MBT Trainers

Submitted by JBee on January 10, 2007 - 1:32pm
Body: 

Hey everyone

Have been reading about MBT trainers and understand they could help a prolapse through the way in which they might encourage one to keep the posture and that they "work the pelvic floor". A big department store here in the UK (John Lewis) is having a series of open days about them over the next fornight across the UK. I'm hoping to go along to one but I wondered if any of you have heard anything about them and whether any of you have tried them?

MeMyselfAndI

January 11, 2007 - 1:16am

Never heard of them..

Sue

louiseds

January 11, 2007 - 7:25am

Hi JBee

They might be Masai Barefoot T...?

There were some shoes called Masai Barefoot ... being advertised fairly heavily in Western Australia some months ago. Something about a sole design that imitates walking barefoot and prevents fatigue. I thought it was an interesting idea, but didn't follow it up and haven't come across anybody who has bought any.

Cheers

Louise

howdidthishappen

January 11, 2007 - 6:30pm

i've actually worn them for a number of years.

i got them originally a few summers ago -- i found the sandal version fantastic and i lived in them. i'm an avid walker and i never found anything more comfortable.

i have to say, though, that i had been wearing the sneaker version alot right before my rectocele became prominant so, i don't know if there's a connection, but i feel sort of weird about it. of course, i haven't tried wearing them now while being attentive to the posture, so i don't know.

they ARE extremely comfortable (which is why i bought them) though very pricey. maybe i'll wear them tomorrow morning to the gym for a walk on the treadmill and i'll let you know what i think.

susan

JBee

January 14, 2007 - 3:48pm

Hey thanks Susan, would be interested in how you got on the other day. Yes Louise - they're the exact same things. I went and bought some today as I couldn't believe how comfy they were when I tried them and tried to ignore their price tag....When I'm really bad I wear a pair of wedge shoes that really seem to help me so I'm figuring these might help in the same way. Anyway, I'll report back to you all when I've given them some time.....

howdidthishappen

January 14, 2007 - 5:38pm

hey jbee:

i actually didn't get to the gym this week -- and am probably paying the price for it this weekend with my terrible constipation!

i plan on going a number of times this week -- either tomorrow during the day and/or tuesday morning. i'll wear them and get back to you!

xsusan

JBee

January 20, 2007 - 8:22am

Hi Susan

MMm, constipation - it doesn't help the old rectocele does it?!! Has your diet helped it at all? I find that a smoothie for breakfast really helps me with that....goats bio plain yoghurt, carrot juice, orange juice (all fresh of course), bananas and straws, raspberries, blueberries and pineapples or whatever combination of other fruit but I find the first 4 tend to work very well. The trainers seem to be really helping me - they give a lot of support whilst in the house and really encourage the posture. So, haven't tried them outside yet so it'd be good to hear if you see a difference or not - I don't want to rock the boat with how I'm feeling at the moment... x

howdidthishappen

January 20, 2007 - 12:19pm

hey jbee:

you know, i realized i had a bit of a block against the mbt's because right before the bulge of the rectocele really appeared, i had been going to the gym using the treadmill alot with the mbt's on. and the very first thing my gyn asked me when she diagnosed me was: have you been doing anything different with exercise? using the mbt's was the only thing i came up with and i was so flipped out, i couldn't think straight. what i WISH i had said, of course was: don't you think the d&c/polypectomy i had 6 weeks ago might have more to do with this than what i do at the gym? it sort of seems ludicrous to me now and angering, frankly ,and i do need to figure out how i want to handle it. (obviously not meaning anything litigous in the least, just being able to verbalize something to her from the connections i have drawn myself...)

anyways, i decided to put them on when i got home and just walk around in them, see how they feel. they do feel good but i guess i'd be interested in hearing christine weigh in on them only because i wonder about the difference with shoes that encourage the posture vs really maintaining the posture completely through your own structural integrity/mucularity, you know? does that make any sense? would love more feedback from others on this.

thanks for the tip on the smoothies. i've been equisitely careful with my diet for the past week and that has really made the constipation, uh, pass, as it were. of course, i then get into this weird mindset where i don't want to eat anything other than what i ate before to keep things moving -- a variation on magical thinking, i guess. flexibility had never been my strong suit and it's especially highlighted for me right now with this. i need to relax and remember i can eat more than raw almonds, lentils, greenapples, oatmeal and cooked spinach. it's almost embarassing when i write that out, but it's good for me to see the obsessiveness in black and white. probably also how i imagine i can control this situation, control my body.

lots of work for me to do, i guess.

xxsusan

howdidthishappen

January 21, 2007 - 7:43am

hey jbee:

i just came back from the gym where i wore my mbt's. i went on the treadmill quite briefly as my rectocele felt uncomfortable. now, let me say that i am a day or two away from my period so i don't think this is the most reliable time for me to try that out -- hormones can make things feel more, uh, looser, i think. i will give it another go once i'm done with my period (which lasts 5-6 days with heavy heavy bleeding, so it wouldn't be until early next week.)

just as an fyi...i used the eliptical machine for 40 minutes and that was pretty much fine. kept great awareness on my posture even as i was sweating and breathing heavily. gotta say, it felt great!

will let you know more about my experience with the mbt's as i go. what are you finding with them?

xsusan

JBee

January 22, 2007 - 7:21am

Hi Susan

Well it's easy to get obsessed with things when you know they've made a difference to the constipation which in turn makes a massive difference to how well you feel. I know emptying properly makes a massive difference to my rectocele and my diet is a major factor in that. So I absolutely know what you're talking about. I think you're amazing for going to the gym - I would find it so hard. I find walking difficult and it's my aim to get to the gym this year again. Perhaps I could start with swimming.

I got some great news at the weekend. I went for a check up with my gyn to discuss the possibility of another pregnancy. And last time I went he told me my prolapse was grade 2-3 (2 3/4). Now he says it's more like 1-2. WOWWEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! I knew I was feeling so much better but this was amazing to hear. My rectocele and cystocele were less pronounced he said but the big thing was the difference with my womb. When I was bearing down, he said that for the first time it was going back up. And that's never happened before - it would just stay down and I'd really suffer afterwards. And, the even more amazing news was that he sees no reason why I shouldn't be able to hold another pregnancy (although he did warn me that I might relapse after it). My mum and I cried and then we drank champagne and I tried to persuade my husband that I'd be ok if we went for another pregnancy. So, I'm feeling amazing and I know that what I'm doing is working. He's very anti c-sections and although I'd be terrified of re-living my birth trauma again, he would absolutely recommend a vaginal delivery. At this point in time I don't know whether I'm strong enough but I've got time to work on that. I feel hopeful and positive!!!!!!

I haven't worn the MBTs out yet due to the way I find walking difficult - I just don't want to rock the boat with them and overdo it so I've only been wearing them in the house so far. What I'm finding is that they give me extra support say at the end of the afternoon when I'm preparing dinner - when I'm tired and it's dragging more than ever, they just seem to give me a bit of help and encourage the posture.

Happy smoothing and I'm glad your bout of constipation passed!
Hugs xx

howdidthishappen

January 22, 2007 - 3:00pm

wow, jbee! that's fantastic news! so happy for you and really delighted you feel comfortable enough to try and have another baby. that's terrific.

can't wait to hear details. and thanks for being so empathic about the rectocele and constipation and all. this site has been so helpful and comforting and full of incredible information. it's the best.

looking forward to details when you have the time!

xxsusan