Toning shoes, also called wellness shoes and rocker bottom shoes, are athletic shoes with an unstable sole. Many toning shoes increase the heel-to-toe motion of the foot, activating muscles different from those used in a normal gait. The original toning shoes with rounded toes were initially developed to provide physical therapy for people suffering from ankle injuries. Now toning shoes are touted for their ability to stimulate muscles in the legs and lower torso more efficiently. Manufacturers often claim that toning shoes can help the user to burn more calories and essentially gain exercise benefits by wearing the shoes.
However, the built-in instability of toning shoes can increase the risk of stress fractures, falling and fall injuries. Sports medicine experts explain that toning shoes may pose a particular risk for elderly people, diabetics and those with poor balance, vertigo, lack of feeling in their feet or chronically weak ankles. Wearers who walk with feet or toes at a slight angle could potentially be more prone to tripping or falling.
Injuries from the use of toning shoes can include:
- Strained / inflamed Achilles tendons – Toning shoes put the Achilles tendon through a larger range of motion than some more restrictive shoes, such as high heels. Women who typically wear high heels may be more prone to injuries when switching to toning shoes because heels shorten the range of motion in the tendon, and the shift in motion can lead to a tendon rupture or tear.
- Slips and falls – The instability of toning shoes can be problematic for people with balance problems, who can roll over the outside of the shoe or trip and fall. Some diabetics, who have particular numbness in their feet and ankles, are also more prone to falls. The shoes' instability is supposed to make them more effective at burning calories, but it can also lead to injuries in anyone who struggles with balance or vertigo. Some brands of toning shoes also have poor traction on slippery surfaces, making falls more likely to occur.
- Broken bones – The built-in instability of toning shoes, while ostensibly providing a health benefit, can lead to falls and fractures, particularly in elderly consumers who may be more prone to fractures.
- Sprains – In certain brands of toning shoes, the bridge between the toe and the heel is too narrow, causing the wearer to wobble from side to side. People with weak ankles or ankle instability may twist their ankles if they lose their balance while wearing these shoes, leading to an injury to the ligament, also known as a sprain. Chronic sprains can eventually require surgery to repair ligament damage.
- Strains – People who lose their balance often try to compensate by quick muscle movements to regain their stability. A person wearing toning shoes who wobbles and tries to avoid falling may end up causing a muscle strain instead. Strains are injuries to the muscle or tendons and are often caused by pulling a muscle in one direction while it is contracting in the other.
- Natural gait disruption – Because toning shoes are designed to increase the heel-to-toe motion of the foot, they inherently alter the way most wearers walk. This can be beneficial for some, but many people have minor variations in their gait that they may not be aware of when wearing traditional footwear. These gait characteristics, such as toes or feet at an angle, can become more pronounced when wearing toning shoes and may cause injuries, including hip, foot and ankle injuries.
- Stress fractures – Stress fractures are small cracks in the bone, often caused by repetitive motions. Because a stress fracture is not as dramatic and immediate as a traditional broken bone, the injury may start out as minor pain and eventually become increasingly intense, turning into serious stress fractures in the feet, ankles or hips.
Contact Our Toning Shoe Injury Lawyers Today
If you have been injured while wearing toning shoes, you may have legal rights to claim compensation. The MEDLAW legal team of Janet, Jenner & Suggs, LLC is a nationally recognized law firm committed to assisting victims of negligently manufactured products.
Our team includes accomplished personal injury lawyers, a board-certified physician and registered nurses to help maximize our ability to recover substantial damages for those who are seriously injured by a negligently manufactured product or device.
The MEDLAW Legal Team of Janet, Jenner & Suggs, LLC, is a national firm with offices in Baltimore, MD, Asheville, NC, and Columbia, SC. The law firm has satellite offices in New York City. Time is of the essence to protect your legal rights. Call (888) 4-MED-LAW or contact us online immediately.