FAQs
Schnelle Antworten auf unsere häufigsten Fragen zur Lauftechnik und eine Laufanalyse
Which running shoes can you recommend?
For me, it's actually more about what you wear on your feet all day and less about the actual running shoe. What you wear the most will have more of a long-term impact on your feet than the running shoe.
Running shoes may seem like a bigger issue than technique to many, but the quality of your movement and running is considerably more important than what you have on your feet. Ideally, every runner should be able to run a few kms barefoot without collapsing, getting injured, or dramatically changing how they run. that doesn´t mean you should be a barefoot runner...but your feet/ankles/calfs should be strong and mobile enough to do so.
For more information, see our blog post on shoes and running.
Which is better, heel strike or forefoot landing
The most destructive element of running is the impact upon landing and the body's ability to effectively absorb these forces. When landing on the forefoot, one uses the body's own built in cushioning and suspension; when landing on the heel, we rely heavily on the cushioning of the shoe.
However...
You can do either well or both poorly. It's not black and white, its much of a sliding scale of efficiency.
Looking at "overstride" is much more important, especially to begin with, because if you land too far in front of the center of gravity (overstride) then the impact forces are far greater than if you land more underneath. If you are a heel-striker or forefoot or even barefoot runner - this causes most of the problems. Check out the extended blog post on the subject here.
What is the optimal cadence for running
A higher one Cadence means less stress on the body as the impact load is distributed over more steps per minute. 180 steps per minute is often touted as the optimum, but this number is based on a sample of elite people Athlete and does not apply universally to all runners.
While this is true, the exact optimal cadence for any person will depend on a number of factors. Most importantly, be able to perform an effective leg cycle with a certain cadence. Simply shortening the stride length and speeding up the steps can reduce the risk of injury, but it has a negative impact on performance and efficiency. We only start working on the cadence with the client when they have developed the right technique and coordination. Check out our expanded blog post on Cadence here.
Do I need a referral from a doctor?
You do not need a doctor's referral for an analysis (BMA) and technical training.
However, if you have an injury or a problem related to running, you can get a referral from your doctor and subsequent physical therapy will include BMA and technique training (if necessary). If you're not sure, just contact us to find out.
* a BMA counts as 2 x 45 min. physiotherapy appointments