One of the potential shortcomings of kinematic, kinetic and metabolic studies of barefoot or minimalist running versus traditional shod running is that acute interventions are often used, rather than a prolonged period of habituation to the different conditions under study. It is not known if what is found in these acute intervention studies will still […]
Archive | September, 2013
Running shoe midsole hardness has no effect on running injury rate
It has been well documented that there is a lack of evidence underpinning the most prominent paradigms or models for the prescription of running shoes. That lack of evidence does not mean it is right or wrong, it just means the evidence is lacking as the research has not been properly done in any significant […]
Decreasing vertical impact loads via increasing ankle loads in Chi Runners
Hot on the heels of the systematic review last week that confirmed the adage that you can’t decrease the load in one tissue without increasing it in another and that different running techniques load different tissues differently, we have another study: A Comparison of Negative Joint Work and Vertical Ground Reaction Force Loading Rates between […]
Just How Significant are Heel Impacts at Causing Injury When Running?
I have always really struggled to understand why there is so much fuss about reducing impact forces to treat and prevent overuse injuries in runners. Everywhere you go in the crankosphere blogosphere heel impacts are the cause of all evil and have to be eliminated at all costs. Even in the scientific literature, for example, […]
Continuing to heel strike after transition to minimalist running shoes
I blogged back in July about a study that showed: Increased Lower Limb Loading with use of Minimalist Running Shoes and now we have another related publication: Short term changes in running mechanics and foot strike pattern following introduction to minimalistic footwear. Willson JD, Bjorhus JS, Williams B 3rd, Butler RJ, Porcari JP, Kernozek TW. […]
Yet another study shows heel striking is more efficient than midfoot striking
The running economy studies on rearfoot vs midfoot/forefoot and barefoot/minimalism vs shoes have been coming thick and fast this year and they pretty much all showing the same thing. I should not need to relitigate the issues I have bloged about here, here, here, here, here and here! So straight to it: This one was […]
Different Running Techniques Load Different Tissues Differently
Ever since I started this blog and for a long time before that, I have been banging on about two sayings: 1. Different running techniques load different tissues differently 2. You can not offload one tissue without increasing the load in another¹ This means that there is no one right way to run for everyone. […]