Effects of "Unstable" Shoes on Low Back Pain, Golf Performance and Posture
Monday, September 27, 2010 at 11:20PMDo shoes like MBT, Sketchers Shape-Up and Reebok EasyTones really work?
The shoe company MBT (Masai Barefoot Technology) developed a revolutionary shoe a few years ago when they “discovered that natural instability has some amazing health benefits.”[1] I have been a fanof MBT shoes for some time. However, for some reason (potentially a high price point for the shoes) limited market penetration and awareness. The recent explosion of advertising and awareness for shoes like Sketchers’ Shape-Ups and now Reebok’s EasyTone shoes has put the concept of “unstable shoes” on all of our doorsteps. The question is “do they really work”? Or at least that is what I get asked now several times each day in the office.
MBT
Reebok EasyTones 
Sketchers Shape-Ups
A couple of recent studies on this type of shoe provide some interesting insight into some of the claims being made. One study in particular, looked at the effectiveness of an unstable shoe on back pain and golf performance.[2]
Subjects in this study using the unstable shoe recorded pain scores after every round of 18 holes of golf over the course of a 6 week study. A significant difference in the perceived low back pain was found in the intervention group. This improvement was noted even during the first week of use. Handily enough, use of the shoe did not negatively affect golf scores or performance (though it would be a nice thing to blame my slice on if I could).
The mechanism of action for this effect on low back pain is presumed to be “increased engagement of core muscle groups and an increase postural muscle activity.” [3]
Other studies have looked at other potential benefits of an unstable shoe, including lower limb pain issues. One study demonstrated that wearing the shoes for 6 weeks resulted in a significant reduction in the perception of knee pain in a population of subjects with moderate knee arthritis.[4]
So if you are considering these shoes the evidence in their favor is generally positive. While they may not do everything promised in some of the ads, an “unstable shoe” seems to have the potential to be helpful with low back pain, knee and foot/ankle pain.
And who knows, maybe they will help your golf game.
[1] www.us.mbt.com
[2] Clin J Sport Med 2009 (19): 464-70
[3] Clin J Sport Med 2009 (19): 464-70
[4] Med Sci Sport Exerc. 2006 (38): 1701-1708
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