A craze for flip-flops that claim to help with weight loss and muscle toning has led Marks and Spencer to launch its own High Street version. The retailer's entry into the market follows the success of FitFlop, which has sold over 10 million pairs since 2007, and similar offerings from sports brands like Reebok.
The makers say the sandals work by destabilising the foot slightly, forcing the legs to work harder with each step. FitFlop's own research, conducted on 20 women at Salford University, suggests the sandals increase leg and bottom muscle activity by up to 30% and absorb up to 22% more shock than normal shoes. However, some experts question the efficacy of the 'gym in a shoe' approach.
Marks and Spencer says its version is based on independent research by Dr Stefan Grau, a biomechanics expert at the University of Tuebingen. His study of 600 subjects indicated that footwear simulating barefoot walking increases foot flexion and muscle activity. Podiatrists agree that fitness flip-flops are better than standard flip-flops due to their cushioning and support, but they are not a substitute for proper exercise.
Michael O'Neill, consultant podiatrist, describes them as 'the best of a bad bunch' and advises those with flat feet to avoid them. Lorraine Jones, another podiatrist, notes they may help control excessive motion but doubts they will deliver the promised toning effects. 'You might be better off putting on a pair of trainers and striding out for a long walk,' she says.
David Castle, editor of Running Fitness magazine, agrees: 'You are not going to get fit wearing a pair of flip-flops - not in the truest sense of the word. They aren't going to raise your heartbeat because they won't improve your aerobic fitness.' While the sandals have appeared in Vogue, style director Angela Kennedy comments, 'They can hardly be called cutting edge fashion.'
