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I had a young patient recently whose coach essentially said that if she didn't run with a heel strike, she was running wrong. The coach forced his young runners to run with a heel strike and injuries followed. While some people run with a heel strike, many, whether naturally or by choice, run with a midfoot strike. Both are right. Neither is wrong. But you need to determine what's the best way for you to run.
People run how they run. Historically, most runners would run with a heel strike. As a result, most running shoes were designed to accommodate a heel strike. More recently, some runners train themselves to run with a midfoot foot strike. The thought process is the foot spends less time on the ground with each stride. The shorter amount of time that the foot is on the ground, the faster and longer you can run.
That said, there are no wrong ways to run. There are studies that show that running with a heel strike makes you more susceptible to injuries. Those studies are looking for injuries with a heel strike. Other studies show that there are also injuries with midfoot and forefoot strikers. They're just different injuries.
With an increase in runners with midfoot and forefoot strikes, some found that conventional running shoes weren't suitable. I can understand that. With a drop of 8 -12 mm, the heel can get in the way as you're trying to and on your midfoot. It's for this reason that Newton running shoes became
so popular with midfoot and forefoot runners.
The shoes are designed specifically with these runners in mind. The most noticeable feature of Newton shoes is the lug on the sole of the shoe. This lug in the midfoot provides traction when landing on the midfoot or forefoot. It also helps to absorb shock from impact.
If you wear a pair of Newton's shoes and you try to run with a heel strike, you're not gonna know what's going on. There's going to be a big bump in the middle of this sole. That's because these shoes were not made for the way you run with few exceptions, you can wear almost any other shoe without a problem. But not Newtons. This lug is part of their patented Action/Reaction technology. The compression of the lug sends a force back to propel you to your next stride. It functions like a trampoline and springs your foot up helping you to expend less energy. So the heel doesn't get in the way of your midfoot or forefoot strike,
Newton shoes feature a lower drop than conventional running shoes. The drop is generally under 6 mm. This helps to position the foot for a better, more natural landing. There are some guidelines that you need to keep in mind. If you decide to switch from a heel strike to a midfoot strike. In the beginning, you'll need to think about every step you take. When transitioning away from a heel strike, Your running gait is ingrained
in you and you have to work diligently to break the habits you formed. You need to shorten your stride. Overreaching with a long stride can cause strain and injury to Achilles tendon and hamstrings.
Long strides also keep your body behind your feet. When you run with a midfoot strike, your feet should land right beneath you. Your body should be tilted forward slightly as you run. When you strike, there should be a slight bend in your knee when your foot strikes the ground. That will help with shock absorption. It will help you absorb the energy and quickly lift your foot to the next stride. Finally, be patient you're breaking a habit. That's been with you since childhood realize you're going to be a bit slower at the start. As you get the hang of it, the speed will come. Remember that you need to focus on form first, not a particular shoe.
#NewtonRunningShoes #MidfootStrike #Houstonpodiatrist
00:00 Introduction
01:25 Why some runners run with a midfoot strike
02:23 Features of Newton Running shoes
03:03 What the midfoot lug does for Newton Shoes
03:36 Guidelines switching from a heel strike to a midfoot strike
05:11 How to connect with Houston podiatrist Dr. Andrew Schneider