But I’m female and I walk heel toe. Even in high heels. I tried doing toe-heel and that looked a lot less feminine to me. Like a velociraptor.
If I want to run, I have to do it toe heel, in shoes or barefoot.
Maybe you’re an outlier, or maybe I’m wrong - either is equally possible. It’s an idea out of my bored head while I wait for the washing to get dry.
My GF definitely walks heel-toe, but then she also has very flat feet (she pronates, I think you say; I’d never heard that word before the SDMB), so I’d say that she doesn’t count that much either way because having flat feet would make such a difference to your gait anyway.
ETA: really high heels force heel-toe walking on you no matter your gait - the distance is just too large.
Studies have been referenced in the other thread that would suggest that it may be that rear foot strike is the less optimal. For example this Nature article. Yes, they are discussing endurance running, not walking, but for data it is the best we got. Also for endurance running midfoot strikers are more represented in the fastest group of the elites than they are in the lower groups of elite runners (albeit in both rear foot strikers are still the majority).
Well I remain skeptical that the barefoot style is significantly superior to the shod rear foot strike style, I think it is hard to argue that the heel strike style is categorically superior.
now that I am thinking about it, I see that I definitely run using the middle of the foot or something like that, it does not seem like the heel is touching the ground at all. And maybe I am doing it all wrong, running is not my forte. I tried to run toe-to-hill and couldn’t even meaningfully do it, it felt very awkward.
With respect to the shin getting tired from heel-to-toe walking, that’s true, but I think that goes away with practice. It also goes away if speed is reduced, after all there is no need for 3mi/h when not in a rush and the legs are sore.
But when you do happen to be able to walk fast without big discomfort, that just makes for better exercise I guess. Plus, the sense of rapid motion is enjoyable.
Middle of the foot is right. It takes time and practice walking that way. Unless you’re Southern.
Then inward. When I walk I barely touch the ground at all with my heels. I have started observing since this thread. I checked and I have the same length of stride the way I do it.
Heel toe, yes, you can ignore the shin muscles. I did. I got used to them for walking. But do you want shin splints if you’re running? Knee injuries? Landing Ball-heel is way less stressful on your body. You don’t even need cites, just try it yourself.