The benefits to forefoot running are numerous and includes a reduced likelihood of shin splints. However, you may be doing some mechanical-wrongs during forefoot running that may set you up for a shin injury. Here are the following main lessons to help get your forefoot strike mechanics on point to help remedy any shin pain problems you may be having.
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.
