Intro:
Fitness Shoes, Exercise Shoes, Barefoot Technology, Rocker-bottom, negative heel shoes are some of the aliases that footwear, like the one pictured, have been given.  Shoes like this are made my many companies including MBT (original), Avia, Reebok and Sketchers.  Their popularity has been excited by the idea that they can give you a "workout without ever going to the gym."

Conclusion:
Rocker-bottom type shoes ARE NOT a replacement for the gym.  If you wear them religiously and frequently, research suggests they may east the pressure on your back, ankles and knees, improve your balance a bit, and burn a few more calories compared to regular flat walking shoes.  They also seem to have a good record of helping certain people improve posture.

If this type of shoe intensifies your current exercise regimen by allowing you to walk/run faster and/or longer, then they may be a great investment.  If you're looking for a magic shoe to help you get super buns by walking around the mall twice a week, then don't waste your money.

So, if you're a nurse on a hospital floor and you're looking for a way to tone your legs and lose some weight while doing your usual duties, you will be disappointed.  But if your joints are killing you at the end of the day and your heels always hurt, they could help - then again, so could daily stretching, exercise and normal cushioned shoes.

NOTE: Experts agree that if you do invest in rocker bottom type shoes, you should stay away from infomercial knock-offs and be extra diligent with stretching when using the shoes.

Video about 'rocker-bottom' footwear.

More reading:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35315656/ns/health-fitness/
http://www.presstelegram.com/search/ci_13350339?IADID
http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091201/FEATURES/912010301

Photo courtesy MBT

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