October 2022 – RUN FOREFOOT

What Does a Forefoot Strike Look Like? (It's Not a Toe Strike!)

Forefoot Running is NOT Toe Strike Running

18/10/2022 Bretta Riches 23

Forefoot running all too often gets misconceived as toe strike running. Forefoot running and toe strike running are two different styles of running. Toe strike running involves landing too high up on the toes without letting the heel drop to the ground after landing, and is a major source of foot and shin injuries whereas forefoot running is not because its a much flatter strike angle, landing on the balls of the foot followed by the heel lowering down to the ground. In this way, impact pressure was found to spread best in a forefoot strike landing as compared with both toe striking and heel strike running.

Research Shows There’s No Way to Heel Strike Safely When Running

13/10/2022 Bretta Riches 6

Research found that there’s no way a heel strike runner can run with less impact, even if they implement low-impact mechanics, like a higher cadence as compared with forefoot running.

Is Heel Striking Less Efficient Than Forefoot Running?

06/10/2022 Bretta Riches 0

One way heel striking when running is less efficient than forefoot running is that it fatigues the legs faster. This is because landing heel-first when running puts more taxing mechnanical and physical stress on the muscles, soft tissues, joints and bones as compared with forefoot running.

Is Heel Strike Running Bad for the Achilles Tendon?

05/10/2022 Bretta Riches 4

Heel strike running was found to increase the risk for an Achilles injury by causing excessive heel motions that increases bending strain and rotational stress on the tendon as compared with forefoot running.