Can a pair of shoes improve your health?

Chung Shi

This relatively new shoe on the block is from Germany and with fewer consumers to vouch for its claims, it's hard to assess its usefulness. It is similar to an MBT shoe, in that it has an iron bar in the centre of the shoe, to encourage muscles in the legs to work harder at finding a better posture. However, the shoe looks very different; instead of heavy cushioning, the shoe has very little, and virtually no heel, so it looks much harder on the feet.

Lizzie Marshall, a personal trainer who runs L J M Sports, who import the product, says: 'I find people now want to wear Chung Shis after they've tried MBTs out. It does make the legs work even harder. Some recent research we commissioned says that thigh activity is increased by 50 per cent.'

Earth shoes

Earth shoes look more like regular trainers, except the shoe positions your heel lower than the toe, which corrects posture, reduces cellulite and tones the leg, buttock and tummy muscles, according to Glenys Berd, who runs the company Lovethoseshoes. The shoe is light and is easier to wear compared to the much heavier MBT. Perhaps an easy introduction into this new type of shoe?

Ciabasan posture trainers

And if you want to do your foot training indoors, why not try this unisex footwear from Italy? It is a slipper type half-shoe, which only supports half your foot - you literally hang off the end of them. Allegedly, this half-shoe stimulates your reflexology points as well as forcing you to adopt a better posture. They are also said to improve circulation and lymphatic drainage, thus helping to reduce cellulite.

If you do want to try one of these shoes out, then it is important that you go to a good shoe store, preferably a specialist running shoe shop, to get your gait analysed and any foot problems diagnosed. Common foot problems like pronation (when the foot turns outwards or inwards) and low arches, need correcting with orthotic implants into the shoes. For some people, just buying an expensive pair of postural trainers won't work. MBTs can be worn with orthotics, but Chung Shis aren't really suitable, so getting sound advice from an expert is advisable before you invest in a new shoe.

'Personally, I think these shoes are a great addition to the footwear market, as you can now legitimately wear something which is doing your body some good,' says Sammy Margo. 'Looking after your feet is something most of us neglect, and anything that helps with improving posture has to be a good thing.'

Not for the Jimmy Choos fans though: clumpy MBTs just do not look good with a designer outfit...

• www.ljmsports.co.uk
• www.mbt-uk.com
• www.lovethoseshoes.com
• www.backcareclinic.biz

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