The hamstrings may be more vulnerable to pain and injury in heel strike running on account of greater stretch force on the hamstrings as a result of overstride mechanics as well as a higher collisional force generated at heel strike. This force is transmitted to the hamstrings while the hamstrings are in an over-stretched state. In contrast, hamstring injury may be less likely in forefoot running because a smaller over-stride angle results at touchdown which may prevent the hamstrings from stretching beyond their maximum tolerable limit. 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.