Comment by drakonka | Hacker News Reader

Comment by drakonka | Hacker News Reader

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Fellow "minimalist" shoe walker/runner here. Running with a forefoot strike makes sense as the idea is to tilt forward slightly and basically use gravity to help pull you forward, naturally landing on your fore-to-midfoot. I cannot imagine how walking with a forefoot strike makes sense though? Do you also lean forward when you walk?

In addition, another benefit of running with a forefoot strike is to keep momentum while leaning forward and avoid jarring pressure going up your leg on each strike as you run. For example, if I try to land on my heel when running barefoot it physically does not feel right and when I do it the collision hurts. But walking barefoot and landing on the heel feels completely natural and pain-free - the step is very light and the contact point is maybe slight-heel-bias-to-midfoot, nothing like slamming a heel into the ground while running. When walking you do not create as much pressure through your heel unless you really stomp down on it for some reason.

We have some research showing potential benefits of running on your forefoot - does any such research exist for walking as well?

AFAIK (spouse is an OT, works with PTs, puts up with my barefoot nonsense & enjoys explaining biomechanics to me) forefoot walking is something to avoid. Leads to shortened calf muscles/tendons, can lead to problems in old age as balance degrades.

There's also some interesting anthropological work by Esther Gokhale about gaits in indigenous peoples indicating that heel-first walking is natural, but very different from the gait induced by cushy shoes - no slamming on the heel, place the front heel on the ground while the back foot still supports all of your weight. She does sell books and workshops, but I found her book at the library, tried out the exercises, seemed legit.

Anyway, YMMV! Don't take my word for it; check out the primary sources, etc. If forefoot walking works long term for you, then go for it - one of my in-laws only walks on her forefeet /shrug.

OT = Occupational Therapist

PT = Physical Therapist

(for those who don't know the initials.)

Please take my reply with a grain of salt, it's subjective and not backed by any research.

Is it really the case that you lean slightly forward when walking forefoot strike? For me it's the opposite, my posture is way more upright in forefoot strike than it is in heel strike.

When I walk (or run) heelstrike, I usually put one leg forward and "fall" on that leg, which causes me to lean forward a bit.

When I walk (or run) forefoot strike, I do the opposite. I slide one leg backwards and thus push my whole body forward. My other leg lands directly under my body, I don't have to stick it out much to land on it, compared to heel strike.

Try to walk in heel strike very very slowly (like in slo-mo), maybe you'll feel that "falling" sensation and lean forward like I do. But it could also be that you walk slightly different than I do and don't experience the same.

Unfortunately I'm not aware of any research, but I also don't actively search for it.

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