2012 Scientific Study Proves ChiRunning Technique Reduces Impact

"The recent UNC scientific study confirms years of our clinical experience." says Dr. William Mullins at the Center for Rheumatic Diseases and Osteoporosis in Bethesda, Maryland.

"Chi Running is a unique running style that causes less stress for lower extremity joints and supporting structures than any other running technique. Chi Running reduces the risk of running injuries, and increases the chance that we can continue running into our 80s. I routinely recommend the ChiRunning workshops or DVDs for my patients who run for exercise."
 
The following are the Key Findings:

ChiRunners:

 

(1) Experienced the least amount of impact.

(2) Experienced a smoother landing without the jarring most commonly attributed to heel striking.

 

(3) Landed closer to their center of gravity.

(4) Showed the least amount of Maximum Braking Force upon impact with the ground.

 

The study, A Comparison of Lower Extremity Joint Work and Initial Loading Rates Among Four Different Running Styles, (Goss, 2012) compared four common types of running styles:

TSR – Runners with a rearfoot strike and wearing traditional running shoes.
MSR – Runners with a rearfoot strike and wearing minimalist shoes.

MSA – Runners with an anterior (forefoot) strike and wearing minimalist shoes.

CHI – Runners in this group were proficient in the Chi Running technique with a midfoot (full-foot) landing in both traditional and minimalist shoes.

Click Here to go to the ChiLiving website for more details on the 1-year study at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.