Abstract
In distance running, using less metabolic energy at a given speed improves endurance performance. Athletes can decrease their metabolic energy expenditure during running (improve their running economy) by improving their running mechanics. One way to elicit economical running mechanics is to use running shoes with specific characteristics, such as the ideal heel-toe drop. Wearing shoes with a higher heel-toe drop increases ankle plantar flexion, in turn decreasing the operating lengths of the underlying calf muscles. Given that producing force with muscles at shorter operating lengths increases their metabolic energy expenditure, we hypothesized that running in shoes with a higher heel-toe drop would increase user metabolic energy expenditure during running. PURPOSE: Determine how shoe heel-toe drop affects running economy. METHODS: Twenty runners participated (1 female, 19 males; avg ± sd; age: 31.6 ± 10.7 years; height: 1.75 ± 6.3 m; mass: 72.5 ± 8.1 kg). Participants performed a treadmill familiarization trial in their own shoes followed by four 5-minute experimental running trials at 3.5 m/s. In each experimental trial, participants ran in a different custom Nike Pegasus shoe with EVA midsoles that differed in their heel-toe drop: 0, 10, 20, & 30 mm. We randomized shoe conditions and provided at least 5-min seated rest between trials. We computed mass-normalized net metabolic power, biomechanics, and leg muscle activity during running in each shoe condition. RESULTS: Shoe heel-toe drop affected metabolic power (p<0.001). Running in shoes with a 30 mm heel-toe drop increased net metabolic power ~2% compared to the 0 mm heel-toe drop condition. Higher heel-toe drops shortened medial gastrocnemius muscle fascicle length at touch-down, toe-off, and on average during ground contact (p ≤ 0.025). Shoe heel-toe drop did not affect medial gastrocnemius muscle average (p = 0.405) or peak (p = 0.081) muscle fascicle velocity during ground contact. Lateral gastrocnemius muscle activation decreased in the higher heel-toe drop shoes during stance (p = 0.061) and stride (p = 0.067). Alternatively, higher heel toe-drop increased soleus muscle activation during stance (0.314) and stride (p = 0.235). Neither peak nor average muscle activation of the tibialis anterior changed between shoe conditions (both p ≥ 0.184). Higher heel-toe drops decreased the average vertical ground reaction force (p = 0.014) and lengthened ground contact time (p = 0.015) during running. Shoe heel-toe drop did not affect stride frequency (p = 0.682). CONCLUSION: Running in shoes with a lower heel-toe drop enables calf muscles to operate at longer, more economical lengths. Accordingly, shoes with a lower heel-toe drop reduces user metabolic energy expenditure during running, and in turn likely improves their distance-running performance.
Recommended Citation
Renninger, Kaleigh and Beck, Owen N.
(2025)
"Shoe Heel-Toe Drop Affects Running Economy,"
International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2:
Iss.
17, Article 188.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss17/188
