Sunday, October 17, 2010

Stable versus unstable rocker shoes - What's the difference?

There is a lot of hype in the market right now about rocker sole shoes and what they can do for you. The market is growing at an unbelievable rate. One of the most popular is the Skecher Shape-up. What people do not realize is that there are two categories of rocker sole shoes: stable and unstable.

The unstable rocker sole shoes, like Skecher and MBT, allow your foot to move in all planes. In other words, not only just back to front, but also a lot of side to side motion. This works your core muscles more and is touted to tone all of the muscles in the legs. This works well for many if they have no medical conditions. One of the issues with an unstable rocker shoe is that if you have issues with flat feet, overpronation, weak ankles or weak knees, they can actually make matters worse. There is a class action lawsuit right now about exaggerated claims and injuries regarding these shoes.

The stable rocker shoes, like Z-CoiL and Tenevis, are more controlled and prevent a lot of the side to side motion so your gait cycle is more secure. Your body moves in the direction that it is supposed to move. Your alignment is better and you do not have as much rocking and rolling in your joints. The impact reduction and smoother gait makes you feel great.

Our philosophy at this point is to carry shoes that help you, not hurt you! If you are in the market for a rocker shoe, try Z-CoiL or Tenevis before you buy one of the unstable rockers. Your body will thank you as a result.

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