MASAI BAREFOOT TECHNOLOGY MBT SHOE FAQs
Why are my MBT shoes and MBT trainers a different size to my regular shoes?
MBT shoes use a Swiss/Germanic continental sizing, which tends to come up larger than UK sizing. The demo lesson is always done in the MBT sandal, enabling us to 'measure' using the visual aid of the toe position. The 'size' as such is irrelevant, so long as the fit is as comfortable and glove-like as possible.
How will I know if I'm walking correctly in my MBT shoes?
MBT shoes use a feedback mechanism to correct bad habits. Because there is no padding, cushioning or support in MBT shoes, proprioceptive feedback from your soles is loud and clear. You will be able to feel everything.
The human body has a desire to be comfortable at all times, which is why we tend to compensate around injury. Happily, the only comfortable position to be in when in MBT shoes ... is vertical! If you are comfortable, you must be 'doing it right'!
How will I know if I'm walking incorrectly in my MBT shoes?
As shown during the MBT lesson, proprioceptive feedback can be positive (comfortable) as well as negative (uncomfortable). If it doesn't feel good, then you will have undoubtedly tipped slightly forward. The most common examples of negative feedback are tight calves, scuffing and burning balls of feet. You are in the incorrect position and the MBT shoes are just letting you know loud and clear, so you can self-correct.
Can I put MBT leather shoes and MBT trainers in the washing machine?
NO!!!!!!!! Use sneaker balls (£4.50 per pair at Ten-Point) to keep the inners fresh, free of fungi and bacteria. Brush/polish uppers clean when they get dirty. If your MBT shoes get wet, make sure they are thoroughly dry before you wear them again. The outer soles are made of layers of carbon fibre and pressure through the layers whilst still drying out can cause premature separation, which is avoided with proper care.
Can I use insoles/orthotics in my MBT shoes or MBT trainers?
Rather than use insoles for padding/filling to improve fit, we prefer to customise the fit of the most appropriate shoe with good old traditional cobblers methods if necessary. At Ten-Point, we also specialise in the use of Superfeet insoles which improve the stability of the ankle by cupping the heel perfectly. If you have prescribed insoles, bring them along, and we will be able to help you chose the best style to accommodate your particular problem. Sometimes, better alignment of the body enables foot pain sufferers to reduce and even dispense with more bulky orthopaedic insoles.
Will MBT footwear help my back/hip/knee/ankle/foot problem?
Yes. See Helen at Ten-Point for specific help and rehab exercises.
Can I run in my MBT trainers?
Yes, tremendously smoothly, comfortably and without impact! Helen offers 1-1 running technique lessons to help correct poor/unstable running habits. If you've ever thought, or even been told 'running is not for you' - think again. It's all about technique! Contact the shop for more details.
Can I play tennis in my MBTs trainers?
The short answer is ‘no’ – MBTs are not recommended as a tennis shoe. A longer answer allows an explaination!
MBT shoes work on a very simple principle. Our bodies are designed to move very efficiently, with endurance, barefoot on uneven ground. When in MBTs, because there is no cushioning or padding or support, it is as if your feet are unshod, and the unstable sole recreates naturally uneven ground no matter how even and hard the man-made material under the shoe. So you have to balance, as nature intended, and, as nature intended, it should feel easy and comfortable.
With a great big heel bone, and further forward lots of tiny vulnerable joints close to the toes, we are not designed to ‘heel strike’ and ‘toe-off’… born barefoot, we would be bruised and battered! The balance aspect of the MBT technology allows us to naturally use the endurance muscles at the back of the body (the postural muscles of the buttocks, hamstrings and either side of the spine) and this pulls our body-weight further back than in stable shoes.
When wearing MBT shoes, if you are listening to your body, it will be giving you all sorts of clues as to its postural comfort. It is relatively easy to be forward in MBTs, because habitually we adopt this position when wearing any stable shoe against man-made even surfaces, BUT forward stances in MBTs won’t be comfortable because you are using the postural muscles (the balancing ones) under strain. The idea being, you break your bad habits simply because they are not comfortable enough to bother maintaining.
But of course, when playing tennis, you NEED to use the power muscles of the feet, to drive upwards and sideways.
Wonderfully comfortable though they are, MBT shoes and trainers are not replacements for specialist sport footwear. They are however great tools for rehab from repetitive injury. Over-using the body in the forward stance puts all sorts of stresses through the joints, often leading to joint malfunction, pain or reduced range of motion. Wearing MBTs away from your chosen sport, encourages correct posture and gait, and stabilizes the joints so that you can play your sport with less risk of injury.
Having said all that, it also depends on your ability level. I am such a bad player that I can and have played tennis many times in MBTs (on holiday wearing MBT sandals!) – once you are strong and stable you can move across the court laterally, away from the vulnerable balls of your feet, and I’m simply not good enough to be leaping up for smashes!
How long can I wear my MBTs shoes or MBT trainers when starting to wear them for the first time?
Wearing MBT shoes uses many more muscles, which, at the beginning may be comparatively weak due to under-use. There is an initial risk of over-training and so a steady build-up of time wearing them is advised. Full details will be given to you during your initial lesson at Ten-Point.
MBT-UK highly recommends that 'if MBT is to be used as an accompanying therapy to specific health problems, it is essential that you are supervised by a health professional and an MBT Trainer'.
Can I drive in my MBT footwear?
The heel sensor allows the foot to rest on the pedal at an easy angle, and the lack of padding inside the MBT shoe allows for 100% feedback from the pedal.
Can you send me a size x in style y?
In accordance with MBT-UK policy, Ten-Point does not sell MBT shoes on-line.
Can MBT footwear really assist in reducing cellulite?
Cellulite is merely an accumulation of fluid metabolic waste caught in the tissues and in and around the fat cells by the factor of poor circulation. When upright, you use the pumping muscles at the back of the body, optimising circulation and eliminating metabolic waste. Toned thighs and buttocks and disappearing cellulite is a happy side-effect of correct gait and good posture gained when wearing MBT shoes regularly.
Can I get discount?
All Ten-Point customers receive a 'thank you' discount of 10% when they return for any MBT/Chung Shi footwear following their first purchase. There is no limit on how many times you can use your 10% discount. This does not apply to your first purchase of MBT shoes or Chung Shis.
