Runners' Foot Strike Patterns: How Coordination and Variability Differ

Ever wondered how the way you strike the ground while running affects your foot, shank, and rearfoot coordination? A study set out to find just that. They looked at two groups of runners, those who hit the ground with their heels (rearfoot strikers or RFS) and those who hit with their forefoot or midfoot (non-RFS or NRFS). The researchers focused on how the shank, rearfoot, and forefoot segments moved together during running. They found that RFS runners had a bigger pattern of one segment leading the movement (distal dominancy) with the rearfoot in the early and middle parts of their steps. But in the early part of their steps, RFS runners had less of this pattern with the shank.

On the flip side, NRFS runners had more of this pattern with their forefoot in the early part of their steps, across all three planes of movement. Interestingly, NRFS runners showed more variety in their foot and shank movements in certain parts of their steps compared to RFS runners. But in one part of the step, RFS runners had more variability. These findings could help explain why some running styles might lead to more injuries. They also suggest that NRFS runners might benefit from exercises to strengthen the small muscles in their feet.

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