Do your knees hurt when running? It could be the way you’re landing on your feet.
The difference between running with a rearfoot strike (heelstrike) versus forefoot strike (ball of foot):
Biomechanically, rearfoot striking introduces a greater load up the leg which can result in higher rates of injury at the knee or hip. Forefoot striking places a greater load on the foot and lower leg – using the Achilles as a natural ‘spring mechanism’.
Case studies have shown that when people who had longstanding patellofemoral pain switched to a fore-foot strike running pattern, they experienced a reduction in their pain symptoms.
Citation: Why forefoot striking in minimal shoes might positively change the course of running injuries. By Davis et al, 2017