During running, the foot’s impact with the ground generates a shock wave that propagates up the body and is attenuated before reaching the head. This study investigated mechanisms of shock attenuation (SA) during heel-strike (HS), forefootstrike (FFS), and spring-boot (SB) running.

Participants (n=10) ran at 3.83 m·s⁻¹ while head and leg impact acceleration, SA, and ankle and knee energy absorption were recorded and analyzed across the impact phase during HS, FFS, and SB conditions.

Shock attenuation and leg acceleration were not different across conditions. Head acceleration (HS>FFS=SB), ankle energy absorption (FFS>HS>SB) and knee energy absorption (SB>FFS) were different for specific condition comparisons.

Although SA magnitudes as analyzed were not different between conditions, the overall characteristics of the shock wave seemed to change. Nevertheless, different SA mechanisms were used between conditions as evident by changes in ankle and knee energy absorption.