Is Heel Strike Running Bad for Your Legs?

Is Heel Strike Running Bad for Your Legs?

Heel strike running is bad for the legs for many reasons. Landing with a heel strike when running doesn’t just expose the leg to more injurious impact, it also creates a wobbly support surface on the heel which causes joint displacement of the knees and hips, which are risk factors for hyperextension injury. 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.
Bretta Riches