Podium Talk

When we observe runners, there are just so many variations in running technique and patterns. The length of the stride, body lean, amount of bending at each joint, the first point of foot contact and the arm swing are just a few of the places where we can notice the differences. Heel striking is one of the most criticised biomechanical variations in running. It is said that a heel to toe pattern impedes the forward motion of the runner and wastes more energy than landing on the forefoot. The first thing to get out of the way is that it’s not necessary that everyone who lands on their heel places it ahead of the body and that everyone who lands on the forefoot does so right under the body, which makes it invalid to connect the two factors. Forefoot Strike Technically there are three types of foot strike patterns: forefoot, rearfoot, and midfoot strike. The mechanics of the midfoot strike have more common features to the rearfoot strike and hence both of them will be considered under the...

Urbanisation comes at a cost. With the development of infrastructure, we have lost many dirt roads and trails. We humans have been running since the beginning of our evolution, but the surfaces on which we run have drastically changed in a short span of time. Dirt trails, natural gravel and grass have been replaced with concrete and tarmac. It is needless to say that we still have access to dedicated mud and (synthetic) tracks. You might also find a hilly trail near your house. What is undeniable is the fact that it’s not as easy as it was. We will talk about treadmill running in another article. Let’s focus on grass, synthetic track and concrete for now. Another noteworthy point is that the injury risk depends on various other factors like the running technique, type and intensity of running, the distance covered per week, the stride length and frequency, type and material of shoes, landing patterns, amongst others. So for now, we will be strictly looking at the surfaces to see which ...

Low back pain is very notorious and can strike at unexpected times. What’s mysterious about it is that the activity that triggered the pain might seem normal to you. It might be something as simple as bending over the sink or trying to pick a very light object. On a few occasions, the pain can be so severe that you aren’t able to think of anything else. You might also be reluctant to move from any position in fear of increasing the pain suddenly, let alone be productive. Experiencing numbness, tingling, or lightning pain traveling to one or both of your legs is not rare, but needs to be noted. Before getting at what causes these symptoms, we need to see what to do if you ever experience this pain. First and foremost, calm down. Whatever the mechanism of pain is, understand that this pain will reduce when given adequate rest and appropriate movements according to the stage of recovery. Try to find movements that reduce the pain. For some it might be sitting, for some lying on the side w...