The arch is a beautifully designed spring mechanism that feeds energy to our calves, quads and hips and lets us run gracefully and painlessly, if we just let it do its job. The running shoe we see most often today has been around since about the mid 80s, when more of the general masses started to take up running.


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The athletic shoe industry figured that the average jogger might want more comfort than the serious athlete, who had up until then influenced the market toward a more lightweight racing shoe. Major shoe companies decided to add cushioning and a raised heel to the running shoe, leading to the heel-strike form. Essentially they made running feel like walking.

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It must have seemed like a good idea at the time. Since then we have seen an explosion of runners, but we have also seen an explosion of knee problems, heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, ankle sprains, and the list goes on. Many believe that the super-cushioned, gel-? Because of this, some runners are setting their feet free.


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  6. Some go completely barefoot while others are choosing to lighten up on their footwear, wearing shoes closer to what runners wore in the old days, with little to no cushioning and no pronation control. No bells and whistles. Runners today are taking back their mid-foot and reaping the bene? If you're up for the challenge of finding your mid-foot and improving your running form, here are some tips to follow:.


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    Bare feet are your best teacher. If you aren't comfortable going totally bare, try some lightweight footwear.

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    You can choose anything from running sandals, to water shoes, to a high-tech pair of minimalist running kicks. If you absolutely cannot part with your cushioned trainers, that's okay. You can still improve your running form with these next tips. The key to good form is contacting the ground with the front half of your foot first.

    This is more difficult to do in heavy trainers, and next to impossible to avoid when barefoot.

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    The exact contact spot varies from person to person. Some land on the ball of their foot forefoot landing , but most land somewhere in the middle mid-foot landing. Squeezing your feet into the narrow toe box of a pump has other repercussions as well: Calluses, blisters, bunions and ingrown nails are all common among high heel wearers. Frequently wearing heels places excess force on the inside of the knees and can fast track the wear and tear that leads to osteoarthritis. They alter your natural stride: Heels force your gait into an unnatural staccato clip as your body is forced to adapt to a shorter heel-to-toe transition.

    To remain balanced atop sky-high shoes, you have to shift your hips forward, arch your back and push out your chest. They shorten your muscles and tendons: Achilles pain has been the bane of existence for many runners, and that high-heel habit may be partly to blame. Spending significant time in heels stiffens the Achilles tendons and can lead to chronically tight and shortened calf muscles and ankle tendons—making running and walking quite painful.

    How to Find Your Mid-Foot | ACTIVE

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