January 18, 2025

99: Does Heel Striking Cause Injury? Myth vs Science on Running Injuries

32 minutes

Is heel striking bad? Should you change your running form? You’ve probably heard conflicting answers on your questions about running injuries - so we bring the science to work through myth vs supported theory on running injuries. We also share approaches for actually reducing your injury risk - and these may surprise you.

Discussion points include:

Does heel striking cause injury?

Should you change your running form?

Do max-cushioned shoes increase injury risk?

Did you get injured because you didn’t stretch enough?

Can running on concrete cause injury?

Will zero drop running shoes reduce injury risk?

Can you skip eating before runs?

Is strength training protective against injury?

What can you do to mitigate injury risk?

This episode is sponsored by Final Surge. Whether you are a running coach or an athlete, start your new year off strong with Final Surge! Final Surge offers training plans for runners of all abilities, as well as a user-friendly platform to track your progress. If you are a coach, Final Surge provides a comprehensive training platform to develop plans and analyze your ath

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References:

PMID: 38053265

PMID: 29791183

PMID: 34386286

PMID: 26304644

PMID: 22927504

https://journals.lww.com/nsca-scj/Abstract/2020/02000/Influence_of_Gait_Retraining_on_Running_Economy__A.3.aspx

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jbmr.4658?af=R

https://www.doctorsofrunning.com/2024/01/monday-shakeout-can-running-shoes.html

Ryan Norris, Mechanical Engineering PE (on explanation of concrete vs asphalt)

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By Amanda Brooks and Laura Norris

4.9

296296 ratings