Earlier in man’s history we walked barefoot on soft and uneven ground. Our arches were filled with soft earth and grasses, a natural arch support. The smaller muscles of the feet and the body’s natural muscle balancing system were well developed.
Today, we walk on mostly hard surfaces and in shoes that slant forward with the heel elevated. Most people do not have any kind of support for their arches.
What has resulted is that the small muscles of the feet are not developed nor are the other parts of the body that provide natural balancing. Without any kind of arch support in play, the arches fall as we walk, causing damage to the foot and compromising healthy internal and external rotation up the legs and into the hips. Most people are vulnerable to falling because of deficient muscle development of the bodies natural balancing muscles.
MBT shoes were created to place us back into a more natural walking position from the feet up. They are heel to toe rocker shoes. Posture is improved dramatically as is rotation in the ankles, knees and hips. There is less pulling at the lower back because of the change in posture. Circulation is improved as the ankles open up more fully with each step. MBT shoes are unstable by design, forcing development of all the muscles that balance the entire body.
Image: Photos by Becky