The foot is the foundation of not only our bodies, but for all our land-based performance. The role of the foot in athletic speed development is one of both a claw and a paw. We strike the ground with a rigid claw like a hammer. Then the foot undergoes a specific amount of pronation, becoming a paw, to adapt to the support surface. And before we push off, it re-supinates (or should) back into a claw. Getting faster involves optimizing this relationship by:
- Increasing foot and ankle stiffness through isometric strength and tendon elasticity.
- Decreasing ground contact times to spend less time in residence with the earth.
- Harnessing free speed through improved mechanical function.
Additional resources include videos demonstrating exercises and discussing the scientific basis of this phenomenon, as well as an article explaining how this all works for The Lifetime Athlete.
This podcast was brought to you by The Lifetime Athlete Coaching Services. Helping you to achieve peak athletic performance in any sport or fitness pursuit…fine tune your body composition to get lean, healthy, shredded, and jacked…and solve the root cause of injury problems by optimizing movement. This is exactly what we do in the coaching relationship. Online health and performance coaching, and Physical Therapy is where it’s at, and it’s awesome at TLA.
Consultations, gift certificates, and packages are available.
And now…Health and Performance MasterClasses are here. Get information that can help you to stay pain-free and peak-performing for LIFE!
The Lifetime Athlete Podcast is hosted by John Zombro, PT, MS, OCS, MTC, CSCS. A Board-Certified Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy, and a human performance specialist for 36 years, John’s focus is in helping you to become Hard to Kill — on the playing field — and in the game of LIFE. The goal for each of us is the same: to be our best selves at any and every point in the lifespan, and to Die Late, Healthy, and Fast! You can reach John at:
- john@thelifetimeathlete.com
- John Zombro on LinkedIn
- Twitter @tlacoachjz
- Instagram @thelifetimeathlete
Additional resources can be found at thelifetimeathlete.com where you’ll find hundreds of articles, podcast episodes and videos on The Lifetime Athlete YouTube Channel. Books, ebook programs, and merchandise are also available. These include AnimalFIT, the body type training
program like no other, which helps you to Unleash Your Inner Beast and Unlock Your Athletic Potential!
Thanks for being part of The Lifetime Athlete Tribe and keep being a magnificent human BEAST!