How Arm Swing Effects Your Running...
While running might seem like a leg-dominant activity, how you hold and move your arms makes a huge difference in your stride and performance.WHY ARM SWING IS IMPORTANTBy balancing the body as it moves, arm swing helps reduce overall energy expenditure, propels you forward and improve overall running rhythm by helping to lift the body off the ground with each stride. This helps relieve stress from the lower body and improve pelvic rotation, making things easier on your legs, too.WAYS TO IMPROVE ARM SWING
- Bend your elbows: To improve efficiency, keep your elbow bend in the 80100 degree range. Keep your elbows tucked and close to your sides in the same plane of motion, never allowing them to swing across the body.
- Swing from the shoulders:When you move your arms, swing them from the shoulders and not from the elbow. Try not to lift your shoulders up or down during the swing, which helps remove tension and stay relaxed. Your shoulders should also not move forward and backward. Aim instead to keep the shoulder in a fixed position.
- Relax your hands:If you clench your hands into a fist, your upper body will be tight and it will be harder to keep your shoulders relaxed. If you relax your hands, the arms and shoulders will follow suit.
- Concentrate on arm drive:The forward swing of the arm comes most naturally; where most runners can improve their arm movement is behind the body. By concentrating on pushing your elbow back, the forward motion happens on its own. While it takes some getting used to, and may feel initially like youre working harder, increasing the drive of your arms takes strain off your legs and makes it easier to lift your feet.
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