02/28/2026
I get this question a lot.
This is what’s known as a “heel whip.”
A lot of my patients have this, and it’s common to see it on only one side.
So, is it a bad thing?
Here are some things we check to determine that:
1. Does the person have an external tibial torsion?
This is a natural turn out of the ankle joint due to the bony anatomy. If so, then a heel whip and a slight turn out when the person lands and swings through is NORMAL for that person.
2. Are there any weaknesses in the foot, ankle, or hip that are causing a breakdown in running form?
When this happens, we can see pelvic drop, significant over-pronation, and knee valgus collapse. Although not inherently bad, when we see a lot of this happening during a running analysis, it can tell us that the individual doesn’t have the stability and durability to handle the demands of running.
3. Is “trying to run with my feet straight” causing issues in the knee and hip?
If a person has a natural turn out, then trying to run with feet straight can cause excessive internal rotation in the hip joint and torque in the knee.
People are not all built completely symmetrically. When educating someone on how to move, well, we need to respect their individual anatomy.
So is it bad? It depends, and getting an evaluation can help figure that out.
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