Are Shoe Lifts For You?

What Are Shoe Lifts?

Shoe lifts, also known as heel lifts, are either shoe inserts that fit into the heel section of your shoe or external lifts built externally into the heel of your shoe(s). They can be designed to fit the type of shoe you are wearing and are typically between 1mm and 10mm in height if they are fitting inside the shoe. When they get higher than this, lifts usually have to be built outside into the sole of the shoe. They should be firm and are not compressible as their purpose is to provide elevation for therapeutic use. If they compress too much, they will not provide adequate elevation.

What Are Shoe Lifts (Heel Lifts) Used For?

Shoe lifts or heel lifts can be used for a variety of issues. Frequently, they are used to adjust for leg length discrepancies. Leg length differences can cause pain in the back, hips, knees, legs or feet. If one of your legs is longer than the other, it can carry more weight and take more force upon impact...or the shorter leg can strike the floor differently...or your hips can rotate to try to make the short leg longer, affecting your back...the potential problems are endless. Use of a shoe lift under the heel of the shorter leg allows partial normalization of the difference in length and can help align the pelvis. This can give the spine a more comfortable resting position while standing, reduces cramming of the intervertebral discs and reduces stress on the spinal joints, legs and feet.

Shoe lifts can also used for any of the following problems if they are associated with leg length differences, ankle position and range of motion:

• postural imbalance


• Achilles tendonitis


• foot and joint pain relief from arthritis


• lower back pain


• daily wear comfort


• overuse injuries


• injury


• sport correction actions - such as golf swing correction or running on tilted surfaces


• forcing spinal change


• spinal scoliosis


• post-surgical and post-stroke rehabilitation


• prosthetic adjustment


• improving oxygen consumption when used with patients with leg deficiency


• reduced first toe extension

Some people also wear heel lifts simply to increase their height. However, there are possible side effects due to the way it can change your gait, so before you begin to wear lifts you should check with your doctor and pedorthist, physiotherapist, chiropractor or podiatrist. Improperly used, especially if different heights for each side, they can make things much worse. You should not mess around with unilateral heel lifts without the guidance of a qualified professional.

Many conditions where shoe lifts (heel lifts) are prescribed involve other alignment and biomechanical issues that require foot orthotics. Sometimes correction of biomechanics can eliminate the need for heel lifts, or make them more effective. Shoe lifts (heel lifts) can also be built directly into foot orthotics if needed.