Is Heel Strike Running Bad for the Lower Back?

Is Heel Strike Running Bad for the Lower Back?

One proven way to prevent lower back pain when running is to avoid heel striking. This is because research has found 2 ways heel strike running causes lower back pain: over-striding and knee-joint stiffness, both resulted in poor impact absorption and increased transient vibrations on the lower, but both injurious risk factors are resolved in forefoot running! 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