Land gently with your feet nearly horizontal. If you are barefoot and don’t overstride, it is almost impossible not to land on the ball of your foot before letting down your heel in what is called a forefoot or mid-foot strike. Forefoot and mid-foot strikes usually don’t generate an impact peak on the ground—a rapid, large collisional force that is painful without shoes. Forefoot and mid-foot strikes also generate rotational forces (torques) that are lower in the knee but higher in the ankle, requiring strong calf muscles and Achilles tendons, which can lead to problems for people trying to
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