DROP WHAT YOU’RE DOING

It may be time to rethink heel-to-toe drop

HEEL- TO- TOE DROP – the difference in height between the heel and forefoot of a running shoe – has long been a subject of debate among runners. While a lower heel-to-toe drop, anything from 0-6mm, has been heavily favoured by fast, experienced runners, a study published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine suggests it should be the other way round. The findings of the six-month trial were that low-drop shoes presented an increased injury risk for experienced, regular runners, while occasional runners were, by contrast, less likely to get injured when wearing a low-drop shoe. Running in low-drop shoes, then, should not be seen as a badge of honour among experienced runners; nor should it be something to be feared by newcomers to our sport.