The research shows there is a right and wrong foot strike for running, and the right foot strike is the forefoot strike (see here what a proper forefoot strike looks like) because it does more to reduce net impact on the entire body, while reducing bending strain and torsional stress on the lower leg as compared with heel strike running. Forefoot running does this by naturally allowing the foot to land closer to the body’s center mass (the hips) and farther from the midline (i.e. increasing step-width). This increased step-width, engaged only by forefoot striking, promotes a straighter shin angle at landing, which was found to do the most good in preventing the mechanical stress linked to chronic shin splints and fracture as compared with heel strike running. Read more here!
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