Hop For The Best
How short hops can uncover lower leg weaknesses
Simple tests and tips to keep you injury-free
HOPPING IS A SIMPLE MOVEMENT
that gives you huge amounts of information about your running gait. Lack of impact control is, in my 25 years of running-physiotherapy experience, the most common flaw in running mechanics and the most frequent cause of running injuries. The ability to land on your foot and decelerate the impact is essential to the running action. Many runners land on their midfoot or heel, which helps this deceleration; however, the calf and foot muscles also need to be able to absorb forces, not just the bones and joints. Furthermore, when you’re racing in flats or performance shoes, the impact point is often further forward, towards the toe, where you have less cushioning in the shoe to assist you.
BY MARK BUCKINGHAM THE KEY MECHANICS FOR STRONGER RUNNING