Podiatry Portal » hallux abducto valgus http://www.podiatry-portal.com Your Portal to the the latest Podiatry Information Sun, 22 Jan 2012 07:22:15 +0000 en hourly 1 What do podiatrists need to know about Chi Running? http://www.podiatry-portal.com/what-do-podiatrists-need-to-know-about-chi-running/9/ http://www.podiatry-portal.com/what-do-podiatrists-need-to-know-about-chi-running/9/#comments Thu, 20 Aug 2009 03:28:28 +0000 admin http://www.podiatry-portal.com/?p=9 Have you had a runner come into your office and say that they are a Chi runner? Did you look at them sideways? Chi Running was by popularized by an ultramarathon runner, Danny Dreyer who also practices Tai Chi. He claims that Chi running is a more efficient and natural way to run. Supporter of Chi running considers the traditional approach to running as focuses too much on the use of strength and power that pushes the runner along the road as fast as possible. In contrast the focus of Chi running to run in the spirit of Tai Chi and Yoga and be more efficient and more relaxed and to feel ‘at one with the road’. This is supposed to make the running experience much more enjoyable and more of a spiritual experience.

A key principle of the method is the use of a midfoot strike rather than a heel strike and New Balance has developed a shoe specifically for this type of runner. A number of extraordinary claims are made by the Chi running supporter. One study does suggest that there is a reduction in injury in those who practice Chi running. Running experts do disagree over the validity of changing the running style to being a midfoot striker. There is clearly a division of opinion on this and there are a number of You Tube videos promoting the benefits of Chi Running, but nothing is mentioned on about the critic. There is some more reasoned discussion on Chi Running elsewhere.

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