MBT: Medical, Sports & Casual Shoes

Physiological footwear

denotes shoes that have a number of positive effects not only on the foot but

on the whole body. MBT is the first physiological footwear. Masai Barefoot

Technology is patented worldwide. The shoes were created after studying the Masai tribe from East Africa. Karl Muller, the inventor of MBT, observed

that because the Masai walked on soft, instable ground, they were forced to use

their body to maintain balance. This balancing act, apparently, is good for

strengthening core muscles and promotes good posture. To simulate walking on a

soft surface such as sand or soft moss, Karl created the MBT shoe line with a

rounded, curved sole to force the wearer to balance themselves like the members

of Masai.

Masai

Barefoot Technology for medical applications: MBTs can contribute significantly

to alleviating a variety of ailments, and many doctors and physiotherapists

like to use them to treat patient. Masai Barefoot Technology is used in sports: many professional athletes

rely on MBTs for regeneration, prevention and accelerated healing of injuries

and in endurance and coordination training. Masai

Barefoot Technology in everyday use: train muscles, burn calories, protect

joints ... while you're doing something else. Shopping, in the office, at home,

MBTs act as training equipment, every step of the way. The developers of the MBT footwear have

attempted create a shoe that serves to lessen stress on those parts of the body used in the process of walking, while also helping one to develop better

coordination. These are a great option

for someone with compromised feet (or ankles) who might have problems going the

barefoot route at first. Also, they aren't really meant to be worn off paving

as they intentionally cause instability that isn't appropriate for hiking

(though they do come in a "hiking" boot and other styles). A rounded midsole creates the

"pivot" of the shoes. This curved bottom makes it so that your heel

and toe cannot hit the ground at the same time. As you walk, you step on your

mid-foot, not the heel, and roll over the pivot. This not only distributes

pressure with each step, but also trains you to focus on balancing.

Available at Zappos.