I hope this info can be helpful:
A recent article in Nature investigates the mechanics of running barefoot versus shod. They found that barefoot runners, which have been barefoot since childhood, avoid landing on their heels. Landing on the fore-foot or mid-foot generates smaller collision forces. In addition, they have interesting videos in the "supplementary information"
Running
January 30, 2010 - 11:21pm | 2 posts
#1
Running
4 hours 3 min ago
09/10/2008 - 8:36pm
Yes, this is the work of Dan Lieberman at Harvard and others. It's a great contribution to te science of running. I suspect that in the coming years we will understand this in an increasingly granular fashion, just like we have come to understand the issue of eating fat in a more granular fashion in recent years. I believe a lot depends on the surface, the speed, the state of the individual's muscles and ligaments. Looking forward to lots more findings.