The FitFlop… fact or fad?
Sometimes, it can take a little while for massive trends to trickle down here to Australia, over the past few months during my travels around various international online stores, I have come across a shoe called “FitFlops” now for those of you in the UK or USA reading this, with a big sigh - thinking to yourself which rock has she been under… gimme a break… FitFlop mania has not yet prevailed on Aussie soil. For those of you like me who are a little hazy on the FitFlop phenomena here is what this wonder shoe claims to do…
(taken from the Fitflop website)
- FitFlop midsoles incorporate patent-pending micro-wobbleboardTM technology, to give you a workout while you walk. Developed by Darren James and Dr David Cook at LSBU, the FitFlop’s unique safely -tapered midsole places varying densities of EVA under your feet each time you step, to challenge the support and balance muscles of the foot and leg.
- They challenge hard to reach muscles more. FitFlops are engineered with a multi-density midsole that stimulates your muscles more while you’re wearing them. In independent University testing, FitFlops have been shown to trigger increase gluteal muscle response, increased hamstring response, increase rectus femoris (thigh) response and increased calf muscle response .
- Every step you take in your FitFlops helps tone and trim your legs:
- FitFlops work your bum muscles more. FitFlops have been clinically proven to increase the amount of time that the gluteus maximus muscle is ‘activated’ during every single step.
- FitFlops have been shown to have a significant effect on the toning muscles of your thighs: The rectus femoris muscle (one of the large muscles in the group of muscles in your thigh) is activated for a longer period of time while walking in FitFlops than while normally shod or barefoot .
- Walking in FitFlops is like walking barefoot, but a little bit better. According to a study done at the University of Salford in Manchester, UK, the FitFlop wearer’s gait is very similar to that of a barefoot walker, but the added cushion provided by the EVA midsole helps reduce joint strain and absorb shock. In fact, several FitFlop wearers have already reported relief from back pain after a few days of wearing them.
- FitFlops make it easier to stay in shape. Just throw them on while you’re running errands, walking to work, or working around your house. Most first-time FitFlop wearers report feeling their muscles working more, while ‘fitter’ wearers feedback has been more toward great comfort and cushion. One woman reported feeling like she’d had a ‘bum-blasting’ workout after a half an hour of FitFlop walking.
I am curious can a flip flop that works like a wobble board really banish your bum, tone your thighs, and create tight calves or is it marketing magic?
So I am asking, has anyone tried the fitflop and found success… Let us know is it fact or fad?
