Lack of time is the most common excuse people give for not exercising. The demands of work, family and other responsibilities compete with the gym, which tumbles on the list of priorities.
So when companies promote shoes to wear outside the gym that will be good for your feet, burn calories and build muscles, it’s tempting to try them.
Lately, we’ve been bombarded with pitches from companies old and new touting the health benefits of their footwear. With exercise-loving baby boomers determined to stay active despite their foot problems, we expect to hear more.
The fact that many of the new styles are a far cry from the orthopedic shoes your grandmother wore makes them all the more alluring.
There are styles that are good looking and good for you. High- styled sneakers and trendy sandals are also marketed to people suffering from a host of heel, foot and ankle problems.
MBT and Chung Shi are brands favored by those with such ailments as plantar fasciitis, but they’re also appealing to consumers eager to test the calorie-burning and muscle-strengthening properties of the shoes.
Still, no one’s really suggesting you replace regular workouts with a stroll in a pair of Dr. Scholl’s exercise sandals. Information on the Shape Up Shoe’s website says “we believe in the gym and many of us here at Shape Up Shoes are into yoga and Pilates.”
Beyond the marketing blitz, what many people might need to maximize their fitness potential is not another pair of shoes but a good orthotic, suggests Dr. Lorry Melnick, a Denver podiatrist.
Orthotics are insole devices molded to a patient’s foot. They can help with heel, arch, metatarsal or toe support. Melnick makes orthotics in his Cherry Creek practice, and they can also be made at such businesses as Foot Solutions. (For mild discomfort, inexpensive off-the-shelf orthotics are an option.)
A person’s body weight and foot flexibility are other factors orthotic makers keep in mind, says Chris Donahue, who manages the Foot Solutions store at Lowry Town Center.
One of the first things Donahue does is measure a person’s foot. Most people are wearing the wrong size shoe and don’t consider that their feet change shape and lengthen over time, he says. He also examines a person’s feet for calluses and bunions and quizzes the customer on problems she might be having. Only when all those factors are considered does he start helping a client try on shoes.
Among the top-selling brands at Foot Solutions are MBTs and Chung Shis, both rocker-soled shoes, says Todd Murphy, who owns two of the chain’s four metro-area locations. A mechanical engineer who has studied pedorthics, Murphy said his flat feet caused him to search for quality footwear for 15 years before getting involved in Foot Solutions.
Murphy says he’s culled the lines of shoes he carries to a few that he finds superior in fit and wear, based on customer feedback, as well as his experience.
He is a fan of Spira shoes, designed with springs patented by David Krafsur of Longmont. The springs help absorb shock, which runners like because it reduces impact and fatigue. Another popular brand is Chung Shi (it translates as “body balance”), which has a roller bar under the arch. The shoes provide good lateral support, propel the foot forward and are good for both general fitness and for those having heel or joint pain, Murphy says.
As for MBT, which stands for Masai Barefoot Technology, their chunky profile and distinctive curved bottoms aren’t likely to be embraced by lovers of high fashion. Still, the line has expanded and among the spring introductions was a Mary Jane style. At $250, it sold out quickly at Foot Solutions in Lowry, Donahue says.
“None of this stuff is magic,” he says, “but if it pleases the eye, we’re winning.”
Suzanne S. Brown: 303-954-1697 or sbrown@denverpost.com
