Legs Hurt While Running? Here’s How Forefoot Running Helps!

Legs Hurt While Running? Here’s How Forefoot Running Helps!

Legs hurt while running? Try running with a forefoot strike, instead of a heel strike as shown above. Making initial ground-contact on the forefoot should involve pointing the forefoot down (plantarflexion) toward the ground upon and at touchdown because doing so is a small but vital mechanical action that gives you a safer bond with the ground, helping clear away high impact stress on the lower leg. Also, the combined effects of ankle plantarflexion and forefoot striking at touchdown during running can dramatically help bring down intramuscular pressure of the lower leg and may work best for preventing and fully resolving chronic exertional compartment syndrome. 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