Skechers Shape-Ups are a wildly popular form of “rocker-bottom” toning shoes. The soles of the shoes, which are rounded instead of flat, are supposed to transform ordinary walking into a workout. Some rocker-bottom shoes are limited to rocking forward on the toe or backward on the heel, but Shape-Ups rock both forward and back. The soles of the shoes are curved upward at both the toe and the heel and are designed to mimic the feel of walking on sand on the beach. The shoes are easily distinguishable by their thick, strange soles. There are hundreds of different varieties of Shape-Ups, including shoes for running, hiking and athletics; clogs and sandals; and shoes for work and casual settings. Part of the company’s advertising strategy is that Shape-Ups can be worn in any and all settings (the shoes are marketed for “walk”, “train”, “trail”, “run”, and “work”), and are marketed to busy people who don’t find time to devote to exercise.
Unfortunately, studies have shown that Skechers’ claims are hollow; the shoes have been found to offer the same degree of workout as any ordinary fitness shoes. Unassuming customers, lured by the promise of improving their fitness and losing weight, have been taken advantage of by the company and many now are reporting that they've experienced Skechers Shape-Ups hip fractures. People across the country have been tricked and even injured by Skechers’ claims. The shoes are particularly appealing to people who are not in the practice of ordinary exercise and therefore are less fit and have worse balance than those who do exercise routinely. Roughly 90% of Shape-Ups are sold to women. Mothers and women who work in the service industry are among the prime audience for the shoes. Waitresses, hairdressers, nurses and childcare pr oviders find the idea of getting a workout while going about their ordinary day appealing and are willing to pay the $100-$250 these shoes cost.
It’s no surprise that people working on their feet all day would be willing to invest in high-quality footwear. In the case of Shape-Ups, the price tag may not indicate high quality. What consumers should know is that when a person walks in Shape-Ups, their stride is altered and their balance becomes compromised, which can lead to Skechers Shape-Ups hip fractures, said David Davidson, national president of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, in USA Today. He warns against wearing the shoes if you have pre-existing foot problems or a history of Achilles tendonitis. Other podiatrists have warned that the shoes may cause pre-existing foot problems to surface or intensify.
Despite numerous consumer complaints, Skechers maintains that the shoes are safe and that many people have lost weight as a result of wearing the shoes. However, acknowledging the risk they pose to consumers, the company recommends that wearers ease into the shoes, only wearing them a little at a time at first. Skechers has yet to produce data that support their claims that the shoes actually will improve fitness, reduce cellulite or lead to weight loss. Meanwhile, podiatrists and other leading experts suggest Shape-Ups are more harmful than they are beneficial, leading to all sorts of Skechers Shape-Ups hip fractures. The company has faced lawsuits from consumers who have been injured by wearing Shape-Ups. No doubt consumers across the country are outraged to find that company’s marketing claims are false and that Shape-Ups are in fact dangerous.
