These shoes usually have slight heel elevation which will reduce stress on the achilles tendon, but slightly reduce the lateral stability of the ankle. Running shoes also have a larger toe box, more shock absorption, and better pronation control than tennis shoes. Interestingly enough, many of the so-called walking shoes have characteristics that are more similar to tennis shoes than to running shoes. Unless, of course, you walk down the street practicing your backhand returns. Long distance runners usually contact the ground on their heels.
Sprinters have forefoot contact.
Middle distance runners vary and may have forefoot, midfoot or heel contact. The majority of Sport Walking Shoes as already stated are not well designed. The one item that appears to be well designed about them is their marketing strategy. Specific Problems Related to Running Shoe Design Flaws Achilles Tendonitis Shoes that have inflexible soles cause the calf muscles to work harder and can contribute to the development of achilles tendonitis. The mechanical reason for this is that the looking at the shoe and leg as a fulcrum and lever system, they make the lever arm function over a longer distance and make the tip of the shoe the location of the fulcrum.