So after being a very prominent heel striker for about 5 years and suffering numerous hip and knee injuries, I've recently made the transition to a forefoot foot strike. I feel that this is less impact on my body and my overall sprinting speed has improved, yet I feel less relaxed and efficient when going on normal runs. Any advice for this? I made the switch about 2 months ago and now train in a lightweight trainer as opposed to a neutral cushioning shoe.
That sounds about right. Give it more time, switching form from heel striking to forefoot running causes a change in efficiency, but after a few more months things will improve. Keep at it.
I tried the same it just led to different injuries (Achillies and Calf). The PT told me that your foot is designed to heel strike and absorb shock. It sets the foot up for a good trasition. Fore foot striking is efficient for faster running, but harder on your tendons.
PT is incorrect. Read up on biomechanics of running and foot strike. When shifting to forefoot running, keep stride under center of gravity so you can drive your body forward. Trying to keep a long stride (overstriding - often seen in heel-toe running) will cause an imbalance in your running stride and lead to possible leg injuries, as mentioned. Furthermore, the changeover may take as much as 6-8 months as you become accustomed to the new form of running. The rewards of faster running and fewer injuries are worth it in the long run.
brc1355....
Your story basically sums up my running career. I just had my stride analyzed on a treadmill, which showed that I have a major heel strike issue. I have been having hip and knee problems constantly the last 2 years, so I was hoping to learn the forefoot strike. Are we talking about the POSE method here.. or what? Any advice? Websites?
Thanks!
I actually did the reverse of this several months ago- transitioned from forefoot to heel striking- and now am somewhere in the middle. I'll touch down on the heel, but quickly transition to the forefoot. I feel this is the best of both worlds because it's not as stressful on the achilles/calf or the hip/knee. The thing about it is that it works best with high turnover, so it's easiest when I'm running slow and using a short stride. When I go faster, I'll tend to shift back to the forefoot strike, rather than going to a full-on heel strike. The forefoot strike is definitely less efficient, but that inefficiency is most prominent when you're using a long stride. If your turnover is high enough, the loss of efficiency is all but negligible.
No one has offered any sound advice on what is the prefered method of striding, and nor will I. But personally, I would be more concerned with your turnover rate than where your foot strikes the ground. If the two happen to coincide, then so be it.
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theres a dvd available there. very helpful