Spotlight on:
MBTs and Scoliosis
Scoliosis – simply put, a lateral curvature of the spine, in addition to the normal ‘front-back’ S-shaped vertebral formation. The scoliosis condition places unnatural pressures on the short edge of the lateral S curve, pushing the vulnerable discs into the more open space of the longer edge. The erector spinae muscles which run like ropes on either side of the vertebral column become short and tight on one side and weak and extended on the opposite side, destabilizing the spine and increasing injury and pain risk.
If minor, one way of controlling deterioration of scoliosis is through correct strengthening of the major balancing muscles – hamstrings, buttocks, abdominals and erector spinae – to help control the amount of lateral vertebral-body shift. Because each individual vertebral bone is slightly (or more) out of alignment, correct articulation of the joints is compromised, and when performing many traditional ‘core strength’ exercises, discomfort or pain ensues.
The traditional lifted and cushioned heel area and the ball of foot ‘push-off’ point of 'regular' shoes, in combination with man-made even surfaces, allows the body to be passive and slouched, the foot overactive, and encourages a forward lean. The slight/obvious forward stance thus adopted disengages the power/postural muscles of the buttocks, abdominals, along the spine and the back of the thigh, and can significantly overload the muscles and ligaments along the length of the spine.
We weren’t born with shoes, but were cleverly designed to be able to walk unshod on natural surfaces, using a balancing technique to reduce the forces through the feet. Balancing on uneven ground automatically engages all the postural muscles – deep mid-foot muscles, calves, back of thigh, buttocks, pelvic floor, abdominals and either side of the spine, those all important erector spinae muscles. Most notably, a particular buttock muscle outwardly rotates the thigh bone in the hip socket, so the leg falls away from the body in a neutral line and the hamstrings (back of thigh) and the buttocks together form your powerful engine for forward motion. Feet sense the ground but stay relaxed – rather like paws. Far from dragging ourselves forward with our feet, we are designed to push ourselves forward using some of the biggest muscle groups in the body (you can see this clearly in horses and cheetahs, where the animals power comes from its haunches). This maintains an upright and vertical stance, and consequently can signifcantly off-load pressure along the spine, especially the lower back.
MBT shoes can help with the minor scoliosis condition simply by allowing the body to operate in a biomechanically sound way – as nature intended - as described above.
MBT shoes are not cushioned (although they ‘feel’ superbly so), padded or supportive. The inner sole is completely flat. It is as if your foot was bare. The technology is in the outer sole, which recreates uneven ground, no matter how even or solid the surface is that you’re moving over. When wearing MBTs, when standing or moving, you are balancing – you have no choice. Muscles that should have been doing the job of propelling you forward your entire life, will automatically kick in – even if they are surprised at being told to!
Scoliosis suffers wearing MBT shoes are training 'core' postural muscles constantly, but in the upright position and generally more comfortably than when doing core training lying down. So strength and tone in those all important erector spinae muscles is more readily achieved, and because the body slightly counter-rotates when moving upright, those muscles are continually changing shape and stay more comfortable for longer. This effect is felt under our direction on a slow-moving treadmill and then on the shop floor. We can help you use your body in a more comfortable and efficient way, even when the effect of MBT shoes is new to your body.
If you think you've tried everything to help with scoliosis, but haven't yet tried MBT shoes - come to Ten-Point. We look forward to being able to show you how to help yourself!
