Foot Strike Patterns in Recreational Runners

There is currently considerable debate on proper foot strike technique for runners within the sports medicine and running communities. A number of alternative "running styles", including Chi Running and Pose Running, are being preached to runners as better running styles where the runner is taught to not heel strike during running, but rather is taught to contact the ground on the midfoot and forefoot. These new "fads" of running have now reached the level that many runners who normally heel strike have been told by a friend or coach to modify their running style to a midfoot/forefoot striking pattern which may lead to new running injuries. As a result of seeing this trend of new running injuries grow over the past few years in Podiatry, We now routinely ask runner-patients on their initial examination if they tried to change their running form sometime before their running injury started.