Rearfoot Strike versus Forefoot Strike, Which one is better?
This is a common question that I come across with many runners, which foot strike pattern should I choose to help me run better?
There is little scientific evidence showing that one-foot strike is more beneficial than the other. A rear-foot strike is more commonly seen in recreational runners and transitioning to a forefoot strike does not mean improvements in running economy or reduced risk of injuries.
However, there are certain situations where transitioning to a different strike pattern can help. This is based on many factors such as injury history, running analysis findings, movement assessment, footwear etc.
If you are in the process of changing your foot-strike pattern, make sure to modify your running mileage/training accordingly and perform specific strength exercises to help your body transition smoothly.
If you are interested in working with us, schedule a free discovery call!
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Xu Y, Yuan P, Wang R, Wang D, Liu J, Zhou H. Effects of Foot Strike Techniques on Running Biomechanics: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sports Health. 2021 Jan/Feb;13(1):71-77. doi: 10.1177/1941738120934715. Epub 2020 Aug 19. PMID: 32813597; PMCID: PMC7734358.
Thompson, Missy et al. “The Coupling of Stride Length and Foot Strike in Running.” Frontiers in sports and active living vol. 4 768801. 12 Apr. 2022, doi:10.3389/fspor.2022.768801
Runners: 3 Strength Exercises to Incorporate Into Your Training
Why you should add single-leg exercises into your workouts
Running is essentially jumping from one leg to the other repeatedly. That is why efficiently absorbing load through a single leg is crucial.
Here are 3 strength exercises incorporating single leg loading to help improve your running:
1️⃣ Loaded Marches - 3 x 30-40 seconds
2️⃣ Band Single Leg RDLs - 3 x 10
3️⃣ Front Rack Reverse Lunges - 3 x 10
Improve Your Running Mechanics: Hip Extension
Importance of Hip Extension During Running
During the toe-off phase of running, at least 10-15 degrees of hip extension range is crucial to set up for efficient propulsion. This is also known as triple extension when the trail leg is in full hip, knee, and ankle extension.
Issues That Can Occur When There Is a Lack of Hip Extension
When a runner lacks proper hip extension mobility, some common compensations that can occur include lumbar spine hyperextension, shortened running stride, and increased loading at the ankle joint. Inefficient running form can eventually lead to a repetitive stress injury.
Hip Flexor Weakness Can Be One of The Causes of Limited Hip Extension Mobility
If you have been stretching and continue to feel hip flexor tightness, the issue might not be a shortened muscle. Weakness can sometimes be perceived as muscle tightness. Try strengthening the muscle instead and see if that fixes the issue.
Here Are Some Exercises To Strengthen Your Hip Flexors:
1️⃣ Eccentric hip flexion contraction w/ Kettlebell
🔸Make sure to keep your back flat on the bench
🔸Bring both legs to your chest, hold onto the opposite leg and slowly lower the weighted leg down
2️⃣ End-Range hip flexion isometric holds
🔸Bring your knee up to your chest, release and hold the position
🔸Make sure to keep your core and glutes engaged
3️⃣ Resistant Band marches in Triple extension
🔸Raise your knee up towards your chest
🔸Make sure to keep your core and glutes engaged
3 Exercises for Foot/Ankle Repetitive Stress Injuries
What Can Cause a Repetitive Stress Injury?
Repetitive stress injuries of the foot and ankle commonly occur in runners of all levels. There are many factors to consider leading up to this kind of injury including injury history, tissue capacity, training load, recovery, and equipment.
How to Treat a Repetitive Stress Injury?
The goal of these exercises is to start the process of desensitization as well as rebuild injured tendons/soft tissues. We want to gradually expose the injured area to time under tension before progressing to more demanding movements.
Here are some rehab exercises to treat a repetitive stress injury at the foot/ankle:
1️⃣ Isometric SL heel raise
3 sets of 30-45 sec. holds
2️⃣ Isometric Wall sit + soleus raise
3 sets of 30-45 sec. holds
3️⃣ Isometric lunge + heel raise
3 sets of 30-45 sec. holds
If you are dealing with a repetitive stress injury that doesn’t seem to get better, contact us to see if we can help!
Improve Your Running Mechanics: Big Toe Extension Mobility
Big toe extension mobility is often overlooked when talking about efficient running mechanics, why is this so important?
During the phases of running, proper push-off requires your big toe to extend at least 45 degrees which is crucial to set up for an efficient propulsion phase. This is also known as triple extension when the trail leg is in full hip, knee, and ankle extension.
When there is a lack of big toe extension mobility we can see a decrease in hip, knee, and ankle extension. This can cause your stride length to be shortened which leads to an insufficient propulsion phase. Being able to push off your big toe also tightens the band of tissues underneath your foot (plantar fascia) to create a spring mechanism that propels your leg forward with less energy.
Here are some exercises to help improve your big toe extension mobility:
1️⃣ Lunge with big toe extension stretch
🔸Shift your weight onto the big toe on the back leg
🔸You should feel a stretch on your toe and/or bottom of your foot.
🔸Perform 5 slow repetitions
2️⃣ Quadruped rock backs
🔸As you sit back onto your ankles focus on stretching your big toe
🔸Perform 5 slow repetitions
3️⃣ Heel raises with elevated big toe
🔸Place a towel roll under your big toe right before the ball of your feet
🔸Focus your pressure on the big toe while pushing up
🔸Perform 3 sets of 15
If you are currently dealing with and injury, we can help!
Improve Your Running Efficiency: Increasing Step rate to prevent Over-striding
What is over-striding and why is it bad?
Over-striding is defined when your initial foot strike lands in front of your center of mass (picture on the left). This causes an increase in joint loading, ground reaction forces, and breaking forces. If your body is not able to adapt to these forces an injury can occur. Ideally, your foot should be landing close to your center of mass, somewhere between your ears and eyes.
Here's a quick strategy to improve your running efficiency and decrease joint loads
One simple strategy is by increasing your step rate per minute (SPM) by 5-10%. This has been shown to reduce lower extremity joint loading and improve running kinematics. The picture on the right shows me running at a 10% increased SPM which puts my initial foot strike closer to my center of mass.
🔸Increasing your SPM by more than 10% requires greater oxygen consumption which can affect your running efficiency
🔸I use an app called RunTempo, which is a metronome to help find and modify your SPM when training
🔸Give this a shot and see if it helps!
References:
Bramah C, Preece SJ, Gill N, Herrington L. A 10% Increase in Step Rate Improves Running Kinematics and Clinical Outcomes in Runners With Patellofemoral Pain at 4 Weeks and 3 Months. Am J Sports Med. 2019 Dec;47(14):3406-3413. doi: 10.1177/0363546519879693. Epub 2019 Oct 28. PMID: 31657964; PMCID: PMC6883353.
Lyght M, Nockerts M, Kernozek TW, Ragan R. Effects of Foot Strike and Step Frequency on Achilles Tendon Stress During Running. J Appl Biomech. 2016 Aug;32(4):365-72. doi: 10.1123/jab.2015-0183. Epub 2016 Mar 8. PMID: 26955843.
Heiderscheit, Bryan C et al. “Effects of step rate manipulation on joint mechanics during running.” Medicine and science in sports and exercise vol. 43,2 (2011): 296-302. doi:10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181ebedf4.
How to Prevent Running Injuries
There is a high incidence of lower extremity running injuries occurring in recreational and competitive runners, the knee being the most predominantly injured joint. Some risk factors that can increase the probability of a running injury include long training distances per week and a history of previous injuries. So how can we help prevent injuries like this from happening and keeping us off the sideline?
We need to prepare our bodies to adapt to ground reaction forces during running. On longer runs (more than 3 miles), it’s important that we prevent the breakdown of running mechanics and improve running efficiency.
Here are some areas that can be addressed to improve your resilience to injury:
🔸Training plan modification to safely balance your weekly workload
🔸Muscle strength and joint mobility deficits to improve load absorption
🔸Modifying running form and technique to improve energy efficiency
🔸Proper recovery and nutrition to prevent burnout
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van Gent RN, Siem D, van Middelkoop M, van Os AG, Bierma-Zeinstra SM, Koes BW. Incidence and determinants of lower extremity running injuries in long distance runners: a systematic review. Br J Sports Med. 2007;41(8):469-480. doi:10.1136/bjsm.2006.033548
Arnold, Michael & Moody, Aaron. (2018). Common Running Injuries: Evaluation and Management. American family physician. 97. 510-516.
