The fashion must-have that helped me through pregnancy     

Dr Clare Thompson, 28, an Immunologist from King’s College, Cambridge, solved her back problems during pregnancy by wearing MBTs - physiological footwear that is fast becoming a fashion accessory worn by the likes of Madonna, Angelina Jolie, Teri Hatcher, Arnold Schwarzenegger and even Cherie Blair.

Says Clare: "Two years ago, I developed severe back pain when five months pregnant with my first daughter, Daisy Madeleine. The pain was high on the right side of my back, near the shoulder blade - I could literally feel a lump of bunched muscle under my bra strap. My GP referred me for physiotherapy at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

I’d never had any previous back problems and considered myself fit - I cycle or walk everywhere around Cambridge and attended weekly circuit training and yoga classes - so the back pain wasn’t due to lack of exercise. In fact, I was told the muscle problem was brought on by bad posture, from expecting a really big baby. Daisy was 9lb 6oz when she was born, so I guess they were right!

The physio applied heat, then massaged my back every week, and I was given exercises to do at home. One involved lying on the floor on one side and moving my arm across my body - a twisting exercise to work the right side of my back. I also had to do a push-off exercise while standing in front of a wall to move my shoulder blades back. Every night I had to apply a heat pad and take paracetamol as my back was so painful it interfered with sleep. I had physio for eight weeks before Daisy was born, and returned again a month after the birth to continue treatment until Daisy was around 12 weeks old. 

During my second pregnancy, the back pain came on at five months again - in exactly the same place as before. I was expecting another big baby - Robyn Mary weighed 8lb 11oz at birth - and posture was again a problem. Once again my GP referred me for physiotherapy and soon after, an American physio friend of mine, Joshua Wies, asked if I’d like to try MBTs. He gave them to me on 25th November, when our families got together to celebrate American Thanksgiving. He explained that they correct posture due to their rounded bottoms which mean you have to stand in a particular way. They also remove the shock as your heel strikes the ground during walking, so shock waves don’t travel up your back. My only concern was that the black trainer he brought looked rather ugly and felt heavy to hold. Once they were on my feet, however, they felt light and the sensation was similar to floating. I started walking in them, increasing from 30 minutes per day and building up the time I wore them over a couple of weeks as r

ecommended. My NHS physiotherapist thought I was very brave to try something so new, but I felt I’d give anything a go - the back pain was so bad. Within two weeks, all the muscle tension was gone and my back pain disappeared so quickly, I only needed a further two sessions of physiotherapy.  This really proved to me how much my back problem was due to bad posture. In fact, my NHS physio was so impressed, she attended a lecture that Joshua give on MBTs and she now recommends and wears them herself.

When Robyn was born, on 28th March 2006, I thought my problems were over and went back to wearing normal shoes for a long walk across Midsummer Common and along the River Cam. My back pain recurred and when I got home I had to apply a heat pad to my back that night. This prompted me to return to MBTs - I now have the new white Kisumu sandals and haven't taken them off. They are unusually light and comfortable, much more stylish, and fit like slippers. I can’t wait to see the new boots that are coming out for winter.’

Further background: Clare is married to John, an IT consultant. Her research involved studying the immunological effects of the new cervical cancer vaccines.    

The Low-Down on MBTs

Although they have gained fashion status, MBTs have numerous physiological benefits on the musculoskeletal system and pelvic floor. MBT is an acronym for Masai Barefoot Technology. They were developed by Swiss Engineer, Karl Muller, who suffered from back pain himself. He noted that the Masai - an African nomadic tribe - rarely developed back problems and realised this was because of walking barefoot on soft, natural ground, so the body rebalanced itself with every step.  Whenever he experienced back problems, he tried walking barefoot over paddy fields and this quickly cured his pain. After many years of research, Muller developed the MBT sole to replicate this effect, and started selling them in 1996. Over one million pairs of MBTs have been sold so far and they are now available in over 20 countries and stocked in 334 outlets in the UK. Many of these suppliers have a medical or fitness background as chartered physiotherapists, osteopaths or Pilates instructors. MBTs are certified as Class 1 Medical

Equipment in the EU and several health insurance companies will reimburse their cost.  

How they work

Unlike conventional shoes, which support and stabilise the body in an unnatural way, MBTs induce a natural instability in the body. Joshua Wies, Senior Research Physiotherapist at the Rheumatology Research Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge is responsible for MBT’s research in the UK and says: ‘MBTs have a unique curved, negative-heel sole that forces the wearer to walk in a natural, heel-toe movement, swinging gracefully from the hips as if walking bare foot in sand. This encourages an upright posture so the ankles, knees, hips and spinal joints are aligned.’

The inbuilt instability beneath the feet enables the body to constantly make tiny adjustments to maintain its balance, activating the joints’ supporting muscles. It’s these ceaseless, subtle movements that have such a powerful effect to improve posture and relieve the pressure on joints and discs. Rather than the passive gait that occurs with conventional shoes, each step taken with MBT physiological footwear acts like a fitness exercise to relieve joint strain and stabilise your musculo-skeletal system.  

The science

Clinical studies at Calgary University and Sheffield Hallam University have demonstrated that MBTs reduce loading through the hips and knees. Wearing MBTs reduces stress on knee and hip joints by around 20%, and increases muscle activity in the lower limbs and thigh muscles by a similar amount. Even your buttock muscles enjoy a 9% increase in activity during walking. And the work out doesn’t end there. Even when standing still, the curved sole means your muscles are constantly rebalancing the body so muscle activity in your legs is almost 40% greater than when standing than with conventional shoes.  It’s not surprising that MBTs have been described as  a ‘gym on your feet’ and ‘yoga in a shoe’.

Many physiotherapists recommend MBTs to treat neurological, joint and spine problems, including lower back pain, arthritis, rheumatism, osteoporosis, muscular imbalances and postural disorders. They also correct foot problems and can be used as an alternative to orthopaedic shoe inserts (orthotics). Wherease orthotics guide and support the foot and absorb shock, MBTs  train the tendons and muscles of the foot to move correctly. 

When worn during pregnancy, MBTs  strengthen muscles in the back and pelvic floor, as well as increasing circulation to the legs to limit ankle swelling. Post-pregnancy they tone leg, back and abdominal muscles and, researchers are currently exploring their potential for strengthening pelvic floor muscles to improve stress incontinence.  Due to their muscle toning effects, customer feedback suggests they are effective at reducing cellulite.

The MBT Academy recommend that if you have been wearing MBTs prior to the pregnancy, then you can continue to use them while expecting as your body will have adapted to them. If you have not worn MBTs before, only start using them during pregnancy under the supervision of a health professional such as a physiotherapist, midwife, GP or accredited Pilates instructor who is familiar with the MBT concept.     

Using MBTs

As part of the introductory session that MBT users receive, you are instructed on how to stand properly and find your point of balance on the curved sole. Initially you wear them for between 30 minutes and 2 hours per day for the first week, gradually building up the time until you can wear them comfortably for over 2 hours. By this time, muscle activation and stretch reflexes are sufficient attuned for you to wear the MBT all day, every day. The amount of time you are able to tolerate wearing the shoes initially will depend on your level of fitness and health. Some people experience an aching sensation in the first few days of wearing MBTs - this delayed-onset muscle soreness can occur with any new exercise programme and normally settled within five days.   

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