Q: I have seen advertisements for the new walking shoes with curved soles that claim to burn more calories, tone muscles and relieve back pain. Are they any good?

A: These shoes will help some people, but they are not for everyone. Skechers Shape-Ups and Chung Shi shoes can provide a greater range of motion while walking, exercising muscles on both sides of the legs, burning more calories and toning muscles. Some people say that the shoes have cured their back pain — but others say that they have caused it. If you are considering these shoes, which cost $100 to $250, plan to spend time getting used to them. Start out by wearing them for about five minutes of activity and build up gradually. Do not put them on and immediately do your normal walking routine.

Be especially cautious if you have biomechanical issues, such as a long-standing knee injury or scoliosis. Buy only from a store with a liberal return policy in case you develop aches, pains or backaches, and only wear the shoes indoors until you are sure that you want to keep them.