There are a variety of shoes that look…. rare…and claim to be able to alleviate lower extremity pain, including heel pain. MBT, Masei Barefoot Technology, is one such shoe that has been available for several years. These shoes have a soft heel and a rocker sole, which forces the foot to work more on the midfoot. Some patients have found relief with these shoes, and I would recommend them on occasion, but many find that the drastic change in gait causes new problems. These are not to be confused with “toning shoes” like Sketchers Shape-Ups, which have no therapeutic value.
