More Reasons Heel Strike Running is Bad for Runners with High Arches
Research shows that runners with high arches do not produce more impact if they land with a forefoot strike, but running will always be rough and tumble if they heel strike.
Articles by Bretta Riches
Why Heel Strike Running is Bad for Runners with High Arches
Heel strike running is especially bad for runners with high arches because these runners were found to produce signiincalt more peak, or high burst of impact on the heel as compared with forefoot running.
Forefoot Running is NOT Toe Strike Running
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
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?
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.