• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Breaking Muscle

Breaking Muscle

Breaking Muscle

  • Fitness
  • Workouts
    • Best Shoulder Workouts
    • Best Chest Workouts
    • Best Leg Workouts
    • Best Leg Exercises
    • Best Biceps Exercises
    • Best Kettlebell Exercises
    • Best Back Workouts
    • Best HIIT Workouts
    • Best Triceps Exercises
    • Best Arm Workouts
  • Reviews
    • Supplements
      • Best Pre-Workout
      • Best Bodybuilding Supplements
      • Best Supplements for Weight Loss
      • Best Creatine
      • Best BCAAs
      • Best Multivitamin for Men
      • Best Collagen Supplement
      • Best Probiotic
      • Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout
      • Athletic Greens AG1 Review
    • Protein
      • Best Protein Powder
      • Best Whey Protein
      • Best Protein Powders for Muscle Gain
      • Best Mass Gainer
      • Best Protein Shakes
      • Best Organic Protein Powder
      • Best Pea Protein Powder
    • Strength Equipment
      • Best Home Gym Equipment
      • Best Squat Racks
      • Best Barbells
      • Best Weightlifting Belts
      • Best Weight Plates
      • Best Weight Benches
      • Best Dumbbells
      • Best Adjustable Dumbbells
      • Best Kettlebells
      • Best Home Gym Machines
      • Best Resistance Bands
      • Best Trap Bars
      • The Best Pull-Up Bar
    • Cardio Equipment
      • Best Cardio Machines
      • Best Rowing Machines
      • Best Treadmills
      • Best Weighted Vests
    • Certifications
      • ISSA Review
  • News
  • Exercise Guides
    • Legs
      • Back Squat
      • Bulgarian Split Squat
      • Goblet Squat
      • Zercher Squat
      • Standing Calf Raise
      • Hack Squat
    • Chest
      • Bench Press
      • Dumbbell Bench Press
      • Close-Grip Bench Press
      • Incline Bench Press
    • Shoulders
      • Overhead Dumbbell Press
      • Lateral Raise
    • Arms
      • Chin-Up
      • Weighted Pull-Up
      • Triceps Pushdown
    • Back
      • Deadlift
      • Trap Bar Deadlift
      • Lat Pulldown
      • Inverted Row
      • Bent-Over Barbell Row
      • Single-Arm Dumbbell Row
      • Pendlay Row
Fitness

Science Says: Skechers Shape-Ups Are Worthless

You've no doubt seen the commercials or seen women wearing the giant, rocker-bottomed Skechers Shape-Ups. Well, now science has proven they don't do any good.

Written by Jeff Barnett Last updated on October 9, 2012

Rocker-bottom shoes, like Skechers Shape-Ups, are very interesting and controversial. Chances are, the first time you saw them you were struck with either disgust or hope. Unfortunately, it appears those struck with hope may have to keep looking for a new easy button.

A recent study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research examined rocker-bottom shoes. The study asked whether participants shod with Shape-Ups would show any increased muscle activation in the legs, and whether they would use more oxygen during a walk. The study compared three shoes: Shape-Ups, a standard athletic shoe, and a standard athletic shoe with weight added to match the weight of the Shape-Ups. Apparently rocker-bottom shoes are heavier than most athletic shoes.

Participants strapped on their shoes and then set off for a 10 minute walk on a treadmill. Researchers asked the participants to set the treadmill at a comfortable walking speed. After they allowed the participant to set the speed, the researchers then increased the speed by 10%.1 Well played, you sneaky scientists. Well played.

The results showed no significant difference in muscle activation. Oxygen consumption? Nope, no difference there either. Every time it appeared researchers might find a muscle that was worked harder by the rocker-bottom shoes, it turned out the added weight was the culprit, not the profile of the shoe.2

To be fair, at least one study has found a slight increase in energy required to walk in rocker-bottom shoes. That study also used a particularly heavy rocker-bottom shoe. The authors also point out that if allowed to completely select their own walking speeds, results could have changed. Finally, the authors point out that all participants were healthy. The effects of rocker-bottom shoes on injured populations may be different.

The authors gave rocker-bottom shoes every possible benefit of the doubt, but I still remain convinced these are not a legitimate tool for seeking fitness. My problem is that the product is designed to fulfill a false prophecy in the mind of consumers: you can get something for nothing. By simply buying a different shoe, the consumer is assured that she can get fitter without making any serious time commitment towards fitness. To me, this is selling a lie. And regardless of morals, in fitness it’s a lot more fun to sell the truth. Truth is what changes peoples’ lives and achieves their goals. In my opinion, a single high five after a hard-earned PR is worth more than a factory full of rocker-bottom shoes.

And I’m not the only one thinking Skechers made grandiose claims. Turns out the Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. court system feel the same. The courts handed down a $40-million award to a class action lawsuit filed against Skechers for bogus marketing claims. If you purchased purchased Shape-Ups between August 1, 2008 and August 13, 2012 you could be eligible for a refund.

About Jeff Barnett

Jeff Barnett is a CrossFit affiliate owner, mechanical engineer, and former Marine. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He holds specialty certifications as a CrossFit Mobility Trainer, CrossFit Olympic Lifting Trainer, CrossFit Gymnastics Trainer and is a USA Weightlifting Sports and Performance Coach. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA.

Jeff served as a Marine officer from 2003-2007 and deployed to Fallujah in 2006. After leaving the Marine Corps he co-founded CrossFit Impulse in 2009. His writing focuses on fitness, nutrition, and leadership. Jeff’s writing has appeared in publications as diverse as The New York Times and CrossFit Journal.

Jeff competed in the CrossFit Games Southeast Regionals in 2010 as an individual competitor and 2012 as a team competitor. If you don’t find him training hard or coaching athletes to PRs at CrossFit Impulse, then he’s probably wakeboarding, snowboarding, or eating meat off the bone.

View All Articles

Recommended Articles

High Tops Are Ruining Your Kids’ Feet and Knees
Fergus Crawley 5K Run Tips Photo
Fergus Crawley Shares 5 Tips For Running a Better 5K
Actor Chris Hemsworth in gym performing dumbbell row
Chris Hemsworth Diagrams a Killer Upper Body Workout Fit For an Action Star
Hugh Jackman Deadpool 3 Workouts Spring:Winter 2023
Hugh Jackman Returns to Wolverine Condition in Workouts for “Deadpool 3”

Primary Sidebar

Latest Articles

The 2024 CrossFit Games Are Officially Coming to Texas

Powerlifting Records: How to Compare Your Lifts to the All-Time Greats

Chris Bumstead Shares Brutal Hamstring Workout Ahead of 2023 Mr. Olympia

The Best Pull-Up Bar of 2023, According to a Strength and Conditioning Coach

Latest Reviews

Best Pea Protein Powders for Weight Loss, Muscle Building, and More (2023)

Three weight vests on a red background

Best Weighted Vests for CrossFit, Running, Walking, and More (2023)

Three types of gym flooring on a red background

Best Home Gym Flooring Options for Over Carpet, Concrete, and More (2023)

Three types of weight plates on a red background

Best Weight Plates of 2023 (Rubber, Iron, Steel, and Urethane)

woman lifting barbell

Be the smartest person in your gym

The Breaking Muscle newsletter is everything you need to know about strength in a 3 minute read.

I WANT IN!

Breaking Muscle is the fitness world’s preeminent destination for timely, high-quality information on exercise, fitness, health, and nutrition. Our audience encompasses the entire spectrum of the fitness community: consumers, aficionados, fitness professionals, and business owners. We seek to inform, educate and advocate for this community.

  • Reviews
  • Healthy Eating
  • Workouts
  • Fitness
  • News

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS Feed

© 2023 · Breaking Muscle · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy · Affiliate Disclaimer · Accessibility · About