Differences between running and walking

Differences between running and walking:
• narrower base of gait  a ‘functional’ varus develops (one foot is placed directly in front of other rather than the more normal base of gait of 10-20cm) – the so-called ‘runners varus’ – may not occur at lower running speeds
• float phase in which neither foot is in contact with the ground
• angle of gait tends to decrease with increased speed
• as running speed increases, the percent of the gait cycle spent in stance phase decreases
• normal heel contact of walking may be lost – tendency to move from rearfoot strike to midfoot strike to forefoot strike with greater speed of running  implications for use of foot orthoses
• centre of gravity of body is held more anteriorly when running compared to walking
• heel impact is greater during running than walking