Another reason heel strike running is bad, not just for the knees and the lower back, but for the shins too! This is because to engage a heel strike landing during running, the front of the foot (forefoot) pulls back upon and at touchdown. The more the forefoot yanks back at touchdown, the harder it slaps down onto the ground to initiate the stance phase. Shin splints arises from this because the impact and mechanical strain from the continuous forefoot-slapping ripples up the lower leg, causing painful rises in contractions of the anterior tibialis (muscle that runs down the front of the shins). Read more here!
Bretta Riches
"I believe the forefoot strike is the engine of endurance running..."
BSc Neurobiology; MSc Biomechanics candidate, ultra minimalist runner & founder of RunForefoot. I was a heel striker, always injured. I was inspired by the great Tirunesh Dibaba to try forefoot running. Now, I'm injury free. This is why I launched Run Forefoot, to advocate the health & performance benefits of forefoot running and to raise awareness on the dangers of heel striking, because the world needs to know.
BSc Neurobiology; MSc Biomechanics candidate, ultra minimalist runner & founder of RunForefoot. I was a heel striker, always injured. I was inspired by the great Tirunesh Dibaba to try forefoot running. Now, I'm injury free. This is why I launched Run Forefoot, to advocate the health & performance benefits of forefoot running and to raise awareness on the dangers of heel striking, because the world needs to know.
Latest posts by Bretta Riches (see all)
- Does Foot Strike Really Matter in Running? YES! - 17/04/2024
- Heel Lifts Increase Injury in Runners - 16/04/2024
- Are Minimalist Shoes Good for Seniors? YES! - 14/04/2024
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