It's called the MBT shoe, which stands for Masai Barefoot Technology. The design of the shoe and the sole are based around the way members or the Masai Tribe in Africa walk tall and barefoot on the desert sand.

The shoes aren't about fashion, but function.

The secret of the shoe is in the sole. It's curved like a mini canoe. Bellevue Chiropractor Carl Jelstrup says that design helps your posture and stride.

"The construction of the shoe helps your posture so you gradually start to straighten your posture," he says. "Your shoulders come in, and the gait itself changes into a more primitive gait."

Jelstrup also adds that change in your posture helps cure back, hip and foot pain. Add he says the shoe helps build up muscle and can help get rid of dimple fat close to your skin known as cellulite.

"When you increase muscular strength, you will invariably increase circulation and thereby decrease cellulite," he said. "Cellulite is simply an inflammatory condition of the circulation system."

A Big Buzz

As the owner of the Seattle store "MJ Feet," Melanie Grimes knows about shoes. She founded the store 30 years ago, and was the first shoe store in the state to sell Birkenstocks.

When she heard about MBT's and what they do for your overall health, she picked up the line and started selling them.

"It does what no other shoe or exercise routine does," Grimes said. "When you are walking in the course of your day, you are able to be improving your posture and increasing your circulation, and they are rumored to help fight cellulite, that's some of the big buzz."

In fact, a British test showed a 50 percent reduction in cellulite in women who wore the shoe for just one month.

And that's not all. Grimes says, "It reduces varicose veins, and tends to tone the muscle and increases the circulation and the posture and the main way it does that is by allowing your foot to move completely."

Classes For Shoes?

But when you buy the shoe, you simply can't just take them out of the box and lace them up. The sole of the shoe changes your center of gravity. So, the shoe comes with an instructional DVD, or you can take a free class to learn how they work.

"Not everyone has time, to buy a shoe and take a class and learn how to walk again," Grimes said.

Also, the price might be steep for everyone who doesn't want to pay around $250 for a pair. But, Jelstrup says he's never come across patient in pain who has said "no way."

"If I have a solution to solve pain, $250 is chicken feed," he said, adding: "In the medical community today, trust me, that's just for shaking the doctors hand and letting him use his stethoscope."

Not For Everyone

Still, the shoes might not be for everyone.

University of Washington Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Nancy Kadel says the curved sole of the shoe can actually be a risk.

"I think it would be dangerous for someone who is unsteady on their feet, perhaps someone with bad arthritis or someone who uses a cane to walk with," she said. "I think it would be a very dangerous shoe for that person to walk in, if you have an unstable ankle, if every so often your ankle turns on you or goes out on you, you'll be at risk with shoe."

Kadel also points out the shoe doesn't have an arch. So people with foot problems may need orthodics.

As for the cellulite claim: "There has been no study that suggests that these can actually reduce cellulite if they make you go out and walk everyday," Kadel said. "If you lose some weight, that would be great, and even if they tone the muscles and the cellulite laying on top of the muscles, I don't think there's any evidence they reduce cellulite."

Kadel even bought a pair of MBT's to test them out.

"I can tell you when I have worn these I can feel the back of my hamstrings; I can feel my calves because they get stretched a little," she said. "Perhaps someone feels that and thinks that their cellulite is getting smaller, and think that their muscles are probably getting toned. I think if you went to the gym and did yoga you would have similar effects... it's not a miracle effect of this shoe."

The shoe seems to be doing well. In Europe, they can't keep them on store shelves. They have made their way to the U.S. and are growing in popularity.

The sneakers, boots and sandals are a hot seller at "MJ Feet."

For More Information:

MJ Feet -- www.mjfeet.com
MBT Shoe -- www.swissmasauis.com