Several manufacturers offer sandals that a few years ago might have been viewed as completely un-hip. Today, there are many brands of exercise sandals that purport to be able to give your legs, especially your calves, a workout while you walk. The sandals have become popular and are available in many styles and colors to suit your mood and your outfit.
Background
The idea of being able to tone your legs while you walk seems almost too good to be true. However, American women and girls have bought into the idea and insist that they love their workout sandals. Most of the exercise sandals are known to be very comfortable and they come in a wide variety of styles and colors Whether or not they really work is, like beauty, left up to the beholder.
Fitness Flip Flops
The folks at FitFlop.com say their sandals are bio-mechanically engineered to help tone and tighten your leg muscles while you walk. According to the Fitflop website, studies at the Centre for Human Performance at London South Bank University showed the sandal helps increase leg and bottom muscle activity which results in less ache in hips and knees. The sandals are said to absorb more shock than a normal shoe because of their micro-wobbleboard technology. The sole of the sandal is higher in the back with helps tilt your body a bit forward while you walk. The density of the heel material is engineered to absorb the pressure put on your feet when you walk. Other brands that offer sandals in similar styles include Sketchers and Tony Little Cheeks.
"Health" Sandals
Orthotebb Health shoes are built with a flat sole at the back of the sandal while the front sole is thick. They resemble sandals worn by Geishas. According to Orthotebb, the sole design forces you to use the entire leg, hip and bottom muscles as you walk which helps to improve your posture. Apparently wearing Orthotebb sandals is akin to using a BOSU board. They require a bit of practice but most individuals are comfortable within 10 to 15 minutes of wearing them. Another brand of "health" sandals are those made by Earth Shoes, which were originally created by Anne Kalso in 1957. Earth Shoes also have a lower heel which shifts weight to the outside of your foot. This purportedly results in better posture and core muscle strength.
Oldies But Goodies
Dr Scholl's original wood exercise sandal a has seemingly been around forever. It has a thick wood clog-type foot bed and a leather, suede or fabric upper band that goes across your foot. The upper band can be adjusted to fit your foot precisely. The folks at Dr Scholl's say they were the first to offer a sculptured bed sandal with a raised toe crest. This configuration helps you grip the sandal as you walk which results in exercising your legs but especially your calf muscles. Another brand of sandals with a formed toe bed and crest are Birkenstocks. They have been manufactured in Germany for more than 100 years.
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