| Heel lifts are used to correct both health and | | | | cement or tape. Heel lifts can be applied just to |
| cosmetic issues. Uneven legs are fairly common | | | | the heel area, or they can be an insert for the |
| but usually make no difference to a person’s | | | | entire shoe. In this case, the inserts are tapered |
| health if the difference between the legs is less | | | | so that they are thin in the front where the toes |
| than ¼-inch. Anything more than ¼-inch should | | | | are and increase in thickness as they approach |
| be examined by a doctor in order to prevent | | | | the heel area. It is not uncommon to use a heel |
| future complications in the back, hip and knees. In | | | | lift in the heel area only and then cover the lift |
| fact, uneven legs are often discovered only after | | | | with a flat, regular insole. |
| a patient complains of back or knee pain. And no | | | | Although heel lifts usually reverse negative side |
| wonder! If your legs are more than ¼-inch apart | | | | effects of uneven leg length, they sometimes |
| in size, then each step you take is putting uneven | | | | lead to additional health complications. This is |
| pressure and stress on your body as it attempts | | | | generally true for heel lifts that attempt to |
| to compensate for the discrepancy. For people | | | | provide more than ½ -inch of extra-height. |
| with uneven legs, heel lifts or orthopedic inserts | | | | People who use heel lifts need to be careful that |
| spell major relief. They give your shorter leg the | | | | their mid-foot is getting the kind of support it |
| extra boost it needs to be on par with its partner. | | | | needs. They also need to watch out for foot |
| Heel lifts are also used by people who want to | | | | injuries and deformities that result from the |
| add a few extra inches to their frame. Many | | | | downward slope of the foot. Heel lifts can |
| more men use heel lifts cosmetically than women. | | | | sometimes cause toes to be crammed into the |
| The goal is to give the person an extra couple of | | | | shoe’s toe-box, which can lead to |
| inches while allowing the mechanism behind this | | | | complications such as hammertoe, bunions and |
| added boost to go undetected. | | | | calluses in the metatarsal region. The risk of these |
| Heel lifts can be made out of cork, plastic, vinyl or | | | | injuries and deformities developing can be reduced |
| wood. They are usually attached | | | | by wearing protective socks. |
| semi-permanently to the shoe with contact | | | | |