This is similar to our ability to pronounce words well even when our mouths are half-full of food. Through proprioception we adapt.. In other words, we always gravitate toward the most metabolically-efficient gait regardless of the conditions.
This is similar to our ability to pronounce words well even when our mouths are half-full of food. Through proprioception we adapt.. In other words, we always gravitate toward the most metabolically-efficient gait regardless of the conditions.
Yes, you are. You have a folk understanding that helps you coach others with a similar level of (mis)understanding. The sun appears to rise in the east, but in fact the earth is rotating eastwards. This misunderstanding doesn't in any way impede one from telling time by looking at the 'position' of the sun in the sky. Use your Illusion as Guns 'n Roses said.I wonder if I'm missing something because I don't know much about physics.
Hello everybody,
I've read a couple of times in this thread, that walking and running are done with two different gaits. Is this necessarily so? If yes, why?
It seems to me (but I might be wrong), that the only difference between my walking and running is the speed: I walk on the forefoot without overstriding, as I do in running and the movement of hips, knees, ankles and feet seem to be exactly the same. There is a very short moment in walking when both feet touch the ground simultaneously, which disappears as soon as I begin running, but the change from walking to running happens in a very fluid manner: I can't perceive any essential difference.
Jason, is it just modern society that walks heel-toe or do third world countries where shoes are much less common walk the same way? Walking in thick shoes I walk heel-toe because the shoe almost forces me to, barefoot on the other hand or in (I hate this term) barefoot style shoes I walk more forefoot or midfoot.Walking doesn't normally occur on the forefoot. A friend of mine is currently doing research on the issue, and the findings are fascinating. Almost all adults walk with a heel-toe motion. Most kids after the age of five do the same. Kids under five are about 50/50. Shoes may be an extraneous variable.
Most adults will walk on their forefoot/midfoot when walking over a painful stimulus, but otherwise walk heel-toe. So... you're an exception to the rule.
Again, I disagree. And the results of what I teach is what matters.Yes, you are. You have a folk understanding that helps you coach others with a similar level of (mis)understanding. The sun appears to rise in the east, but in fact the earth is rotating eastwards. This misunderstanding doesn't in any way impede one from telling time by looking at the 'position' of the sun in the sky. Use your Illusion as Guns 'n Roses said.
Jason, is it just modern society that walks heel-toe or do third world countries where shoes are much less common walk the same way? Walking in thick shoes I walk heel-toe because the shoe almost forces me to, barefoot on the other hand or in (I hate this term) barefoot style shoes I walk more forefoot or midfoot.
Great answer, and I would say the same about what ultra runners tell me. The smart ones that do core stuff say their glutes are sore. Still think we can cooperate with gravity but I'll let that one go.
What are your thoughts on elastic recoil? How do we maximize it? Stretching, strengthening, relaxing, pelvic/spinal rotation?
Look up at the sun. Note its position. Look up again an hour later. Note its position again. Why is there a change in position? You can prove (at least to yourself) that the sun has moved.Again, I disagree. And the results of what I teach is what matters.
But again, I will share this exercise to prove (at least to me) that gravity can help us move:
Walk (or run) normally. Then lean backwards from the ankles. Notice how it feels. Then lean forwards from the ankles. Notice how it feels. Now find that 'sweet spot' where walking or running is the easiest.
Why is there a change in speed/ease?
Again, I disagree. And the results of what I teach is what matters.
But again, I will share this exercise to prove (at least to me) that gravity can help us move:
Walk (or run) normally. Then lean backwards from the ankles. Notice how it feels. Then lean forwards from the ankles. Notice how it feels. Now find that 'sweet spot' where walking or running is the easiest.
Why is there a change in speed/ease?
Nick, I think the problem is you're going from barefoot running to barefoot walking. Give it some time you may find yourself walking heel-to-toe, after you've adapted. I have a fat heel pad. Like Jason said, I change to more of a forefoot landing on gravel and harsh surfaces, but on smooth concrete it's definitely heel-to-toe. And I can confirm from memory that most habitually barefoot populations walk heel-to-toe.When walking barefoot I walk midfoot or forefoot because it hurts like hell for me to walk heel-toe. Bone is not meant to land on hard surfaces (concrete, pavement, rocks) and when it does it doesn't feel good, at least in my experiment of one that's how I perceive it. I also do not have a very big fat pad on the heel so maybe that's also a contributing factor to why I can't walk heel-toe without pain.
Jason, that is what I'm playing around with now. And I think to a large degree you are correct. This is possibly the major reason a slight lean is more efficient. But I sure feel like falling...I think we can invoke Occam's razor here. As an alternative to the gravity hypothesis, I'd say it's easier because leaning forward changes the vector of the "push" derived from the glutes. When we lean back, the energy from hip extension is directed backward. In order to move forward, we have to use hip flexion and knee extension to get our feet in front of our center of gravity. Both of these motions are normally passive, so the extra energy needed results in less efficiency. Also, leaning back probably directs any elastic recoil backward, which is another force to be overcome. When we lean forward, we can induce motion using the glutes and the other motions become passive.In essence, leaning forward utilizes our anatomy. Leaning backward causes some of our anatomy to work against us.
I'm sorry Damian, this will seem like a cop-out, but I really can't spend any more time here today. I've been promising myself not to get involved in these discussions for some time. I did read an excellent description of how the lean changes as we accelerate and decelerate to overcome inertia and to brake, respectively, but I don't know exactly where it is. I became pretty lazy about bookmarking and organizing stuff over this past summer. But it's out there. Magness is probably the best place to start. And I apologize for my curt tone. I didn't sleep very well, and I awoke to some knee pain after stupidly doing lateral abduction and adduction stuff yesterday while rehabbing a minor knee tweak.Bare Lee, great great answer. I am also a scientist (botanist) so I do appreciate science for sure, and I'm a geek. But I still don't get why the correct amount of lean helps me run more efficiently. Some have said it puts the hips in the proper position or it allows our feet to land in the most efficient place. Though I agree with these, I literally feel like I'm falling forward. Hence, moving forward for 'free'. Thoughts?
Abide, I haven't had any change in weight much since high school. But weight loss can help reduce impact. You can also reduce impact by running more efficiently. Less up and down movement, pelvic rotation, feet landing closer to underneath your hips.Wow that is a cool story, it's good to know tendonitis goes away
Something I have been wondering recently and may be related to you, is what affect your body weight has in relation to running form and running injuries? Did you have any associated weight loss with your running history? And if so did your form improve?