Do Toning Shoes Really Work?

I have been asked this question several times, "do toning sneakers work?"

At this point the data are not supportive of toning shoes having the effects of burning more calories or toning large muscle groups. So basically, no, the shoes don't really work. I think this article is a great summary of the research that has been conducted on toning shoes, including a recent study:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/13/can-shoes-really-tone-the-body/?ref=health

My favorite quote from this article is from Dr. John Mercer of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Dr. Mercer says, "Humans are quite lazy, from a physiological standpoint. Our bodies will try to do the least work possible in any situation." Bascially what he is saying is that even when the toning shoes change our walking mechanics, we adapt quickly and figure out how to walk in the rounded-bottom shoes more efficiently. However, Dr. Mercer does point out that if a person enjoys the way that the shoes feel, she may be more inclined to exercise - and that is a good thing.