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Sneakers plus
Special slimming shoes made for mody building
High soles and low heels are the features of the slimming shoes created by Mei Ko, the operation director of Harver Pacific Corp. based in Central.
“The increasing concern over fitness inspired me to design the slimming shoes,” said Miss Ko.
With the soles tilted up to 12 degrees, the shoes are expected to increase energy expenditure, firm the muscles of the lower extremities, moderate the posture and strengthen cardiopulmonary functions.
In order to scientifically support the functions, Miss Ko invited the human movement laboratory at
The Chinese University of Hong Kong to assess the shoes.
Dr. Li Jingxian, the scientific officer, is in charge of the assessment.
The assessment employs human subjects, a fact that can avoid errors caused by tester machines, said Dr. Li.
The tests on the slimming shoes included analysis of wearers’ gaits, energy expenditure, heart rates, muscle activity, pressure distribution on the feet, and cushioning properties.
Thirteen female college students were invited to be subjects. They were instructed to walk at a comfortable pace in the slimming shoes, and walk again in regular ones.
Gait analysis showed that walking on the slimming shoes reduced stride length, increased stride frequency and moderated the posture.
Heart rate and energy expenditure analysis indicated a faster heart rate, and an increase of 9 to 13 percent in calorie burning compared with regular shoes.
It was found that the muscles of the lower extremities got firmer after wearing the slimming shoes.
In the test, the pressure on the feet from the slimming shoes was measured with 99 sensors on each shoe.
Dr. Li said the shoes are comfortable enough to wear despite the risen soles.
He said, “Data showed no distinctly high pressure on the feet. This ensures basic in-shoe comfort.
“Cushioning properties of the slimming shoes are a bit poorer than those of the selected regular ones, but they are still adequate.”
Eva Tang, a Year 3 student in the Department of Sociology at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, doubted the usefulness of the shoes.
Said she: “If I could spare an hour walking in the slimming shoes every day, I would rather climb real slopes, or take exercises that burn more fat.”
However, Christine Cheung, 45, said she would try the shoes because it seemed easier than going to the gym. She has spent $60,000 on fitness centers in the past four years.
While Dr. Li only tested short-term effects of the shoes, Vincent W.H. Chan, chairman of Chiropractic Doctors’ Association of Hong Kong, said long-term use of the slimming shoes would harm health.
“The structure of these shoes is against the natural gait. It will induce pressure on one’s calf muscles, heels, knees and hipbones. The unequal distribution of strength will increase the load on the spine,
“Long-term wearing may cause inflammation of the heels and speed up the degeneration of some joints,” said Dr. Chan.
He suggested those who wanted to lose weight choose a healthier way.
Julia Tan, a Year 2 business student from the Chinese University, said the shoes were uncomfortable after trying them.
She said, “I almost lost my balance. I felt an ache in my ankles.”
Phoebe Chan, a freshman from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, said she would not even bother to try them.
She said, “Their structure is against nature. I doubt whether I can walk steadily on them.
“Also, they may not match my clothes.”
The shoes hit the market in November, in forms of running shoes and casual ones.
Regarding the concerns for health, Dr. Li said slimming shoes are not against the natural gait.
He said, “People living in hilly areas climb slopes almost every day. But no data has showed they bear a higher risk of joint degeneration and muscle illnesses than regular flatland dwellers.
“The slimming shoes just imitate the effect of slope climbing. We cannot say which one is natural and the other is not.”
Dr. Li has tried wearing the shoes himself. He said, “My calf muscles tightened at first, but I got adapted to it after a while. I felt fairly comfortable with them.”
Nonetheless, he said the slimming shoes do not suit everyone.
For children, the elderly and pregnant women, who have not developed their gaits completely, or have poor balance and muscle strength , the new invention does not suit them, because the shoes would change gait and enhance muscle activity.
Miss Ko said that wearers should be between 15 and 55 years old.
She said the shoes do not work by themselves. A balanced diet and regular exercises should supplement wearing the shoes.
“It also depends on wearers’ adaptability and conditions of muscles.
“People need to moderate their muscles to adapt to the special structure of the shoes,” said she.
Miss Ko is confident of her invention. She said the slimming shoes would have more room when people care more about their health.
Said she: “I don’t suppose they will gain popularity quickly. It will take time.”
Courtesy
of Dr. To
The right picture shows a slimmed face after rejection.
