The MBT Trainers Debate

Well, the MBT trainers continue to cause huge debate, and now they’ve been around for a little while, serious questions are being asked about their long term effects. Interestingly the answers are inconclusive at best.

A Sheffield Hallam University study concluded that wearing MBTs was better for the knees, hips and ankles than wearing conventional shoes. It would be interesting to learn how they are defining ‘better’ as many are questioning the effects.

Our work using video analysis has demonstrated that the shoes can be so unstable that they often encourage over pronation. The problem is that the majority of us have over pronation issues, the instability and malalignments from which causes extra pressure on musculo-skeletal structures so they become overloaded by attempting to compensate and eventually fail. We know this because for many years podiatrists and Orthotists have been trying to minimise the effects of over pronation, and when prescribed correctly, orthotics often helps the individuals pain and performance.

One main reason why MBT claim that their shoes increase the amount of muscle work is because it loads the muscles so they’re working harder than normal, well that would be right in this case as they’re working over time to compensate for the negative instability from the shoe. As Dr David Johnson, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at St Mary’s Hospital in Bristol, says: “The claims as to assisting posture, back, hip and knee problems are not supported by evidence or any good rational explanation. Indeed the instability provoked will increase the muscle activity and energy required to walk – thus increasing fatigue and tiredness.” If you are one of the few who have supinated or very arched and rigid feet, then this instability and extra shock absorption is a good thing, if not it can be harmful over time.

There is little evidence that they help with the removal of cellulite either. According Esther Walker of the Independent Extra, “this is backed up by Hannah Snow who wore MBTs daily for two years and found they toned her muscles but did not get rid of the fine layer of cellulite on the top of her legs”. Well, they will work the legs harder as the shoes are so unstable that the leg muscles have to work unusually hard to stabilise the legs. Harder in this context isn’t necessarily better.

Esther Walker also reports that Sammy Margo of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists believes that MBTs are not necessarily a bad thing but that they are not for everyone: “They can possibly help people with stiff backs, who do jobs that involve a lot of standing. Ideally, you should get them only on the recommendation of a physiotherapist and should be trained to use them properly. They are not a cure-all for modern life.”

So despite the PR machine’s claims, nothing is the panacea for all ills. Obviously MBTs, like anything, has its place and will help some people, but be sure to establish whether you’re likely to be one of them first.