1. | Jun 27, 2014

Josh,Thank you for the comments and for your secrive. It sounds like you have a fair amount of fascial trauma , for lack of a better word, from a ton of running with dysfunctional gait patterns due to boots and excess load. The combat boots alone will cause significant issues at the mileage you were running. Adding in a heavy pack increases the intensity of each dysfunctional step. I would encourage you get some significant body work with a qualified and experienced fascial therapist. With a good therapist, you should notice some significant changes in how your body moves and feels within 4-8 sessions. Also, get after it with a flexibility program that includes foam roller therapy. My guess is that you have lost much of the functional range of motion in your hips. In response to you question, I find that most people who heel strike have considerable wear down on the heel of their shoes, especially to the outside of the heel. This is due to inversion of the foot as the foot transitions from the heel through mid foot. As your foot strikes the ground, your knee is immediately rotating outwardly, which rolls your foot outwardly. This causes a bit of a corkscrew effect on the heel. I find this wear pattern to be the most common with heel strike, although I don't know that relates to the rest of the population. This is something that will go away with a mid-foot or forefoot strike. Something you will find very challenging in combat boots since they have a heel wedge. I wish you luck with your recovery. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me. Let me know how the running program goes.Jesse James Retherford

2. | May 17, 2014

Hi Michelle,Thanks again for commenting. Yes it is a trheoy, but it is a trheoy that has a significant amount of scientific support, which is growing each week. Walking and running with a heel strike is also just a trheoy. There is not a single study or group of studies that proves factual validity to either trheoy. Which is why it is important to have these discussions. I expressed in this blog, that this is my trheoy, to attempt to make the point that there are different opinions on the subject. It is up to each individual to make up their own mind, and figure out what works best for them. I do not leave out that running and walking are entirely different biomechanical activities. In fact, I clearly state the exact opposite. Walking and running are nearly identical biomechanically. The heel has a purpose in walking and running with forefoot strike. It is supposed to strike the ground, just not first. Making the jump that without heel strike we would be on all fours and running like a dogs is an extreme jump and I don't know where you intended to go with that statement. Yes, when people change their gait pattern without guidance, they get hurt. When people continue to walk with an improper gait pattern, they get hurt. It is my hope and goal to provide some guidance so that people can make the transition with minimal pain and injury. There is an epidemic of chronic pain and injury in this country due to poor postural mechanics and lifestyle. There is something inherently wrong with the way we currently move. Maintaining the current status quo of medical treatments, such as injections, surgeries, and prescription remedies, does not work other than acting as a very expensive band aid. If we, as individuals, wish to feel better, we must look at our most basic movement patterns and be willing to make fundamental shifts in them, even if these shifts go against age old popular culture. We will not feel better until we learn to move better. I am a very excited blogger, and I am so much more. I love what I do for a living. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to learn, touch, teach, and help improve the lives of my clients, and have seen my life improve as well. I am passionate about what I do. Thanks again for the comment. I very much appreciate the input you have been providing over the weeks. You are both complimentary and challenging, both of which help me grow in this new endeavor of blogging. Thanks.Jesse James Retherfordhttp//www.tao-fit.com

3. | Dec 16, 2013

Josh,Thank you for the comments and for your scerive. It sounds like you have a fair amount of fascial trauma , for lack of a better word, from a ton of running with dysfunctional gait patterns due to boots and excess load. The combat boots alone will cause significant issues at the mileage you were running. Adding in a heavy pack increases the intensity of each dysfunctional step. I would encourage you get some significant body work with a qualified and experienced fascial therapist. With a good therapist, you should notice some significant changes in how your body moves and feels within 4-8 sessions. Also, get after it with a flexibility program that includes foam roller therapy. My guess is that you have lost much of the functional range of motion in your hips. In response to you question, I find that most people who heel strike have considerable wear down on the heel of their shoes, especially to the outside of the heel. This is due to inversion of the foot as the foot transitions from the heel through mid foot. As your foot strikes the ground, your knee is immediately rotating outwardly, which rolls your foot outwardly. This causes a bit of a corkscrew effect on the heel. I find this wear pattern to be the most common with heel strike, although I don't know that relates to the rest of the population. This is something that will go away with a mid-foot or forefoot strike. Something you will find very challenging in combat boots since they have a heel wedge. I wish you luck with your recovery. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me. Let me know how the running program goes.Jesse James Retherford

4. | Dec 14, 2013

Hi Michelle,Thanks again for commenting. Yes it is a throey, but it is a throey that has a significant amount of scientific support, which is growing each week. Walking and running with a heel strike is also just a throey. There is not a single study or group of studies that proves factual validity to either throey. Which is why it is important to have these discussions. I expressed in this blog, that this is my throey, to attempt to make the point that there are different opinions on the subject. It is up to each individual to make up their own mind, and figure out what works best for them. I do not leave out that running and walking are entirely different biomechanical activities. In fact, I clearly state the exact opposite. Walking and running are nearly identical biomechanically. The heel has a purpose in walking and running with forefoot strike. It is supposed to strike the ground, just not first. Making the jump that without heel strike we would be on all fours and running like a dogs is an extreme jump and I don't know where you intended to go with that statement. Yes, when people change their gait pattern without guidance, they get hurt. When people continue to walk with an improper gait pattern, they get hurt. It is my hope and goal to provide some guidance so that people can make the transition with minimal pain and injury. There is an epidemic of chronic pain and injury in this country due to poor postural mechanics and lifestyle. There is something inherently wrong with the way we currently move. Maintaining the current status quo of medical treatments, such as injections, surgeries, and prescription remedies, does not work other than acting as a very expensive band aid. If we, as individuals, wish to feel better, we must look at our most basic movement patterns and be willing to make fundamental shifts in them, even if these shifts go against age old popular culture. We will not feel better until we learn to move better. I am a very excited blogger, and I am so much more. I love what I do for a living. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to learn, touch, teach, and help improve the lives of my clients, and have seen my life improve as well. I am passionate about what I do. Thanks again for the comment. I very much appreciate the input you have been providing over the weeks. You are both complimentary and challenging, both of which help me grow in this new endeavor of blogging. Thanks.Jesse James Retherfordhttp//www.tao-fit.com