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Why Running Form Analysis Is Important

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Analyzing your running form is a very important part of the process of running. Though you may already consider yourself an active runner, you probably don't realize that your running form can prohibit you from getting a great work out. By taking a look at how you run and what your running form looks like, you can tweak your running form to help you to get the best workout possible. You can use Fitday to analyze your running form and be sure that your running form is correct.

The Proper Running Form

Proper running form includes five main steps.
  • The first step is the preparation. Preparation is considered the time when your foot is on the way down to the ground. It is braced for impact with the ground.
  • The second step is propulsion. This occurs when your foot prepares to push you forward.
  • The third step is the push off phase when your foot actually hits the ground and sends you forward.
  • The fourth step is the pull through phase when your leg begins to move backward again before going back up into the air.
  • And the fifth step is percussion when your foot heads back up into the air again, and you've gone through your running form.

This is the basic running form and helps to explain what you should look for when you use running form analysis.

How Running Form Can Impact Your Body

Everyone uses a different running form. Some people run with their arms close to their side, while other people run with their arms flailing around in the air. Some people kick very high when they run and other people hardly lift their feet off the ground. All of these running forms have their advantages and disadvantages. They also work different areas of the body and have an impact on the way your muscles are trained.

In general, your running form should not feature any jerky movements. It should feature a smooth running form that does not put any unnecessary pressure onto your joints. You should not pound your feet down on the ground as you run and your arms should help propel you forward. If you do not use proper running form, you could seriously injure yourself or others in the process. You could also do more bad than good by using improper running form.

Injuries Caused by Improper Running Form

Many people think that running alone will help them stay in shape. But, if you do not use running form analysis to see exactly how you run, you may be causing damage to your knees, ankles and feet every time you run. The wrong running form can also cause you to take longer to run than it should. You may not burn as many calories by assuming the wrong running form.

How Running Form Analysis Works

Running form analysis allows you to find out exactly how you should be running. It also gives you the opportunity to see what you might be doing wrong by using the wrong running form. This will allow you to correct your own running form and start running properly. In addition to running properly, you will maximize your workouts and start using the proper running form. Use running form analysis to get a better sense of how you're running and how you could run more efficiently.

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