Obviously, the answer depends on how fast you walk, but the average person, walking without children can walk a mile in about 20 to 30 minutes. In contrast, you can run a mile in 5 to 9 minutes. If there are inhinderances like steep or uneven terrain, add time to your journey.
I am sure lots of you out there are thinking of buying the new MBT Shoes to do your walking, get in shape, improve balance and strengthen your core. MBT stands for Masai Barefoot Technology and they were developed by Karl Muller in the early 1990′s based on his personal experience of noticing decreased back pain after walking barefoot in uneven terrain and observing the Masai men of Kenya who, are barefoot and have perfect posture. Obviously, for reasons of hygeine and safety, we can’t go walking around barefoot in big cities, so these shoes may be the next best thing. For me the jury is still out. I have considered buying a pair as I would like to build up strength in my muscles by just walking, but I have seen too much conflicting information about the safety and efficacy of these shoes that I would like to see what will happen after they have been on the market for a few years. Many people claim that after the “initial getting used to them stage” they have seen increased muscle tone, decreased low back pain and joint stiffness. Some even claim that the shoes help decrease cellulite, although this isn’t a claim that the manufacturer makes.
The MBT shoes operate on the principle that walking on uneven or changing terrain forces your muscles to make small adjustments to maintain balance. It is these small adjustments that make the muscles work, thus building their strength. It is this mechanism that is responsible for an increased risk of falls and broken and sprained ankles; therefore many physiotherapy specialists have counterindicated the MBT shoes for people who have balance and coordination problems, or Parkinson’s disease.
Like any other product that makes health claims, it is important to do your own research to decide what is best for you. Many doctors are recommending checking in with a physiotherapist before buying a pair of MBT’s to determine if they are right for you. Not a bad idea in my estimation. Wikipedia has deleted two articles written about MBT recently; one for blatant advertising and one for copyright infringement.
