strengthen the muscles in my legs and improve core stability. She wanted to do more work with me but we only had 3 appointments (funding for physio is rubbish in the UK). Her advice was to get my own "wobble board" by buying MBTs. She actually pointed out that 6 of the 9 physios working in the gym were wearing MBTs themselves.

I bought a pair in the summer and gradually increased the time I spent wearing them. If you wear them too long you end up with really achy muscles the next day - just shows how much they are making those muscles work! For the first couple of weeks I only really wore them around the house. By September I was able to wear them for a long day travelling to London for a hospital appointment.

I talked about them with my health practitioner and she advised against wearing them too much as she feels they cause an abnormal walking gait (the opposite of what MBT claim). But she said it was ok to wear them a couple of times a week. What I do now is wear them when I am going shopping.

Wearing MBTs works for me to enable me to stand up for longer and also walk more slowly so that I can look at things in the shops (normally I have to walk very quickly to avoid fainting).

Buying a pair - it is important to get your first pair fitted by a shop that specialise in fitting MBTs (officially they can't be sold on the internet as they need fitting). I bought mine in a shop but we cheated a bit with my Mum's - she got fitted at the same time as me but didn't actually buy a pair. You can find MBTs being sold privately on websites such as Ebay or for Mum we got a pair in a discount outlet store at about half price (last season's colour). Once you know what size you need you can look for cheaper deals.

I hope that helps,

Flop

[mkoven]

what is the arch support like?

[delphicdragon]

As I said in the earlier post, with eds, I have very finicky feet and ankles, and need maximal stability. I wear birkenstock clogs of different ilks. Not really elegant, but the only thing that agrees with my feet.

I love my birkenstocks! I wear them all summer. Awesome, supportive shoe! (End Rant)

Sara

[cma]

I talked about them with my health practitioner and she advised against wearing them too much as she feels they cause an abnormal walking gait (the opposite of what MBT claim).

How interesting, the one that I talked to said that they are awesome and she is planning on buying one more pair for the casual wear, because the ones she had was just for work. I know I want to try them, so I'll have to start saving now

[flop]

Just to clarify my physio advised me to buy them, it was my CHEK practitioner that said not to wear them all the time.

Arch support - MBTs are built like trainers with a removable footbed, the arch support is similar to other training shoes. Because of the rocker-bottom soles you actually walk heel first then roll over the rest of the foot to the toes so you don't actually stand flat very much.

Flop

[morgan617]

I bought a pair a couple years ago (there's stuff in the archives) but I had to sell them on Ebay. They are definitely not for people with big balance problems! I have an inner ear disorder and wore them once and about killed myself. The danger out weighed the benefit for me. I paid about 300 for them and sold them, worn once, for 99. What a bummer. But I actually got a note from the woman who bought them and said they were the best things she'd ever had. So that made me feel a bit better....sort of. morgan

[yogini]

I love these shoes! They really do increase my walking time and relieve my symptoms while walking. I'm able to wear them all day - didn't realize it was bad for the feet, but I don't wear them every day. I wore out my first pair and just bought a replacement. You can try them on in a store for size and get them online for 1/2 price or less. I also love Fit Flops, another brand that make your legs work harder. They're not quite as effective as the MBTs, but they still work and are a lot cheaper!

[LindaM]

I'm a big fan of Fit-flops. The instant I put them on in the store I noticed a nagging lower back ache go away. I never noticed whether they help me with the dizziness, though.

[potsgirl]

I've never heard of Fit-Flops. Do you find these in Macy's or another department store, or a fitness/running shop?

Thanks!

Jana

[juliegee]

I'm showing my age. I never heard of Mbt shoes or the "anti-shoe" as I have since learned they are called. I had to checkle as they remind me of Earth Shoes. Anyone else remember those?

[njfainter42]

I'm showing my age. I never heard of Mbt shoes or the "anti-shoe" as I have since learned they are called. I had to checkle as they remind me of Earth Shoes. Anyone else remember those?

I wear mbt sandals a lot. They help me with my mortons toe neuroma problems and back pain. I cannot wear the closed shoes as they are too narrow. There is a store in FL-Delray where they sell sandals and shoes similar to MBTs that I have wanted to try. The Earth I was advised is bad for me because it puts more pressure on toes. I do love the mbt sandals though. I bought them on ebay- cheaper and use them a lot. I haven't been told they were bad for my gait and my dr-podiatrist told me to wear them as much as I want but no Earth shoes. Maybe it helps with fainting due to leg muscle activation though I am not sure. I did read fit flops are not that great and keep in mind that the lack of a back could lead to injury if you get dizzy.

[flop]

I'm still wearing my MBTs, I just don't wear them everyday.

My original pair are a black training type shoe, unisex so wide-enough for my feet. I recently treated myself to a second pair - a mary-jane style shoe with strap which are a bit more lady-like and I can wear them with a skirt.

I find the rocking gait really comfortable and it helps get rid of my backache. When standing still it is good to rock one fot forwards and the other backwards - you can pump your calf muscles without the upperpart of your body rocking too.

Flop

[gwensvilla]

when I was in florida I bought a pair of shape ups (skechers) as I was told (rightly or wrongly|) they are a similar idea to the mbt shoes.. they were $109..as I take the same size as my daughter we both may try them.. her for circulation/ pots me to get fit.. I spoke to a lady customer in the shop and she had taken them and showed them to her back specialist, as she had told him how they had alleviated her back pain.. he was well impressed and was going to recommend his patients to try them!! will report back on how we find them.. Gwen

[TypewriterGirl]

Has anyone else tried these, Shape Ups, or Easy Tones? I've found that wearing heels has helped, and was wondering if any of these shoes will have a similar effect.

[MightyMouse]

I have MBT's and you should know that shoes like these are big, heavy and clunky BUT there is research behind them that show that they really do work to help with posture and back pain. I think one brand does more work on the legs than the back--one of our tv channels recently did a "deal or dud" segment during the evening new, with medical doctors and podiatrists.

I like my MBTs. Keep in mind that you should work up to wearing all day b/c if you're not used to holding your body in proper posture, you'll be very fatigued that day if you wear all day--and sore the next day from the workout.

I also own a pair of fit flops, and those help not with posture but with keeping legs toned and burning some extra calories. I have ones with sparkly sequins on them, in black, making them nice enough to wear to work in warm weather. They help me not roll my ankles and sprain them too b/c of the deep, cushiony footbed. They are super comfy.

Nina

[kayjay]

I have mbt boots, sneakers and sandals. I like my sketchers just as much and they were much cheeper. I wear fit flops at home ( where I spend most of my time ) and wear the others when I go out. These shoes help me so much and I have tons of "comfortable" shoes from teaching Kindergarten... but I the above mentioned shoes are best for us "potsy" people...IMO.

[nforste]

Wow I would *never* have expected anyone to say they like wearing high heels because it makes them feel better. My balance is shot so I live in comfortable birkenstocks, sneakers, hiking shoes and thongs. I think I may have some inner ear thing going on though.

[MightyMouse]

wearing high heels causes you to contract your calves, which is actually a recommended counter maneuver to prevent a faint. (look up "counter maneuvers" on the site and you'll see info from Mayo)

[TypewriterGirl]

I ended up getting the Skechers and am loving them so far. Definitely took some getting used to, but I'm feeling my calves working.

I never thought I'd be able to wear high heels again - I was diagnosed with Meniere's and have lots of balance issues, but have actually been getting around pretty well and have been able to stand a lot longer than before.

Thanks for all the suggestions!