Healthy Outlook Blog

Some doctors have recommended rocker bottom shoes to specific patients for years, says John O’Kane, MD, associate professor of orthopedics at University of Washington School of Medicine and the head team physician for the university’s sports teams. Most of the time, it has been for patients with sore and stiff ankle joints.

The most studied are the MBTs. The science isn’t the peer reviewed kind that makes medical journal headlines, but O’Kane says it’s pretty solid. “The studies show that they increase the work of walking – they make it harder like walking on the sand is. If they increase the work, then they increase the calories burned.”  However, there are studies that suggest there is no difference. In late July, the American Council of Exercise released a report based on a small study that showed no statistical difference between regular running shoes and a few varieties of rocker bottom shoes in terms of calorie burn or muscle activation.

There are some claims that the shoes can relieve back pain, and O’Kane says research could prove that true. “People who walk in them have an ankle more flexed to the floor, and the pelvis rolls back and reduces lumbar lordosis. That’s linked to back pain. It’s not a stretch to extrapolate that these might help.” There is also anecdotal evidence that people who stand for long periods of time find these shoes make those long stretches on their feet more comfortable, but O’Kane says that neither claim has been proved by science.

With the increase in manufacturers and availability, however, O’Kane has concerns – among them is buying these shoes without talking to someone knowledgeable in the store, or doing it on line without even trying them out. “These shoes are less stable, and while they may improve balance over time, they could be risky for people at increased risk of falling.”

So who are these for? Medically speaking, for people with tired legs and sore feet, O’Kane says. “I wouldn’t put weight loss at the top of the list unless this is what will get you moving.”

Connect the dots:

The MBT costs from about $100 to over $200. Sketchers cost about $100 a pair, less for the flip flop version. Reebok Easytone run about $100 a pair, or $60 for the flip flop. Avia Motion shoes cost $80-120 per pair. FitFlops come mostly in sandal styles and cost $50-60. There are few good peer-reviewed studies. The most recent relate to issues such as stance and ankle problems. More information from an unbiased source is available from the Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine.