THE MAKERS of Masai Barefoot Technology (MBT) shoes are confident consumers will continue "voting with their feet" and purchase the products, despite a new Irish pilot study that suggests they can create increased foot imbalance and lead to a fall.
MBT Ireland has challenged the new adverse claims against the expensive shoe, sandal and boot range, predicting the latest criticism would not affect sales here.
The physiological footwear has a recommended retail price of about €199 and has become very popular in Ireland and around the world.
Carrie Fraher, marketing manager of MBT Ireland, told The Irish Times that more than 150,000 pairs had been sold in Ireland in the past five years.
An independent final year research project on MBTs, undertaken by Louise Smith and Adrienne Sankey at the School of Physiotherapy in the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, has prompted MBT Ireland to staunchly defend the brand and its benefits.
The research by Ms Smith and Ms Sankey involved 10 women wearing MBTs and showed that the women's postural sway was more unstable while standing still in one point.
Ms Smith, now a physiotherapist working in a private practice in Co Kerry, said postural measurements in the tests included movements from side to side and backwards and forwards and involved a comparison with runners or barefoot stances.
Ms Smith did, however, point out that people are more unstable as they get older and mentioned that MBTs may have a potentially positive rehabilitative effect on people who have endured ankle injuries.
However, Ms Fraher said hundreds of thousands of the shoes were sold worldwide each year, adding that people believe in them and have benefited greatly from their use.
In a statement, MBT Ireland said the conclusions drawn by the newly released report "does not take into account full comprehensive studies and massive empirical evidence that show that in fact MBTs improve core stability".
"MBTs, which are worn by millions of people across Europe and North America, aid in balance performance by improving joint stability. The theory that they are presenting as regards the increased likelihood of falling has proven to be untrue by wearers and studies. In healthy individuals the natural instability or postural sway induced by MBTs poses no risk."
The statement said the shoes would not stabilise those with existing mobility issues, nor do they claim to.
"What we do say is that wearing MBTs stimulates neglected postural muscles and improves core stability."
The shoes, which are sold in stores and pharmacies here, come with detailed instructions and exercises, as well as an introductory DVD, said the firm.