Pros and Cons of 'Rebound Shoes'

Seven years of running took its toll on Mitchell Wayne's knees, but he needed to stay fit for his career in dance, so he swapped his running shoes for rebound shoes.

"I was terrified.  I had no idea how to use them, but I actually got adjusted pretty quickly," he said.

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And it seems others are adjusting to this trend. Dianne Clemente is a fitness instructor at Crunch Fitness in New York City, where she says more people than ever before are jumping in on the action.

"It's been growing and growing and growing. Every week I always see new people come who are interested or heard about the boots in some way and just kinda' want to see what it's all about," she explained.

At Crunch Fitness, boots are offered in class, but you can buy them online, too. Each features springs designed to ease the impact of exercise.   

"The rebound shoe does cut down on the stress that goes through your tibia, or your shin bone, so shin splints and stress fractures in the long bone of the legs, that is cut down on the stress that goes through your knee is cut down on," said Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Carol Frey.

Frey is with the Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and says she sees foot injuries from  runners all the time. But, she cautions the boots can bring issues, too.  

"There's more force going thru the mid-part of your foot and there's a higher number of people using the rebound shoes who report arch strain or pain, or right in the middle of the arch, and blisters because it's not that forgiving of a shoe. It's essentially a boot with buckles," Frey explained.

But Frey says they're an ideal fit for some people, including those who've already been injured and can't handle high-impact exercise. 

Rebound boots are most commonly used in the gym.  Yet, Frey stresses there's a real learning curve with the rebound shoes, adjusting to about a six inch height difference, among other things.

"The workout is different.  Research has actually shown and you know, patients and all the people I know using them report it's a bigger workout. You're consuming more oxygen…bigger cardiovascular workout and it's not only because, you're not just running, you're also jumping," she added.

Gym goers agree.

"You get more out of your workout than any regular workout," said Clemente.

Frey would like to see more research before recommending the boots to her patients. For those who do try them, she offers this advice.

"Don't do too much too soon. There is a break in period.  Add it to your training. Don't make it your only training," said Frey.

Meantime, Wayne swears by them for his own personal fitness.

"I have bad knees, I have bad ankles, bad hips, but when I use these boots, I can stay in them for hours and I'm perfectly fine," he said.

The manufacturers say the boots should be used on a steady surface, not something unpredictable like grass.