Inadequate foot strike awareness is caused by neurophysiological and perceptual conflicts when cushioned footwear is worn during running.
For example, a heel strike landing represents suppressed kinesthetic judgment because cushioned, compressible material of a shoe limits the flow of sensory traffic at the muscle and tactile receptors.
- As a result, inputs from muscles and joints during running are poorly perceived, which in turn, block body processes that are involved in safer footfalls and movements.
Barefoot Running, “Laser-Like” Precision on Foot Strike Awareness
Barefoot running is more effective at reducing the frequency and intensity of heel striking. Although some argue that pure minimalist shoes are effective enough to reverse the habit of heel striking, runners are more aware of foot strike awareness when barefoot. This is because foot strike awareness is governed by kinesthetic sensibility which is under proprioceptive control.
- To optimize static and dynamic joint position awareness, proprioception cannot be blocked or reduced to any extent.
Therefore, foot strike awareness is culminated with barefoot running. Learning forefoot running in minimalist shoes is incompatible to the muscular actions associated with barefoot running. For example, barefoot runners tend to jerk their foot up off the ground; whereas learners wearing minimalist shoes might remove their foot slowly off the ground.
Just Try It
Although many runners dislike the idea of running barefoot, running without shoes brings more troubling discrepancies in foot strike awareness under better control.
“Psychophysical function relating perceived and actual foot position when barefoot is unity”, according to Dr. Steven Robbins (MD) at McGill University. This means that humans make the best judgments in foot strike awareness when both muscle receptor and tactile information is available.
More From Run Forefoot:
- Flat Feet?
- Forefoot Runners Use Achilles Tendon to Their Advantage
- Easy on the Strength Training!
- Save BIG on Running Gear
- Avoid the Treadmill of Doom
References:
Robbin S and Waked EG. Foot position awareness:the effect of footwear on instability, excessive impact, and ankle spraining. Clin Reviews in Phys Rehabil Med, 1997;9(1):53-74.
I’ve been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this website. Thank you, I’ll try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your website?
you’re really a just right webmaster. The web site loading speed is amazing. It sort of feels that you are doing any distinctive trick. Moreover, The contents are masterwork. you’ve done a fantastic job on this topic!
Hi, Neat post. There’s a problem with your web site in internet explorer, would check this… IE still is the market leader and a big portion of people will miss your magnificent writing because of this problem.
I think other website proprietors should take this web site as an example , very clean and fantastic user genial style and design.
I am glad to be a visitor of this thoroughgoing blog! , appreciate it for this rare information! .
Woh I like your content, bookmarked! .
With havin so much content do you ever run into any issues of plagorism or copyright violation? My site has a lot of exclusive content I’ve either written myself or outsourced but it looks like a lot of it is popping it up all over the internet without my agreement. Do you know any ways to help reduce content from being stolen? I’d truly appreciate it.
What i do not understood is in fact how you’re now not really a lot more well-preferred than you may be now. You are so intelligent. You realize therefore considerably with regards to this topic, produced me for my part imagine it from numerous various angles. Its like men and women aren’t fascinated unless it’s one thing to accomplish with Woman gaga! Your individual stuffs nice. All the time maintain it up!
Some really nice and useful info on this site, besides I believe the layout holds fantastic features.