Toning or unstable footwear were all the fad in the 2000's. The manufacturers of these footwear made impressive promises for them. Claims varied from encouraging weight reduction to getting rid of cellulite to firming the buttocks to treating low back pain. The shoes had a rocker on the bottom intended for increasing muscle activity to get those assumed benefits. Sadly, the research did not support the claims and there was a great deal of lawsuits from unhappy customers and several manufacturers of toning shoes were forced to negotiate multi-million dollar settlements with the Federal Trade Commission.
Although all of that is in the past there are still some of these types of footwear on the market and they still do have certain support from those who are knowledgeable about the footwear. The footwear can affect the way that you walk and then for some individuals that could possibly result in an improvement in some things like lower back pain. Similarly, it might make some people with low back pain feel more painful. There is a lot of effort being directed at studying exactly what the footwear actually do and exactly who can benefit from them and who could be hurt by them. Each person are going to respond in different ways the shoe.
Foot doctors appear to particularly like these sorts of toning shoes because of the type of patients that they see. The rocker sole nature of the shoe makes them especially great for those with a painful big toe joint, as with the footwear the joint does not need to move as much. However, while that may be helpful for that joint it does put more pressure on the ankle joint so could create or make worse issues at the ankle joint. It was problems like this that led to the legal issues in the past and need to be carefully considered by anyone advocating or using these shoes. Toning shoes do have their uses and they can be helpful for the right individuals with the right problem.