Why Most Ethiopian Runners Have a High Back Kick

Who doesn’t admire the forefoot running styles of Tirunesh Dibaba and Kenenisa Bekele? I for one do! But, the one thing that stands-out in their running form is how high their back kick is! Like Dibaba and Bekele, most East African runners have a very high back kick than most joggers, and here’s why that is:

Why Ethiopian Runners Have a High Back Kick?

Why Most Ethiopian Runners Have a High Back Kick

During the stance phase of running, the back kick represents a withdrawal mechanism, similar to a knee-jerk reaction. Withdrawal reactions are rapid and quick responses that are not consciously controlled. In walking, which involves heel striking and lesser impact, withdrawal of the swing leg is not immediately produced as it is when forefoot running, barefoot (Patla & Belanger. 1983).

Most Ethiopian runners ran barefoot and barefoot running is most implicated in this withdrawal reflex because the intensity of this reflex depends on the amount of tactile stimulation received by the foot from the ground –greater tactile stimulation produces a greater reflexive removal of the foot whereby running barefoot is the only way to guarantee high tactile stimulation.

Running Barefoot Means More Protective Landings

Back Kick Running
To avoid painful impacts, running barefoot advances the ability to retract the leg more quickly and at a higher height.

The purpose of quick, reflexive foot removal from the ground is to protect the foot from local damage and chronic overloading during barefoot running. Proprioception is at the root of high back kicking during barefoot running, which advances one’s ability to lower shock considerably. As a result, barefoot runners adopt a higher back kick to maintain sensations consistent with tolerable stable equilibrium (Robbins and Gouw, 1990).

In contrast, the culprit of a smaller, slower-responsive back kick is shoe cushioning because it allows the support surface to feel comfortable, therefore withdrawal response is slowed. To prevent this withdrawal reflex from deteriorating, barefoot running training would lead to a more effective, higher back kick, such as those influencing the performance of Ethiopian runners.

More From Run Forefoot:

PS. Don’t forget to check out the Run Forefoot Facebook Page, it’s a great place to ask questions about forefoot running, barefoot running, and footwear. I’ll be happy to answer them for ya!


References:

PatIa AE, Belanger M. Study of the response to nociceptive stimulus applied during walking in humans. In Winter DA et al. (Eds) Biomechanics IX-A, pp. 341-345, Human Kinetics Publishers, Champagin II, 1983

Robbins SE and Gouw GJ. Athletic footwear and chronic overloading – a brief review. Sports Med,1990; 9(2):76-85.

P.S. Don't forget to check out the Run Forefoot Facebook Page, it's a terrific place to ask questions about forefoot running, barefoot running and injury. I'm always happy to help!

7 Comments

  1. Hi there! Do you know if they make any plugins to help with Search Engine
    Optimization? I’m trying to get my site to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing
    very good success. If you know of any please share.
    Thanks! I saw similar art here: Eco product

  2. Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me?

  3. Hi! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist with Search Engine Optimization? I’m trying to get my website to
    rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good success.
    If you know of any please share. Kudos! You can read
    similar blog here: Code of destiny

  4. I’m extremely inspired along with your writing skills and also with the format in your weblog. Is that this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself? Anyway stay up the excellent quality writing, it’s uncommon to look a nice blog like this one today. I like runforefoot.com ! It is my: Youtube Algorithm

  5. I am extremely impressed along with your writing skills and also with the structure in your blog. Is this a paid subject matter or did you modify it your self? Either way keep up the excellent high quality writing, it is uncommon to look a nice blog like this one these days. I like runforefoot.com ! It’s my: Blaze ai

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.