The Health Advocate | Amway

You may have read about or seen commercials for toning shoes, which claim to tone your legs, tighten your tush, and burn calories. The shoes have been around for about 15 years, but only recently have manufacturers been spending the big bucks to promote them. One market research firm estimates the segment will grow up to $1.5 billion next year.

So the burning question is – do they work? First, a quick lesson on what they are. These shoes feature heel or sole designs – for instance, a negative heel (lower than the toe) and curved bottom – that create a natural instability that forces your buttocks and thighs to work harder. They were designed for straightforward walking, not running or side-to-side movement.

The American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit group that certifies fitness trainers, compared three toning shoes to a standard running shoe by measuring muscle activity in several areas, including calves, buttocks and abdominals. The study concluded that none of the toning shoes were statistically better in exercise response or muscle activation: "There is simply no evidence to support the claims that these shoes will help wearers exercise more intensely, burn more calories or improve muscle strength and tone."

Podiatrist Jeffrey Ross, M.D., spokesman for the American College of Sports Medicine,  said that the toner shoe "does exercise the muscles of your leg and will tone your legs." But he questions whether using the toning shoes gives you any benfits you can't get from regular exercise.

He also said that the shoes' design puts tremendous strain on muscles. He warned that women who wear three- and four-inch heels should avoid the shoes, because they likely suffer from a shortened heel cord. Wearing toning shoes, with their negative heel, can cause calf or hamstring injuries, Ross said.

So do they work? The answer seems to be yes, but experts say the benefits are similar to what you'd get from other forms of exercise.