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Related Concept Videos

Muscles of the Leg that Move the Foot and Toes01:28

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Using Gold-standard Gait Analysis Methods to Assess Experience Effects on Lower-limb Mechanics During Moderate High-heeled Jogging and Running
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Published on: September 14, 2017

Shoe heel-toe drop affects running economy.

Kaleigh Renninger1, Owen N Beck2

  • 1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States.

Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
|June 21, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Choosing running shoes with a zero heel-toe drop can help distance runners improve speed by reducing metabolic energy expenditure. Lower drop shoes enhance running economy through biomechanical adjustments, making them ideal for faster performance.

Keywords:
biomechanicsenergeticsfootwearmetabolicmuscle

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Last Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Using Gold-standard Gait Analysis Methods to Assess Experience Effects on Lower-limb Mechanics During Moderate High-heeled Jogging and Running
06:35

Using Gold-standard Gait Analysis Methods to Assess Experience Effects on Lower-limb Mechanics During Moderate High-heeled Jogging and Running

Published on: September 14, 2017

Comparative Analysis of Lower Limb Kinematics between the Initial and Terminal Phase of 5km Treadmill Running
08:26

Comparative Analysis of Lower Limb Kinematics between the Initial and Terminal Phase of 5km Treadmill Running

Published on: July 17, 2020

Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Sports Footwear Technology

Background:

  • Optimizing running economy is crucial for distance runners aiming to improve performance.
  • Shoe design, particularly heel-toe drop, is a potential factor influencing metabolic cost during running.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of varying shoe heel-toe drop on metabolic energy expenditure during running.
  • To analyze the biomechanical responses associated with different heel-toe drop levels.

Main Methods:

  • Twenty runners ran at a consistent speed (3.5 m/s) using custom footwear with four heel-toe drop conditions (0, 10, 20, 30 mm).
  • Metabolic energy expenditure, vertical ground reaction forces, and joint kinematics/kinetics were measured.
  • Muscle fascicle lengths and joint moments were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Increasing heel-toe drop significantly increased net metabolic power during running.
  • Higher heel-toe drop reduced vertical ground reaction forces but increased ankle effective mechanical advantage.
  • Elevated heel-toe drop led to increased ankle plantarflexion and shorter medial gastrocnemius fascicle lengths, alongside increased knee moments.

Conclusions:

  • Lower heel-toe drop shoes, particularly zero drop, promote more economical running by optimizing muscle operating lengths and reducing knee extensor moments.
  • Distance runners seeking to enhance speed should consider zero heel-toe drop footwear based on these metabolic and biomechanical findings.