Masai barefoot technology
By Herman Mpangile
Japan
Masai barefoot technology is the theory behind the MBT rocker bottom shoe made by MBT Shoes, a Swiss company. The creator of Masai barefoot technology shoes is a Swiss engineer, Karl Muller. Muller suffered from chronic back and knee pain and had resigned himself to living with it for the rest of his life. On a vacation in Southeast Asia in the early 1990s, Muller realized that his back and knee pain had virtually disappeared. In retrospect, he realized that the biggest difference in his life over the previous weeks had been the surface on which he walked every day--soft, springy moss in the paddy fields.
On his return to Switzerland, Muller started researching shoe technology and body architecture. In the course of his research, he found references to the Masai tribe in Eastern Africa particularly Tanzania, who have a reputation for walking long distances without rest or fatigue. Once again, he noted that the Masai typically walk barefoot on a soft, springy surface. He developed a theory that the instability of walking on surfaces like sand, peat moss or soft earth contributes to better posture and improved muscle strength.
Masai Barefoot Technology and Shoe Construction
Muller worked with other engineers to develop a shoe that simulates the motion of the body when walking barefoot on sand or another soft, springy surface. There are four main features of the MBT shoe construction that all contribute to the effects of the shoe on your body.
The Rocker Sole mimics the instability of stepping down on soft ground. Unlike regular shoes which artificially stabilize the ankle, the rocker sole forces your body to stabilize itself by using the calf, thigh, buttocks and core muscles.
The Negative Heel places your heel lower than the ball of the foot with each step so that your foot works the way it is intended to work, rolling forward to bring your body's weight over your foot once your balance is stabilized.
The Wide Toe Box gives your toes room to spread and grip the inside of the shoe naturally the way that they are meant to do to help push off your weight for the next foot.
The All Natural Inner Sole of the shoe cushions the foot and provides a "shock absorber" to help reduce the strain on all of your joints and your musculo-skeletal system.
Japan
Masai barefoot technology is the theory behind the MBT rocker bottom shoe made by MBT Shoes, a Swiss company. The creator of Masai barefoot technology shoes is a Swiss engineer, Karl Muller. Muller suffered from chronic back and knee pain and had resigned himself to living with it for the rest of his life. On a vacation in Southeast Asia in the early 1990s, Muller realized that his back and knee pain had virtually disappeared. In retrospect, he realized that the biggest difference in his life over the previous weeks had been the surface on which he walked every day--soft, springy moss in the paddy fields.
On his return to Switzerland, Muller started researching shoe technology and body architecture. In the course of his research, he found references to the Masai tribe in Eastern Africa particularly Tanzania, who have a reputation for walking long distances without rest or fatigue. Once again, he noted that the Masai typically walk barefoot on a soft, springy surface. He developed a theory that the instability of walking on surfaces like sand, peat moss or soft earth contributes to better posture and improved muscle strength.
Masai Barefoot Technology and Shoe Construction
Muller worked with other engineers to develop a shoe that simulates the motion of the body when walking barefoot on sand or another soft, springy surface. There are four main features of the MBT shoe construction that all contribute to the effects of the shoe on your body.
The Rocker Sole mimics the instability of stepping down on soft ground. Unlike regular shoes which artificially stabilize the ankle, the rocker sole forces your body to stabilize itself by using the calf, thigh, buttocks and core muscles.
The Negative Heel places your heel lower than the ball of the foot with each step so that your foot works the way it is intended to work, rolling forward to bring your body's weight over your foot once your balance is stabilized.
The Wide Toe Box gives your toes room to spread and grip the inside of the shoe naturally the way that they are meant to do to help push off your weight for the next foot.
The All Natural Inner Sole of the shoe cushions the foot and provides a "shock absorber" to help reduce the strain on all of your joints and your musculo-skeletal system.
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