Professional opinions
“MBT is the most useful new treatment modality I have come across in years”
BRONWYN COOPER, PRINCIPAL OF SYDNEY PODIATRY AND MBT CENTRE, AND HER PATIENTS HAVE ENTHUSIASTICALLY EMBRACED MBT THERAPY FOR SOME 27 MONTHS NOW.
“MBT is the most useful new treatment modality I have come across in years”.
Results have been simply fantastic for both acute and chronic pain sufferers over a large spectrum of musculoskeletal problems.
It is the standout adjunct treatment of most musculoskeletal malalignment that I see to the point where I often now implement it before new custom closed kinetic chain orthoses, or night splints. It is invaluable for these patients who need more help than existing orthoses are giving them.
As a clinician, it gives me an effective treatment tool for those patients who have been told by GP’s, medical specialists, therapists and other colleagues… “I’m sorry there is nothing more we can do for you…” Because there is, and it’s MBT.
Who should wear them?
EVERYONE WHO IS ACTIVE OR WANTS TO BE MORE ACTIVE!
Conditions that can be better helped and managed with MBT include:
Hallux limitus/rigidus
Hallux valgus/bunions
Hammer toes
Sesamoiditis
Degenerative Joint Disease and osteoarthritis
Toe flexor instabilities
Arch strain
Tibialis posterior syndrome
Plantar fasciitis/heel spur syndrome
Calcaneal nerve irritation
Pre and Post surgery
Virtually all forefoot, midfoot and heel pain
Achilles tendonitis/tendonosis
Ankle problems including past fractures
Shin syndromes
Knee, hip and back pain
Weight bearing diabetic ulcers
Severe forefoot valgus and varus
Pronated feet
MBT can help to strengthen soft tissues pre surgery. Post surgically, they can help reduce swelling and pain, resulting in earlier return to function.
Every patient who has limped into my practice has walked better often limp free on the same day- including untreated tibialis posterior dysfunction, symptomatic hallux rigidus/limitus/valgus, stress metatarsal fracture, midfoot arthritis, tarso-metatarso synovitis and numerous others.
Who can’t tolerate MBT: People with some balance problems, stroke sufferers and head injury patients.
Bronwyn Cooper, Sydney May 2007
A Wonderfull Tool
As an osteopath I see them as a wonderful tool to help people with musculoskeletal problems and for general maintenance of health and fitness. They stimulate the firing of muscles that are often underused and weak and do this while you just have them on your feet! You could go to the gym regularly and still not properly activate all your postural muscles. They are a great way to subtly and gently strengthen your core and lower limb musculature and for some patients this is about all the exercise they are able to do. As they say, "if you don't use it, you lose it", and MBT definitely make sure you "use it"!
Simoni Pilavakis
Improved walking and standing posture
If you want to rehabilitate gait and posture, you need to constantly remind the brain how to reorganise movement efficiently. MBT shoes do just that, by providing sensory tools in the sole that can be used to orient the body into alignment with gravity.
The principle of specificity states that the body adapts to the specific kind of training one subjects it to. Thus, if improved walking and standing posture is the goal, rather than using exercises which isolate individual muscles, use a rehabilitative tool that functions whilst you are standing andwalking. MBT achieves this by turning a regular shoe into a tool for change.
Rob Stalbow
A better way to better health
I had been hearing about the MBT shoes for some time but thought nothing of them; just another fad that’ll pass leaving a lot of people regretting their fickleness I thought. Then by good fortune in late July I was invited as a body work therapist to attend an information evening on MBT at Bstore in Subiaco.
When I arrived I was told to remove my (very comfortable) shoes and put on a pair of MBT sandals, which I was to wear for the rest of the evening. By evenings end I was already feeling the benefits of having to stand in a more anatomically correct way, so decided to take the next step and ask if I might take a walk along the street for while. From then on I was hooked and had to have a pair, and I haven’t had them off since.
I have had to throw away my old costly orthotics and no longer need them just to be able to walk comfortably all day long. The saving on orthotics alone is an immediate benefit as far as I’m concerned.
I have since recommended the shoes to a number of my clients who have been experiencing long term leg and low back pain, all with very good results. All have reported that they now feel much stronger and more sure of themselves when walking in their MBT’s, with a significant reduction in their long term pain patterns.
If I was asked to decide between MBT’s and another brand of shoe I wouldn’t hesitate to go straight to MBT shoes, and I will continue to recommend them to my clients as an extra tool in their fight against pain and discomfort from standing and walking all day.
Signed
DAVID LEHMANN
Musculoskeletal Therapy
Having spent many years as a practitioner dealing the people with disability, pain and dysfunction, I was intrigued when I learned about MBT’s. If they did what they said they did then I believed they would be of great assistance in exercise prescription for my clients where compliance is an ongoing issue. I researched more about MBT’s and ordered a pair for myself to experience what walking in them felt like.
At the time I was co writing a degree in musculoskeletal therapy and introduced them to the team. From then on I was convinced these were a fabulous tool for clients and would be hugely beneficial in facilitating and educating people how to correct their posture and gait, thus preventing onset and/or further degeneration of various conditions of the musculoskeletal system. I later became an instructor for MBT in WA and went on to become the State Manager heading a team of health professionals who, like me, are seeing the benefits of MBT’s daily with clients.
Carol Gibney: BHSc MST
Masai Walkking
“Through my work as an osteopath and acupuncturist, many of my clients showed me their new MBT’s, and told me how much they liked them. I must admit I was skeptical, until I tried a pair for myself, and then I understood! The unique design of the sole encouraged my posture to be very tall and balanced. It felt like I had just done a yoga class. Now I wear them all day, and recommend them to my clients”.
Tim Hulbert - Osteopath and acupuncturist
Recommendation - Greg Hines
MBT shoes have been cleverly designed for anybody who is interested in reducing foot, leg & back pain.
I walk on concrete all day , MBTs have their pivot point in the centre of the shoe and have reduced the impact through my body. The advantages have been many, for me these have included, improved core strength and posture.
In the past I have enjoyed playing competitive squash , tennis and rugby. I have also experienced injuries that have left me in pain.
Since purchasing MBT 's I have only been enthusiastic about the shoes and I have now returned to playing sport. The shoes feel as if I am walking on sand at the beach and are extremely comfortable to wear.
The Sydney Dee Why shop after sales service has been exceptional and I believe that MBT shoes can assist anybody to walk more effectively.
Greg Hines
Health Professional.
