The Science section of The New York Times today featured a column about how changing your stride may help to prevent running injuries. The writer, Tara Parker-Pope, noted how runners these days are far more fixated on achieving proper form than, say, improving their overall performance.
In recent years, the focus in recreational running has not been on achieving faster times or longer distances. Instead, longtime athletes and newcomers alike have been searching for a training method that will keep them from being sidelined by injuries.
How very true! This morning, as I ran two miles out on the road – my longest run outside since my second arthroscopic hip surgery in early December – my entire focus was on my foot strike and posture. You might say I’m a recovering heel striker working to land more midfoot. A heel strike gait is believed to cause more injuries, particularly to the hips, because of the jarring impact it has on the body.
These videos are great! Thanks so much for sharing them with us.
Vivian
This is a great article!!!
Im glad you touched on barefoot running!
I am a 50 year old doctor who runs barefoot and has lectured on the biomechanics of barefoot running at medical conferences. My approach to looking at the human body is different from other doctors as I do not look at the human body as a lever mechanism which uses levers to run. I look at the body as a lever mechanism which also functions as a spring mechanism
Doctors don’t seem to know how to restore your bodies ability to resist impacts but they know how to put more braces like motion control shoes, orthotics, arch inserts, canes, walkers, wheelchairs until you are bedridden.
If you want to be a barefoot runner who wants to reduce the risk of injuries, the key is to strengthen the muscles that resist the impacts which I call the landing muscles, the spring suspension system muscles or the pronation supination cuff muscles
Here are my last two articles you might find helpful:
How Does The Body Spring Back Safely From Impacts Of Running and Walking?
http://teamdoctorsblog.com/2012/06/13/video-tutorial-12-is-running-bad-for-knees-how-the-body-springs-back-safely-from-impacts-of-running/
Self-Tests & Exercises To Reduce Over Pronation and Over Supination From Impacts During Walking and Running
http://teamdoctorsblog.com/2012/06/18/video-tutorial-28-the-impact-absorbing-landing-muscles-of-the-human-spring-mechanism-testing-and-training-the-spring-suspension-muscles/