posture shoes???

Submitted by maykeypj on May 29, 2004 - 7:47pm
Body: 

Thanks so much for your response Christine! I will call Shayla on Mon. -thank you!!! I have been reading a FitPregnancy magazine and there was an ad for natural posture shoes. The website is earth.us, I think. What do you think about these? The ad shoes how these shoes help in correcting the posture but for someone who buys all her and her family's shoes at Payless, the $89.00 price seems steep. Do you think these are beneficial and do you know of any other places that sell these types of shoes?
I was to my ob/gyn on Fri. and I am 7 1/2 weeks along already! This is truly a miracle baby for sure! I have begun to discuss with my husband that some "alternative types" of delivery (that seem VERY ODD to him) might be necessary to at least think about due to the prolapse (I'm thinking of your book and how the laying down and pushing position is so harmful).
I also am ordering a BabyHugger belt device for pregnant people with back problems. It also talks about abdominal stress and perineal pressure. This may be helpful to others, as well. I can let you know how it helps (or doesn't) once I get it. I wore just a belt for my 2nd pregnancy and that helped a lot but with the added prolapse and increased back pain, this one seems a lot more "supportive" overall.
Talk soon. Jennifer

Christine

May 30, 2004 - 8:45am

Hi Jennifer!

The link for the shoes doesn't quite work...can you be more specific? You're probably too young to remember "earth shoes." These came out in the sixties and were lower at the heel than in front.

Mind you that I have no training in physical therapy or any other such discipline. I've just found out some things about prolapse and have a tremendous amount more to learn, so can't really be considered an expert about orthopedic issues.

However, the posture gets us used to carrying most of our weight toward the front of our body. When we get really good at this there is a tendency to shift our weight onto our toes just a bit. I've found this gives a feeling of lightness to my movement...I still strike the ground heel first when I walk, but find that occassionally I'm a bit up on my toes as well. Something like the earth shoe would counteract this positive movement.

I'm so glad about the belt and that you're exploring your birth options.

Christine

maykeypj

May 31, 2004 - 6:55pm

The actual website is www.earth.us The ad says it uses "negative heel technology" so it sounds like they would be in line with your findings. I just wish I could find them cheaper but maybe I'll need to "bite the bullet" for healths sake! I checked out the website the other night using the www.earth.us and found it. Hope you can! Thanks again for your generosity - my husband was really touched by your kindness in regards to the food booklet!
I continue to try to make "the posture" normal walk for myself. I struggle with remembering, however, I do find by just straightening up my back and putting my shoulders back does wonders! I usually sit crossed-legged so that has been easy for me. My prolapse seems "normalized" - we'll see what the pregnancy does for it. I sort of blame you for it, though! :-) as after reading your book in early April, I went off the sugar and onto the health foods, exercise and posture and what happens - I get pregnant!!! After years of trying and then adopting 2 from Korea (which we had always wanted to do since we were first married), we decided our family was complete so we are enjoying the excitment of the surprise!

Christine

June 1, 2004 - 7:29am

Hi Jennifer,

I forget about European URLs...I was keying in .com after it! Thanks for sending it again!

Well, I have to do a bit of a disclaimer here...because, as I've said before, I don't have any formal training in this area. But here's what I think...

We are trying to "lift our buns" with the posture. By rotating our pelvis slightly forward and down, our tail bone goes back and up, right? Wouldn't the negative heel cause our buns (tailbone) to be pulled down and under? It would also stretch the lumbar area out, making it more difficult to maintain the curve.

These are just my observations. At any rate, if these were so awesome they should've taken off like Birkenstocks. Do you have a good pair of Birks? In my opinion, they are well worth the money.

I'm so happy about your "surprise." There's nothing like family and it sounds like you are very blessed.

Christine

maykeypj

June 1, 2004 - 4:31pm

Thanks Christine! I don't have Birkenstock's - yet - but I did think that some of the shoes from the web site looked like the same type of style. I'll look into getting a pair of them.

Trishanne

June 27, 2004 - 10:41am

Interesting comments....

I was seriously wondering, if because I have, in recent years, worn lower shoes, whether it attributed to pelvic positioning. I was a teen in the late 50's and we all wore high heeled shoes. I loved them because a) I already had good posture and could walk well in them, and b) I was short, so it gave me height.

In my later years (58 now) I have, only through lifestyle, gone into wearing low or flatter heeled shoes. I honestly feel the high heels helped me with posture. Let's face it - you have to walk well to gain that balance and posture. Just a thought!

Trish

georgie_o

November 18, 2004 - 3:16pm

hello!
as someone who has just ordered a pair of the earth shoes, perhaps i am just trying to justify the expense (plus a bit extra to ship to the uk!!)
after reading these posts i did a little experiment to see if the 'negative heel technology'(!) would make it more difficult to maintain a healing posture. I found that rocking back onto my heels (as you effectively would be if wearing these shoes) actually made my pelvis move into a better position. Unless i have got the posture wrong in the first place...Christine, I am going to order your video now!

By the way, I have been practising your first aid exercise daily since i read about it and since you mentioned that you wanted some feedback...it really does seem to have a big effect on the level of my uterine prolapse. It's great!

best wishes to all,
georgina x