I really only have anecdotal evidence at this point, but I'm wondering what you all think. I struggled with my own IT band issues last year after training for and running a marathon in VFFs. Now a few of my VFF wearing friends are complaining of their own IT band issues as they increase their mileages.
In each case, my friends have found that the cause of their IT band pain is overstriding. Of course I never have IT band pain when I barefoot, because it's just too difficult to overstride. But sure enough...strap on some VFFs and I'm kicking too far out in front of my body.
But a lot of these same runners didn't have IT band issues in normal trainers. My theory is that this is because overstriding in trainers doesn't cause as much strain on the IT band, because your point of impact is your heel. On the other hand, your point of impact in VFFs is your forefoot or midfoot. In either case, when you overstride you have to pull yourself over your center of gravity. But in VFFs, because of how you land, I think in pulling yourself over your center of gravity, you're putting a ton more strain on your IT band than you do in trainers.
Anyone else have thoughts or similar issues?
In each case, my friends have found that the cause of their IT band pain is overstriding. Of course I never have IT band pain when I barefoot, because it's just too difficult to overstride. But sure enough...strap on some VFFs and I'm kicking too far out in front of my body.
But a lot of these same runners didn't have IT band issues in normal trainers. My theory is that this is because overstriding in trainers doesn't cause as much strain on the IT band, because your point of impact is your heel. On the other hand, your point of impact in VFFs is your forefoot or midfoot. In either case, when you overstride you have to pull yourself over your center of gravity. But in VFFs, because of how you land, I think in pulling yourself over your center of gravity, you're putting a ton more strain on your IT band than you do in trainers.
Anyone else have thoughts or similar issues?