MBT
Masai Barefoot technology (MBT) is the first physiological footwear, which basically means footwear that has a positive effect on the whole body. MBT is based on the simple insight that the human musculo-skeletal system is designed for walking barefoot on soft natural ground. But we spend most of our lives walking on flat and hard surfaces which is unnatural for our bodies.
So in 1990 Swiss engineer Karl Müller, while on holiday from his city job, discovered the beneficial effect of walking barefoot on natural ground and the stimulating effect of natural instability on the body’s supporting muscle system. Müller then began developing a unique sole technology which enables the body to walk naturally so all the positive effects of natural instability could be equally accessible on hard flat city surfaces. Müller based his research and development on the East African Masai who are incredible athletes with no experience of back and joint problems. Worlds apart from Westerners like us who wear shoes which constrain and control our feet, stabilising our bodies in a completely unnatural way.
How do MBTs work?
MBTs work through the natural instability produced underneath the feet, which causes the neglected muscle groups to automatically activate a balance response just as nature intended. These activated muscles relieve the pressure on joints and discs while walking and make the passive gait conventional shoes encourage impossible. Every step taken in MBTs acts like a tiny fitness exercise. As our Osteopath Simon Turgoose said when trialling them: “They are more of an exercise tool than a pair of shoes.” Even standing in MBTs has a training effect on muscles relieving joint strain and stabilising the musclo-skeletal system.
What is the technology behind the sole?
Imagine walking barefoot on a soft natural ground, maybe a white sandy beach, in an environment of pure natural instability. Afterwards your whole musculo skeletal system has been exhilarated. So how do they do this? Basically through the interplay of the following components:
- Insole
- Shank : the TPU and glass fibre shank provides the necessary firmness for the sole construction. It also ensures a natural rolling movement of the foot with every step optimising the pressure distribution over the whole sole.
- PU midsole with pivot: the balancing section integrated in the PU midsole underneath the metatarsus requires an active rolling movement with every step activating a large number of stabilising muscles throughout the whole body both when walking and standing.
- Masai sensor: the Masai sensor is the heart of the Masai Barefoot Technology. It produces that wonderful walking along on a sandy beach feeling- creating the natural instability which the body automatically reacts to with increased muscle activity.
- Outsole
The Benefits!
So wearing these revolutionary shoes activates the muscle groups needed to coordinate and stablilise the body when walking and standing. This muscular system is exercised all the way up to the neck, stretched and relaxed back to balance with every step! Hundreds of thousands of consumers and scientists worldwide have experienced the many positive effects. The benefits are:
- activates neglected muscles
- improves posture and gait
- tones and shapes the body
- can help with joint, muscle, ligament and tendon injuries
- reduces stress on the knee and hip joint
MBT activates the whole body! Book your fitting at The Vale Practice today!