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As common as it is, heel striking gets a bad rap.
(Spoiler alert:Its not.)
There are even shoes thatclaim to promote forefoot striking.
exercise physiologist atNYU Langone’s Sports Performance Center
But can something that comes naturally to more than 90 percent of all runners really be that bad?
Is heel striking really so bad?
Forefoot-striking evangelists claim that it is both more efficient and safer than landing on the heel.
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The vertical loading ratesthose up-and-down movementsare also higher when you heel strike, so its just not as energy-efficient.
Both heel striking and overstriding usually also come with a lower, less efficientcadence, or turnover.
There are some catches, though.
exercise physiologist atNYU Langone’s Sports Performance Center
Plus, on days when youre trying to run slow (and yes,you should have these days!
), it can be difficult to maintain a forefoot strike while keeping your pace easy.
And none of this means that you cant run fast while heel striking.
Possible issues include stress fractures, IT band syndrome, anterior knee pain, and shin splints.
Plus, forefoot striking can come with its own set of injury risks, like Achilles overuse and metatarsalgia.
Dr. Melvan recommends the appsDartfishandOchythat can help analyze your running form from a video.
Its that old adage: If it aint broke, dont fix it, says Dr. Melvan.
If you want to be faster, maybe its something you want to consider, says Dr. Melvan.
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