This website has been developed to provide an evidence-based resource for those interested in the biomechanics of different foot strikes in endurance running and the applications to human endurance running prior to the modern running shoe.
Daniel E. Lieberman Madhusudhan Venkadesan Adam I. Daoud William A. Werbel
In Daniel Lieberman's Skeletal Biology Lab, we have been investigating the biomechanics of endurance running, comparing habitually barefoot runners with runners who normally run in modern running shoes with built-up heels, stiff soles and arch support.
Here is a summary of our findings, which we explain with the aid of videos and images in the following pages:
Our research asked how and why humans can and did run comfortably without modern running shoes. We tested and confirmed what many people knew already: that most experienced, habitually barefoot runners tend to avoid landing on the heel and instead land with a forefoot or midfoot strike. The bulk of our published research explores the collisional mechanics of different kinds of foot strikes. We show that most forefoot and some midfoot strikes (shod or barefoot) do not generate the sudden, large impact transients that occur when you heel strike (shod or barefoot). Consequently, runners who forefoot or midfoot strike do not need shoes with elevated cushioned heels to cope with these sudden, high transient forces that occur when you land on the ground. Therefore, barefoot and minimally shod people can run easily on the hardest surfaces in the world without discomfort from landing. If impact transient forces contribute to some forms of injury, then this style of running (shod or barefoot) might have some benefits, but that hypothesis remains to be tested.
Please note that we present no data on how people should run, whether shoes cause some injuries, or whether barefoot running causes other kinds of injuries. We believe there is a strong need for controlled, prospective studies on these issues.
This website provides information on:
Human evolution and endurance running
Foot and lower limb biomechanics when running in shoes
Foot and lower limb biomechanics when running barefoot or in minimal shoes
Biomechanical differences between forefoot striking and heel striking
Tools to help assess potential benefits of learning to forefoot strike
Transitioning safely to forefoot striking barefoot or in minimal footwear
Why Consider Foot Strike?
Humans and our recent ancestors have been accomplished endurance runners for more than a million years (Bramble and Lieberman, 2004). Our endurance running abilities may have evolved to enable our ancestors to engage in persistence hunting long before the comparatively recent invention of projectile technologies used for hunting purposes (Carrier, 1984; Lieberman et al., 2009).
Our evolutionary history as runners partly accounts for why aerobic exercise is such a key component of human health. For most people, aerobic exercise involves endurance running, either jogging or playing aerobic sports such as soccer and basketball. Unfortunately, studies suggest that at least 30% of runners get injured every year, and many of these injuries stem from problems that arise in the foot or lower leg (van Gent et al., 2007). Humans evolved to run and before the mid 1970s all humans ran in either no shoes or very minimal footwear such as sandals, moccasins or thin running flats. A basic prediction of evolutionary or Darwinian medicine is that the human foot is likely to be well adapted to running long distances barefoot. If so, then contrary to popular belief, the bare foot may be well suited for running long distances without requiring modern, heavily cushioned, high-heeled running shoes.
We do not know how early humans ran, but our research (Lieberman et al., 2010) indicates that humans were able to run comfortably and safely when barefoot or in minimal footwear by landing with a flat foot (midfoot strike) or by landing on the ball of the foot before bringing down the heel(forefoot strike). These kinds of foot strikes differ profoundly from heel striking both in terms of how the body is moving and the resulting forces on the body. Most runners who wear standard running shoes usually heel strike, but our research suggests that most barefoot or minimally shod endurance runners forefoot strike and sometimes midfoot strike. The following pages contain information about how these various strikes differ biomechanically and how they are relevant to how people run.
Some key features of the typical modern running shoe are:
Large, flared, cushioned heel:
Facilitates a comfortable and stable landing on the heel
Cushions some of the impact force caused by the foot’s collision with the ground
Distributes the impact force over a larger area of the rearfoot
Arch support and stiffening elements (e.g. medial post):
Many shoes prevent overpronation, which is the natural “rolling in” of the foot during stance (some shoes prevent oversupination or “rolling-out”)
Reduces the flattening of the foot's arch
Shod Runners Usually Heel Strike
Approximately 75% of shod runners heel strike (Hasegawa et al., 2007). While we do not know the definitive reasons why the majority of shod runners heel strike, we propose several potential explanations:
It's comfortable. The shock-absorbing features cushion the force of impact. The graph below compares the forces that occur at the ground for a runner landing on the heel when barefoot (a) and in a running shoe (b). Note the initialimpact transient, a nearly instantaneous and large increase in force that occurs as the heel comes to a sudden stop upon impacting the ground. The shoe reduces the force by about 10% and slows the rate of loading considerably. This, in addition to distributing the impact force over a larger area of the rearfoot, makes it comfortable to heel strike.
Thicker rearfoot cushioning than forefoot cushioning. This high heel makes it easier to heel strike because the sole below the heel is typically about twice as thick as the sole below the forefoot. So if your foot would tend to land flat when barefoot, it will land on the heel when in a shoe.
It's stable. The shoe is designed to prevent too much movement such as pronation. This helps to make runners feel stable in modern shoes.
Is There Anything Wrong With Heel Striking in Running Shoes?
Not necessarily! Many people like to run this way and do so without injury. But some runners get repetitive stress injuries each year (estimates vary from 30-75%) and one hypothesis is that heel striking contributes to some of these injuries.We emphasize though, that no study has shown that heel striking contributes more to injury than forefoot striking. Read on to learn more about forefoot striking.
Running Before the Modern Running Shoe
Many people think modern running shoes are necessary in order to run safely and comfortably, but they were invented only in the 1970s. Before then, running shoes were just simple running flats that had little cushioning, no arch support, and no built-up heel. Humans were running for millions of years, apparently safely, in running flats, in thin sandals or mocassins, or in no shoes at all. Our research indicates that they may have been able to do so by forefoot or midfoot striking.
There are three major classifications of how a runner's foot strikes the ground:
Heel Striking
Heel lands first, then the forefoot comes down (heel-toe running)
lateral view, barefoot
lateral view, shod
Midfoot Striking
Heel and ball of the foot land simultaneously
lateral view, FiveFingers®
medial view, FiveFingers®
Forefoot Striking*
Ball of the foot lands first (usually below the 4th and 5th metatarsals) before the heel comes down (toe-heel-toe running)
lateral view, barefoot
medial view, FiveFingers®
*Forefoot striking as used here is distinct from forefoot striking in sprinters, in which the runner stays on the ball of the foot and the heel never comes down.
Note: some researchers classify foot strikes by the initial center of pressure. A rearfoot strike (heel strike) is an initial center of pressure in the back third of the shoe, less than 33% of the shoe's length; a midfoot strike is in the middle third, 34-67%; and a forefoot strike is in the front third, greater than 67%. We do not use this classification because it is designed mostly for shod running.
Shod Runners & Heel Striking
Approximately 75% of habitually shod runners all over the world heel strike (Hasegawa et al., 2007).
Barefoot Runners & Forefoot and Midfoot Striking
Try running barefoot on a hard, natural surface, you’ll notice almost instantly that it hurts to heel strike! This is because the human heel pad cannot cushion much of the impact force (Ker et al., 1995; Chi and Schmitt, 2005) and this force is concentrated on a small area of the heel. Many shod runners asked to run barefoot in laboratory conditions (a treadmill or trackway) switch to a midfoot or forefoot strike.
Our research (Lieberman et al., 2010) indicates that habitual barefoot runnersuse all kinds of landings, but predominantly forefoot strike, even when going downhill. This is true of:
Runners who grew up without shoes or who wear thin rubber or leather sandals (e.g. Tarahumara ultrarunners, some Kenyan runners, and so on).
American barefoot runners who switched from wearing shoes to running barefoot or in minimal footwear.
Most western runners before the invention of the thick-heeled running shoe.
Conclusion
Our hypothesis is that until recently most humans had much more varied gaits; sometimes they landed on their heel, but more often they were midfoot or forefoot striking. We suspect that forefoot striking was most common.
Kenyan AdolescentThis individual has never worn shoes in his life
Elite Kenyan RunnerThis individual grew up running barefoot, but now wears shoes
Running Barefoot
Running in Shoes
Click the images to watch the videos
Note that this runner's leg is positioned in the same way at foot strike whether running barefoot or in shoes. When running barefoot this runner forefoot strikes. When running in shoes he has a midfoot strike. Without any apparent changes in the positioning of the runner's leg or foot, the wedged shape midsole of the shoe affects how the runner's foot contacts the ground.
Biomechanical Differences Between Different Foot Strikes
Why do Different Foot Strikes Matter?
Here we focus on the difference between heel striking and forefoot striking (see bottom of page for more on midfoot striking which is often intermediate). In heel striking, the collision of the heel with the ground generates a significant impact transient,a nearly instantaneous, large force. This force sends a shock wave up through the body via the skeletal system. In forefoot striking, the collision of the forefoot with the ground generates a very minimal impact force with no impact transient. Therefore, quite simply, a runner can avoid experiencing the large impact force by forefoot striking properly.
The explanations below illustrate how and why a large collision is generated when heel striking and why such a small collision is generated when forefoot striking.
Heel Strikes and Ground Reaction Forces
Heel Strike Barefoot
Heel Strike in Running Shoes
Forefoot Strikes and Ground Reaction Force
Forefoot Strike Barefoot
Forefoot Strike in Racing Flats
Forefoot Strike in Standard Running Shoes
To understand these differences, we need to explore the biomechanics of running, which can be divided into two major components: running kinematics, the way in which the body moves, and running kinetics, the relationship between movements and the forces that cause them. To understand the important kinetic differences between different kinds of foot strikes we will first consider key differences in running kinematics. Note that there is a continuum of different kinds of landings from landing on the heel (heel striking), landing simultaneously on the heel and ball of the foot (midfoot striking), and landing on the ball of the foot (forefoot striking). Again, for simplicity, we focus here on heel and forefoot striking, noting that midfoot striking is often intermediate.
Running Kinematics
Heel Striking
Forefoot Striking
Moment of Impact
Hip and knee are flexed.
Ankle is dorsiflexed (toes point up).
Ankle is plantarflexed (toes point slightly down). Foot is usually slightly inverted (the sole is angled inwards).
Land on the middle to outside of the heel just below the ankle joint.
Land on outside of the forefoot (the ball of the foot, just below the 4th and 5th metatarsal heads).
As you land, the ankle begins to plantarflex (toes move towards the ground).
As you land, the ankle begins to dorsiflex (heel moves towards the groud).
Arch of the foot is not loaded.
Arch of the foot is loaded and begins tostretch/flatten.
Impact
↓ Foot Flat
↓
↓
Knee and hip flex.
As the ankle plantarflexes, the forefoot comes down.
As the ankle dorsiflexes, the heel comes down under the control of the calf muscles and Achilles tendon, which are stretching.
Foot Flat
↓
Midstance
↓
↓
Knee and hip continue to flex.
The ankle dorsiflexes as the lower leg moves forward relative to the foot and the foot everts (rolls inward).
Now that the whole foot is on the ground, the archbegins to stretch/flatten.
The arch continues to stretch/flatten.
This combination of eversion, ankle dorsiflexion and arch flattening is called pronation.
This combination of eversion, ankle dorsiflexion and arch flattening is called pronation,but occurs in the reverse direction compared to heel striking (from the forefoot to the rearfoot not heel to toe).
Midstance
↓ Toe Off
↓
↓
Ankle plantarflexes bringing the heel off the ground (calf muscles and Achilles tendon now shorten).
Foot’s arch recoils, and the toes flex.
These actions push the body upwards and forwards for the next stride.
Running Kinetics and Impact Forces
The physics of collisions: The impact of the body with the ground generates an impact force, which equals mass times acceleration (F = ma, Newton’s 2nd Law). The mass involved in this collision is whatever portion of the body that comes to a dead stop along with the point of impact on the foot (this is called the effective mass). The acceleration is the rate of change of this mass' velocity. Because the impact occurs over a brief period of time, the force times the duration of the collision, called theimpulse, is the effective mass times its change in velocity over the duration of the impact. For a detailed explanation of the physics, see equation 1 in Lieberman et al (2010).
Heel Striking
Forefoot Striking
Effective Mass at Impact
Foot and lower leg come to a dead stop at impactwhile the rest of the body continues to fall above the knee.
Forefoot comes to a dead stop, but the heel and lower leg continue to fall (in a forefoot strike). Theankle flexes (in both forefoot and midfoot strikes).
Effective mass is approximately the foot plus the lower leg, which equals 6.8% of total body mass in the runners measured in Lieberman et al. (2010).
Effective mass is the forefoot and some portion of the rearfoot and leg, which equals 1.7% of total body mass in the runners measured in Lieberman et al. (2010).
Change in Velocity at Impact
The change in velocity of the effective mass is the difference between the velocity of the falling foot at the instant before contact and the velocity just after contact, which is zero. This change in velocitydoes not differ significantly between a heel strike and a forefoot strike.
Conversion of Vertical Momentum at Impact
Although the ankle may flex a little (plantarflex) during the impact period, the vertical momentum of the lower leg is mostly absorbed by the vertical component of the collision force.
Much of the vertical momentum of the rearfoot and lower leg is converted into rotational momentum.
Analogy: It is like dropping a rod straight down on its end: it comes to a sudden, loud stop.
Analogy: It is like dropping a rod on its end at an angle: there is a sudden stop at one end of the rod, but it is much less loud because the rest of the rod continues to fall as it topples over.
Impact Force
This kind of collision leads to a rapid, high impact transient about 1.5 to as much as 3 times your body weight (depending on your speed) within 50 milliseconds of striking the ground (see graph a below).
This is equivalent to someone hitting you on the heel with a hammer using 1.5 to as much as 3 times your body weight. These impacts add up, since you strike the ground almost 1000 times per mile!
Many running shoes make heel strikes comfortable and less injurious because they slow the rate of loading considerably, reduce the force by about 10% (seegraph b below) and spread this force out over a greater area of the foot. But they do not eliminate the impact transient.
This kind of collision produces a very slow rise in force with no distinct impact transient. There isESSENTIALLY NO IMPACT TRANSIENT in a forefoot strike (see graphcbelow). The same is true of some (but not all) midfoot strikes.
We have found that even on hard surfaces (a steel force plate) runners who forefoot strike have impact forces that are 7 times lower than shod runners who heel strike. Rates of loading are equal to or less than rates of loading for shod runners.
Note that the peak force at midstance is the same for both kinds of gaits. This peak reflects the ground reaction force when the body's center of mass is at its lowest point. Because peak force at midstance rises slowly, it is probably less related to injury.
A Note on Midfoot Strikes
Some runners land simultaneously on the ball of the foot and the heel. Midfoot strikes represent a continuum between heel strikes and forefoot strikes, depending on where the center of pressure is at impact and how stiff the ankle and knee are during impact. One can land softly in a midfoot strike without much impact transient, but some midfoot strikes can generate impact transients like those of heel strikes. However, these forces are distributed over larger surfaces areas, reducing the stress on the foot.
Running Barefoot, Forefoot Striking & Training Tips
Forefoot Striking & Impact Forces
For millions of years, it is likely that runners landed with no single, specific foot strike, and rather landed with a variety of foot strikes including forefoot, midfoot and heel strikes, but we suspect that the most common form of foot strike was a forefoot strike. Midfoot strikes were probably also more common than they are today. These kinds of strikes (i.e. landing first on the lateral ball of the foot) lead to lower impact forces which may lead to lower rates of injury. We hypothesize and there is anecdotal evidence that forefoot or midfoot striking can help avoid and/or mitigate repetitive stress injuries, especially stress fractures, plantar fasciitis, and runner's knee. We emphasize, however, that this hypothesis on injury has yet to be tested and that there have been no direct studies on the efficacy of forefoot strike running or barefoot running on injury.
Forefoot Striking Barefoot: Produces Minimal Impact Force with No Impact Transient
Heel Strike in Shoes: Produces Significant Impact Transient
Other Advantages of Forefoot Striking Barefoot or in Minimal Footwear
It strengthens the muscles in your foot,especially in the arch. A healthy foot is a strong foot, one that pronates less and is less liable to develop a collapsed arch.
It may cost less energy to forefoot strike because you use the natural springs in your foot and calf muscles more to store and release energy. Running barefoot or in minimal footwear (usually lighter than traditional running shoes) means that there is less mass to accelerate at the end of the runner's leg with each stride. Running barefoot has been shown to use about 5% less energy than shod running (Divert et al., 2005; Squadrone and Gallozzi, 2009).
Barefoot running feels great! Your feet have lots of sensory nerves. And because there is minimal impact forces on landing it can be very comfortable provided you develop calluses on your feet (see below).
Disadvantages of Forefoot Striking Barefoot or in Minimal Footwear
Thick-soled shoes are much more forgiving when running over glass, sharp objects, ice and so on.
If you have been a heel striker, it takes some time and much work to train your body to forefoot or midfoot strike, especially because you need stronger feet and calf muscles.Runners may be at greater risk of developing Achilles tendonitis when they switch from heel striking to forefoot or midfoot striking (see training tips below).
Preliminaries
First and foremost, the information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for advice from a physician, trainer or coach. We strongly encourage you to consult a physician before implementing any exercise program. We accept no liability for the information provided below. Please see User Agreement.
Whatever you do, don't overdo it! If you have been a heel striker most of your life, it will take lots of work to switch to forefoot striking. If you develop lasting pain, stop and consult a physician.
Minimal Shoes. A great way to learn to forefoot strike is to try it first barefoot on a hard but smooth surface like a tennis court, a track or even a smoothly paved road. Your body will quickly tell you what to do! But until you develop good form and build up calluses on your feet, you’ll want to wear minimal footwear to forefoot strike. There are many minimal shoes with several features that allow you to forefoot strike:
No built up heel. If the heel is too large, then you’ll have to overpoint your toes, which might cause pain and damage to the foot.
A flexible sole and no arch support. A stiff sole and arch support will prevent the natural flattening of the arch, preventing the muscles and ligaments of the foot from functioning as they were meant to. If you can’t easily twist and bend the sole of the shoe, then it is probably too stiff. At first this will work out and tire the muscles of your foot, but eventually with progressive training the muslces will strengthen.
Tips on Proper Forefoot or Midfoot Strike Form
There is no single “perfect running form.” Everyone’s body is different and no single technique could be best for everyone. Here are some general tips:
A good landing should feel gentle, relaxed and compliant. You typically land on the ball of your foot towards the lateral side. After the front of your foot lands, let the heel down gradually, bringing the foot and lower leg to a gentle landing as you dorsiflex your ankle under the control of your calf muscles. It's like when you land from a jump, flexing the hip, knee and ankle. Again, the landing should feel soft, springy, and comfortable. It's probably good to land with the foot nearly horizontal so you don't have to work the calves too much.
Do not over stride (land with your foot too far in front of your hips). Over striding while forefoot or midfoot striking requires you to point your toe more than necessary, adding stress to the calf muscles, Achilles tendon, and the arch of the foot. It often feels as if your feet are striking the ground beneath your hips. It is similar to the way one’s feet land when skipping rope or when running in place (as runners sometimes do when waiting to cross a street).
A good way to tell if you are landing properly is to run totally barefoot on a hard, smooth surface (e.g. pavement) that is free of debris. Sensory feedback will quickly tell you if you are landing too hard. If you run barefoot on too soft a surface like a beach, you might not learn proper form.
Experienced Barefoot Runner Forefoot Striking
Kenyan Adolescent Who Has Never Worn Shoes
Tips on Transitioning to Forefoot or Midfoot Striking
Forefoot striking barefoot or in minimal footwear requires you to use muscles in your feet (mostly in the arch) that are probably very weak. Running this way also requires much more strength in your calf muscles than heel striking because these muscles must contract eccentrically (while lengthening) to ease the heel onto the ground following the landing. Novice forefoot and midfoot strikers typically experience tired feet, and very stiff, sore calf muscles. In addition, the Achilles tendon often gets very stiff. This is normal and eventually goes away, but you can do several things to make the transition successfully:
Build up slowly! If you vigorously work out any weak muscles in your body, they will be sore and stiff. Your foot and calf muscles will be no exception. So please, don’t overdo it because you will probably injure yourself if you do too much too soon.
Start by walking around barefoot frequently.
First week: no more than a quarter mile to one mile every other day.
Increase your distance by no more than 10% per week. This is not a hard and fast rule, but a general guide. If your muscles remain sore, do not increase your training. Take an extra day off or maintain your distance for another week.
Stop and let your body heal if you experience pain. Sore, tired muscles are normal, but bone, joint, or soft-tissue pain is a signal of injury.
Be patient and build gradually. It takes months to make the transition.
If you are currently running a lot, you don’t need to drastically reduce your mileage. Instead, supplement forefoot or midfoot striking with running the way that you normally ran before beginning the transition. Over the course of several months, gradually increase the proportion of forefoot or midfoot striking and reduce the proportion of running in your old style. Use the same 10% per week guideline in increasing the amount of running you do forefoot striking.
It is essential to stretch your calves and hamstrings carefully and regularly as you make the transition. Massage your calf muscles and arches frequently to break down scar tissue. This will help your muscles to heal and get stronger.
Listen to your feet. Stopif your arches are hurting, if the top of your foot is hurting, or if anything else hurts! Sometimes arch and foot pain occurs from landing with your feet too far forward relative to your hips and having to point your toes too much. It can also occur from landing with too rigid a foot and not letting your heel drop gently.
Many people who run very slowly find that forefoot striking actually makes them run a little faster.
Recap
Land gently on your forefoot and gradually let the heel come down
Transition slowly
Stretch your calves and Achilles tendon
Don’t do anything that causes pain
Listen to your body and run totally barefoot to learn good form
Buy minimal shoes that lack high heels and stiff soles
What about surface hardness? Our ancestors didn’t run on pavement.A common perception is that running on hard surfaces causes injuries, but runners typically adjust leg stiffness so they experience the similar impact forces on soft and hard surfaces. Further, forefoot and some midfoot strikers hit the ground in a way that generates almost no collision forces even on hard surfaces like steel. You can run barefoot and heel strike on a soft beach or lawn, but most natural surfaces are much harder and rougher. With proper forefoot or midfoot strike form, running on hard, rough surfaces can be comfortable and safe.
What is minimal footwear?We define minimal footwear as any footwear that lacks high cushioned heels, stiff soles and arch support. If you want to try, there are a few things you might look for in minimal footwear for running:
The thickness of the cushioning in the rearfoot and forefoot should be about the same, and not too thick.
You should be able to easily twist the shoe along the long axis and bend the shoe at the midfoot.
There should not be a stiff arch support that prevents the natural movement of the arch of the foot.
How do I get started? It is very important, in fact critical that you follow a slow progression when you transition to forefoot striking. Even with such a program, you will likely experience some muscle soreness in your calf, lower leg and feet. If you progress too quickly, you risk causing injury to your muscles or tendons. See our recommendations for getting started in Training Tips.
Should I run barefoot in the cold? Please, don't run barefoot when your feet are numb from the cold. When your feet have lost sensation, you will not be able to notice damage that you may be causing to your feet until it is too late. In cold conditions, minimal footwear can offer protection, especially if you wear them with toe socks.
Who should NOT run barefoot or in minimal shoes? Anyone who has sensory loss to the foot should not run barefoot. In fact, these individuals should probably wear shoes of some type at all times in order to protect their feet. Additionally, individuals with significant foot deformities that affect gait mechanics should avoid barefooting or running in minimal shoes. If you have any foot-related problems, you should seek the advice of a medical professional before you start barefoot running.
What surfaces should I run on? Choose a clean smooth paved surface. A common perception is that our feet were not meant to run on hard surfaces and that running on hard surfaces causes injuries. But our ancestors ran on surfaces of various hardness and forefoot striking when barefoot has less impact than even walking. Runners typically adjust leg stiffness so they experience the same impact forces on soft and hard surfaces (Dixon et al., 2000).
What happens if I land on a pebble or other debris? It hurts! But, as long as you are running in daylight, you should be able to see and avoid any debris that might be in your path. However, if you happen to land on a small pebble, you will naturally unload and minimize the pain. Use sound judgment in deciding where and when it is appropriate to run completely barefoot.
Will my feet become callused? While the skin on your feet may become slightly thicker with barefoot running, the pavement acts as a pumice stone and helps to minimize too much callusing. You'll find that calluses form most especially on the ball of your foot.
What if I want to wear shoes? By all means, wear shoes if you want to! You can still reduce your impact forces by utilizing a forefoot of midfoot strike pattern. This is easier if you pick a shoe that will allow your foot to function as naturally as possible (and, fortunately, many such shoes are available).
Do barefoot runners get injured less? Barefoot runners often adopt forefoot or midfoot strike gaits and have a softer, more gentle landing, which may reduce their risk of injury. While there are anectodal reports of barefoot runners being injured less, there is very little scientific evidence to support this hypothesis at this time. Well-controlled studies are needed to determine whether barefoot running results in fewer injuries.
Is barefoot walking beneficial? Probably. Even if you are not a runner, walking barefoot can help to strengthen the muscles of the foot and ankle. And if you are a runner, strengthening these muscles will allow you to run better barefoot.
Should I avoid a heel strike when walking barefoot? This is not an issue we have studied yet much, but our observations are that its totally normal to heel strike when walking, even when barefoot. That said, barefoot walkers often walk with a less pronounced heel strike or more of a midfoot strike. One study has shown that heel strike walking is more efficient than forefoot strike walking.
More questions? If you have any other questions or comments please contact us at:
Barefoot Runners & Forefoot and Midfoot Striking
It strengthens the muscles in your foot,especially in the arch. A healthy foot is a strong foot, one that pronates less and is less liable to develop a collapsed arch.
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