"I can't speak about the manufacturer's claim about toning your lower body - I don't even care about that - but I can tell you that these are one of the most comfortable and supportive shoes I've found. My podiatrist fitted me with orthotics to remedy falling arches, but they were so radical that I quickly developed plantar fasciitis in my left heel. I experimented with many OTC inserts and shoes with limited succsess. Thus far, I've found two shoes that give the support I need, and don't require inserts. Those two are: New Balance running shoes, 1110 series and higher, and Sketchers Shape Ups. When you stand in these shoes, you can feel them pushing up into your arches, giving the necessary support. When sitting, the pressure on the arch isn't present. These shoes actually work better than the New Balance, and I whole heartedly recommend them to people with foot problems like myself. They may look a bit odd, but they deliver. "