Is higher heel to toe drop harder on knees than lower heel to toe drop??

Yeah, it's called physics. But you wear shoes in general, so can't go too flat. Flatter is better on knees, but worse elsewhere. Running "soft" is also better on knees. What this all means is up to you.

My experience is that higher heel-toe drop is tougher on the knees and the shins. People always say that there are no studies that show this or that, or they cite a study that backs up their view, while there might be dozens of studies which contradict them as well. I think it's just common sense.

I honestly don't understand why shoe companies ever thought it was a good idea, I believe it helps to facilitate what some call "overstriding," which is when the foot lands significantly in front of the center of balance. I think Bowerman and some other coaches from the 70's, 80's, and 90's wanted their athletes to elongate their stride, and they thought that landing with the foot well in front of the knee, and "rolling from heel to toe" would accomplish this. Beats me why, it seems like an unnatural way of running.

Personally, "toe springs" really annoy me too. Do you ever walk around in your bare feet with your toes pointed upwards? No...

In regards to the knee, what matters is the relative impact between the forefoot and the heel. Most of the shock from the impact at the heel drives upward and to the knee because there's no shock absorbing mechanism between the two. There's nothing we can do to lengthen and shorten the distance between the heel and knee. However, impact at the forefoot is attenuated around the ankle with the calf muscles. The calf muscles extend the forefoot from the knee and works like a spring.

So, the higher heel to toe drop of a shoe doesn't necessarily make it harder on the knees, but the higher wedge does (literally) get in the way of extending the forefoot to the ground to take more of the relative impact from the heel.

I appreciate the useful replies.

I am thinking about this not for running but for a daily shoe.

I find it interesting that at the physical therapy/sports center where I go for PT most of the physical therapists wear Danskos, which of course have a very high heel.

I have heard of other medical facilities where doctors and nurses who are on their feet all day swear by Danskos.

Any thoughts on Danskos or this phenomenon more generally?

I think context is needed here.

If talking about running - If you are a runner who when running does not touch your heel to the ground - like me - then the impact is 100% on the forefoot and the heel drop is irrelevant. If you do allow your heel to contact the ground while running then it would be relevant.

If you are talking about walking - I don't believe I've ever witnessed anyone walking solely on their forefoot not allowing the heel of the shoe to contact the ground. This is where heel drop really comes into play.

So are you indicating for walking around something like Danskos - with their high heel - are not bad on the knees?

So strange...

Shoes manufactures thought that higher heel protects the hill and propels the runner forward.

There could be a conspiracy between shoe manufacturers and physio therapists.

Questionerr wrote:

How do the mechanics of heel to to drop work with respect to the knee?

Is it always better for the knees to have a lower heel to toe drop?

Please stop. This is not a thing.

High drop is because a lot of people simply cannot run without pounding on the heels. They usually tend to be heavier too so the shoe companies added more cushion to buffer the shock. This may or may not affect fore/mid foot runners. But it seems at least Nike finally thought to drop the drop a bit on all their shoes.

The question remains:

Why do so many doctors, nurses, physical therapists wear Danskos?

Because they've been taught in school that their feet need to be coddled.

I like to use shoes that less support and even lower heel than my running shoes. Your body will get used to whatever you take the most steps in.