Workout sneaker or passing fad?

A recent article in the USA Today looked at a growing trend with consumers to purchase rocker bottom shoes. Companies such as Sketchers and MBT are marketing these as a way to tone muscles, promote healthy weight loss and improve the posture of those who walk, work, or shop in them. But what’s the truth behind these funny-looking shoes? The article has input from a couple of podiatrists. They express concerns about the risks that accompany changing someone’s gait. Someone with a borderline problem they never knew about could start presenting symptoms. They can also cause balance problems, which many elderly people already deal with day to day. Another podiatrist claims that some of his patients who aren’t in the best of shape have an inflamed Achilles tendon after wearing these shoes.

Shoes with a rocker sole are nothing new. Shoes have been modified with prescription rocker soles to help alleviate conditions such as hallux limitus, ball-of-foot pain, ankle arthritis and midfoot arthritis. Depending where on the foot the rocker is placed on the shoe, it can offload that joint and alleviate different types of pain. These shoes certainly aren’t for everyone but if you think you could benefit from these or have any other concerns about your feet, come by and see Dr.Grimm or Dr.Pattison at Foot Associates of Central Texas before making an expensive mistake.