HEAD POSITION IN RUNNING
The head position is a crucial point in making the muscular system of the whole body engaged in a specific way, which could be more or less efficient and balanced depending on the head position orientation. Therefore, as a consequence, the movement of the body could be more or less balanced and efficient, as well.
The base for this influence lies in the anatomical and physiological structure of the head. With such organs as vestibular apparatus in the ears and cerebellum, directly defining and regulating the body's position in space,
the head has an exceptional influence on any movement. This regulation is accomplished by and through muscular work. First of all, through the neck's muscles, which are providing balance of the head, and extending their influence on the rest of the muscular system of the body.
The importance of this regulation for movement comes from very simple things. One of them is the relation of the body with support.
What we call a balanced position of the body is the body position on support. It is a fundamental characteristic playing an undeniably important role in movement.
Muscle work happens in the most efficient way when the body weight is on support.
The head position is directly involved in this regulation and therefore defines all the muscular connections and movement of the body. When the head deviates from a proper position (tilts left or right, back or forward) then muscles engage in a wrong coordination and the body shifts from the support. It means that the body movement deteriorates as well.
These seemingly obvious relations are nevertheless violated very often because of a blurry perception of the head position stemming from general unawareness of the body, wrong understanding of the head position relatively to the body and to the movement, weakness of the neck muscles, etc.
Besides this, a big influence on the head and body position is exercised by our eyes, or to be more exact, by how far ahead we are supposed to look. Is it 5, 10 or more meters ahead or all the way to the horizon? What is the optimal length of our eyes' focus? Opinions on this matter vary a lot, with many different suggestions based on different "concepts", but all of them have only anecdotal and very weak theoretical base.
Well, then the question is what should we consider to be a proper approach to this problem?
I guess it will be no surprise, if we say that the
head position should be along the straight line going through the shoulder, hip and ball of the foot, providing for the body minimum muscular tension (just enough to keep the body at this position)
perception of a stable balance and the pressure being on the ball of the foot.
This position is reminding us of the walking position of some tribal African women carrying weights on their heads. This walking style is distinguished by smooth movement with low vertical oscillations of the body, allowing them to carry heavy objects for long distances. These women seem to carry themselves with outstanding posture and their movement looks very elegant.
The look of the eyes making your head position efficient isn't related with any fixation on anything or any distance ahead. In martial arts this look is called:
"you look, but do not see anything".
You should be ready to perceive information, but be not fixed on it. It allows you to keep the body position and muscular system in a ready condition.
These are small rules for the head position in movement and running that provide the base for an efficient movement.
Dr Romanov
