Doctors of Running Podcast · Doctors of Running

#269 Mailbag! Is Heel Drop a Lie? Toe Numbness? Our 2025 Shoe Rotation?

·55 min·3 clips

A repeatable numb big toe in the Nike Vomero Plus should not be ignored.

1. Doctors of Running Podcast #269 is a mailbag episode about shoe drops, toe numbness, and 2025 shoe rotations. 2. Dr. Sloss and Matt host the episode, and David joins for the shoe-testing segment because he is comparing current trainers and racers. 3. The episode is for listener questions, with Matt saying they are pulling together emails and social-media messages to answer them live. 4. David starts with the Diodora Cellula 2 and says the first version took too long to break in because the upper felt low-volume and borderline painful. 5. Matt follows with the ASICS Metaspeed Ray, describing Flight Foam Leap, a three-quarter plate, and a men's size 9 weight under five ounces. 6. The first mailbag question asks whether an 8 mm heel drop is measured the same across all shoe sizes and whether angle changes with shoe length. 7. Matt says he does not know of research on size-dependent drop effects and notes that shoe samples are often measured from a standard size such as a men's 9. 8. David adds that some brands use two sample sizes and that stack height and geometry can change as sizes scale up. 9. A listener named Don asks for a women's shoe with only a heel rocker, no forefoot rocker, a narrow low-volume fit, and 6 to 8 mm drop. 10. Matt and David suggest the Adidas Supernova Rise, Nike Pegasus, Brooks Hyperion 2, AeroGlide, Puma Magnify Nitro 3, and Hoka Mach 6 as partial fits. 11. For Pontus, who asks about flexor digitorum longus pain, David says to avoid shoes that push the toes into extension. 12. Matt explains that the flexor digitorum longus runs deep in the calf, passes the medial ankle, and can be stressed by excessive pronation. 13. They recommend stable-neutral shoes with moderate drop, a forefoot rocker, and little toe spring for that symptom pattern. 14. Matt also suggests rehab ideas such as short-foot work, towel drills, heel raises, and a very aggressive step-edge toe-flexor loading variation. 15. Ryan asks about the Nike Vomero Plus because his big toe goes numb even though the shoe otherwise feels good. 16. Matt and David treat the numbness as a nerve-pressure problem and suggest linear lacing, removing the sockliner, or using the shoe only if the pressure can be reduced. 17. Carter asks for books on running science, biomechanics, psychology, and super shoe technology, and the hosts say super shoe books are scarce because research is still limited. 18. They name Running Rewired by Jay Dicharry and Running Biomechanics and Exercise Physiology Applied in Practice by Frans Bosch and Rattle Clump as useful starting points. 19. The tone stays practical and conversational, with product comparisons, anatomy explanations, and back-and-forth troubleshooting. 20. Runners hunting for shoe fit, drop, and stability details will get the most value, while listeners wanting a story-driven episode may skip it.

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