Hamstring Pain From Forefoot Running

16/06/2015 Bretta Riches Forefoot Running Tips 877

Leaning forward is one of the key mechanical components of forefoot running because it allows less braking, and therefore, smooth, effortless forward momentum. I learned about the importance of the forward lean from the Pose Method of Running, which mentions that the forward lean during running must be very subtle and not excessive as leaning too far forward will alter your mechanics, causing you to waste energy. Research also shows that over-leaning during running can cause hamstring pain.

Hamstring Pain

Hamstring Pain From Forefoot Running

Leaning forward when running fuels acceleration, it also helps relax the upper back muscles, and also reduces knee pain.  In fact, most elite distance runners lean forward when they run, especially when they get tired because this helps take mechanical work away from the leg. But what these runners don’t do is over-lean, and I think many new forefoot runners tend to over-lean during speed session as they may believe that the farther they lean forward, the faster they will run. This is untrue as sprinters typically don’t over-learn forward. Sprinters too, are leaning forward, but again the degree of forward leaning is very minor.

Sore Hamstring
Technically, your forward lean should be so subtle that an onlooker cannot tell the difference if you are leaning or running upright.

Hamstring Pain From Forefoot Running

Leaning too far forward when you run significantly pulls the hamstring muscles. Higashihara et al. (2015) found that over-leaning of the trunk at fast running velocities stretched the hamstring muscles during stance –the phase of which loading is high and the hamstrings are activated– which dumped elongation loads on the biceps femoris long head and semimembranosus muscles.

The researchers compared the effects of a forward lean of the trunk and an up-right position of the trunk on hamstring kinematics during sprinting. For the forward-lean trunk condition, runners were asked to lean forward as much as possible with speed.

Their data showed that over-leaning stretched all three hamstring muscles at touchdown as compared with an upright trunk during sprinting. As mentioned briefly, the hamstrings are more activated during stance as compared with other phases of running gait. If a muscle lengthens when it is activated, it becomes vulnerable to injury (Best et al., 1995; Brooks & Faulkner, 2001; Garrett, 1996; Lieber & Friden, 1993).

Moreover, the biarticular hamstring muscles reach peak strain and undergo lengthening during late swing phase of sprinting whereby over-leaning during this phase might dramatically exacerbate muscle lengthening beyond a tolerable limit (Chumanov, Heiderscheit, & Thelen, 2007, 2011; Schache, Dorn, Blanch,Brown, & Pandy, 2012)

From this, the researchers concluded that over-leaning increases the risk of hamstring injury, particularly during stance and late swing phase of running. To prevent hamstring injury, the less you lean, the less lengthening is required to contract the hamstrings when running on the forefoot.

The Take Home Message

The common metaphor for the forward trunk lean is the ‘gas pedal’ in forefoot running and leaning subtly certainly delivers performance gains.

You’ll know when you are over-leaning when your legs start to feel heavy. Over-leaning is a wall that puts a limit on how fast you can run. Technically, your forward lean should be so subtle that an onlooker cannot tell the difference if you are leaning or running upright.

More From Run Forefoot:

Sore Calves When Running on Forefoot

Knee Injury More Prevalent in Heel Strike Running

Get Stronger Knees with Tarahumara Running Sandals

Forefoot Running Holds More Promise in Preventing ITBS 

Best Shoes for Forefoot Runners

References:

Best, T. M., McElhaney, J. H., Garrett Jr., W. E., & Myers, B. S.(1995). Axial strain measurements in skeletal muscle at various strain rates. Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, 117(3), 262 – 265.

Chumanov, E. S., Heiderscheit, B. C., & Thelen, D. G. (2007). The effect of speed and in fl uence of individual muscles on hamstring mechanics during the swing phase of sprinting.
Journal of Biomechanics, 40(16), 3555 – 3562.

Garrett Jr., W. E. (1996). Muscle strain injuries. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 24(Suppl. 6), S2 – S8.

Higashihara et al. Effects of forward trunk lean on hamstring muscle kinematics during sprinting. J Sports Sci, 2015; 33(13): 1366-1375.

Lieber, R. L., & Friden, J. (1993). Muscle damage is not a function of muscle force but active muscle strain. Journal of Applied Physiology, 74(2), 520 – 526.

Schache, A. G., Dorn, T. W., Blanch, P. D., Brown, N. A., & Pandy, M. G. (2012). Mechanics of the human hamstring muscles during sprinting. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 44(4), 647 – 658.

P.S. Don't forget to check out the Run Forefoot Facebook Page, it's a terrific place to ask questions about forefoot running, barefoot running and injury. I'm always happy to help!

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