You likely walk heel first because it's the biomechanically proper way to walk, designed to distribute stress effectively throughout your lower body.
Here's a breakdown:
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The Rolling Motion: A natural walking gait involves a specific sequence: heel strike, followed by rolling onto the ball of your foot, and finally pushing off with your toes.
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Stress Distribution: Landing on your heel first helps to dissipate the impact forces. This is crucial for minimizing stress on your ankles, knees, hips, and back. Instead of a jarring impact concentrated in one area, the force is spread across your foot and up your leg.
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Shock Absorption: The heel, with its fatty pad, is specifically designed to absorb initial shock. Rolling through the foot then engages muscles and tendons that further dampen the impact forces.
In essence, walking heel-to-toe is an efficient and protective movement pattern.
