Why Forefoot Running is Better for Impact Reduction
More evidence proves that forefoot running does significantly more to limit injury because there’s less all-around impact stress on the body as compared with heel strike running.
Articles by Bretta Riches
Is Heel Strike Running Bad for Performance?
High impact running comes at an economical cost. By impact standards, heel strike running is a significantly more force-intensive style of running than forefoot running whereby according to some research, high impact demands more vigorous muscle tuning response to attenuate shock (a process that requires energy). Simply put, high impacts (like in heel strike running) drains energy from the system whereas stark decreases in impact (like in forefoot running) enhances running economy.
Best Barefoot Trail Running Shoes
Here’s my list of the top-rated barefoot trail running shoes that are full of nothing but lightweight, durable and ergonomical elements to meet all the functional needs of the feet. At the same time, these barefoot trail beasts provide enough ground-feedback to keep you fully adaptable and more importantly, helps you uphold safe and efficient forefoot running mechanics on any terrain, in any weather condition!
Is Forefoot Running Safer for Your Knees?
Multiple studies during the past decade has declared that forefoot running is far better for your knees than heel strike running. Even better, adding a slight forward lean to your forefoot running stride has proven to make it easier for the knees to handle higher, faster, harder mileage.
Are Cushioned Running Shoes Bad for You?
One consistent consequence of stability running shoes with thick cushioning is that they don’t always work in restraining or reducing over-pronation (abnormal foot motions), nor are they fully effective at reducing peak shear stress and other forms of musculoskeletal loading in heel strike runners. However, a growing field of research is showing that switching from heel strike to forefoot strike running is enough to enable a more full reduction of net forces on the shins and knees.