The American Council on Exercise has recently conducted a study on the benefits of toning shoes to see if they live up to their claims. Millions of women have already purchased toning shoes, and there are many millions more who are still considering a purchase. The ACE study investigated changes to the metabolism and toning properties of three of the major toning shoes in the United States, Skechers Shape Ups, MBT shoes and the Reebok Easytone.

Even before the release of the report, the two camps were firmly divided. On one side the toning shoe manufacturers and their millions of satisfied customers and on the other a growing body of people who doubt the claims of the shoes, instead believe them to be just the product of several million dollars of marketing might.

The research found no statistically significant data to back up claims of toning, and metabolism and cardiovascular exercise when wearing the shoes remained unchanged. All of the doubters have stood up to be counted, with irrefutable proof that they were right all along, and that toning shoes do not work. However, just as ACE points out of the toning shoe manufacturers, tests can be engineered to produce the desired results. They claim that Skechers, Reebok and MBT research is not sound, and that by not subjecting the analysis to peer review, the results cannot be validated, although this is not entirely true, as studies have been independently verified with some rocker sole studies published in notable scientific journals.

However it"s not all bad news for toning shoes, as just as ACE claim biased research, ACE can too be tarred with the same brush. If the ACE research was subjected to peer review, certain elements would be called into question. Of course, this is a trial by media, not within the scientific community, and should the ACE paper be submitted to a journal it would be subject to the same stringent reviews as any piece of research. On that basis, questions would be raised at a sample size of just 12. The tests were run for only 5 minutes, a somewhat short timeframe for producing valid results, when the toning shoes manufacturers recommend 25minutes to 45 minutes only to start with and have conducted tests on 80 subjects over 8 months. The ACE tests amounted to a mere 3 hours in each sample, which as a preliminary study leading to further research would be acceptable, but as irrefutable proof certainly not.

For a target market of women between 18 and 40, the sample size was restricted to 19-24 in one study, and 19-27 in another. The sample was skewed, testing on physically active women, those least likely to realise the benefits of toning shoes. Whilst the test was comprehensive in the muscle groups measured, the report included data which was never in question, and presented the findings in a way to discredit. The study ensured that few if any metabolic effects would be recorded due to its design. The rocker sole promotes a faster walking speed, and it is this which produces more noticeable effects. Muscle gets toned faster at a faster speed of walking, and many women achieve excellent results of which the faster walking speed is a major factor. Over the course of 3 x 5 minute tests it is far from sufficient to claim any statistically significant results.

Until further studies can be completed, testing the shoes over a longer time frame, as with the case studies completed by Skechers, the research by MBT and Reebok, the actual increase in toning is open to speculation. However, despite the name, toning shoes offer a far better package for healthy living than toning alone. They promote faster walking, they replicate barefoot walking in soft sand gently stretching the muscles in the feet and increasing flexibility. They provide exceptional cushioning with all of that EVA foam underfoot, and they have been reported by many thousands of painful joint sufferers to make walking pain free. The shoes improve the posture, easing back pain and allow the body to perform efficiently. They even improve blood circulation.

An study has long been overdue where totally independent testing is conducted, certainly when so much marketing might is put into toning shoes. No doubt further studies will be conducted to clarify the position on toning, however the other range of benefits have never been called into question. Toning shoes remain a great choice for a healthy lifestyle, they have helped millions to take up more of an active lifestyle, and they have made exercise fun again. The comfort is second to none, and the style is first rate. Providing you are a fan of EVA foam that is. As for toning, a wealth of research exists to claim that toning shoes are effective, despite what the ACE report states. Even in light of the latest report, nothing has really changed, and toning shoes could well still offer the toning that they claim.