Essential Information On Custom Shoe Lifts

By Debra Young


Some people have large enough differences on leg length which they can not adopt from it resulting for ill effects to be experienced. Samples of the effects are sacroiliac or lower back pain and hip, foot or knee problems. The discrepancy could be caused by hip surgery, diseases like polio, uneven growth, broken leg bones and compensate other problems like pelvic or spinal scoliosis.

This can be treated by shoe lifts which are firm inserts on shoes that adds length to the shorter leg for better balance in the lower body. There are companies who make custom shoe lifts so you could have the exact height you need. They can either be internal or external ones depending on how big the difference is or your preference.

Wearing them can make each of the shoe feel differently due to some lifts having cushions while shoes normally does not have cushions. It is important to have long term comfort as well as minimum foot stress because they would usually be permanently needed. If possible, have the same elevation across all your shoes that you regularly wear.

Half an inch is the maximum elevation generally accepted for use without the stability being affected when worn. The style, fit and size of your shoes would affect the maximum height usable on them with laced ones permitting more. Because of this, more than one type of lift will be needed for the different footwear you have.

When the compensation required is more than the maximum half an inch, this must be externally added at the heels and the soles. Your foot would have lower stress including your lower leg and external and internal additions are recommended for higher lifts. Though remember to begin small and increase slowly with the height you need for better adapting of your body.

The ideal height specifically needed by you is determined by experimenting for a long time because the minor difference matters. These could improve shoe comfort plus other effects which the leg length differences have on you. Do this by changing slightly the lift elevation then observe their effects for some days or weeks.

They often recommended to start wearing half of what your measured difference on leg length is but should be based on when the discrepancy started to exist. Begin small and increase slowly with the height you need if many years has been since it started. But if this change is recent only then it is recommended to have full elevation in minimizing adaptive changes.

Using shoe lifts is a personal and medical decision so a health care professional is recommended to be involved. They are important with evaluating what you need and in monitoring what the results are when wearing these. Without their involvement, you would not know the exact tallness of the lift that you must wear and might cause more problems instead.

When wearing them during active sports like running, golf, tennis or dancing then use a firm one because this is mandatory. They should not make additional foot motion and compress under pressure so that you will still have good control and good support. When a wrong one is used, the risk of sprains and falls increases.




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