Heel Lifts

What are heel lifts?

Simply enough, a heel lift is simply a shoe insert whose primary purpose is to elevate the heel of the foot. There’s a wide range of heel lifts available: Some come in “layers” that can be added/removed to make them adjustable, and lifts can range in total height from as thin as ⅛” to as thick as ½” in total height.

What are the primary uses of heel lifts?

There’s three primary purposes for a heel lift:

1. To alleviate strain on the calf and Achilles tendon (the tendon that runs up the back of the leg, between the heel and calf), which can help to prevent or alleviate Achilles tendinitis pain and calf strain.
2. To counteract a leg length discrepancy by providing additional lift and support under the shorter leg in order to even out the knees and hips.
3. To provide a slight bit of extra height by adding a lift to your existing shoes.

How do heel lifts help with Achilles tendinitis and calf strain?

A heel lift physically elevates the heel of the foot. By doing so, it decreases the total distance that the calf muscles and Achilles tendon are stretched whenever you stand and walk. Because the muscles and tendons aren’t as stretched out, they can relax more, which alleviates strain and tension.

Heel lifts are an excellent preventative measure for those who have naturally tight calves to prevent injury. They’re also an essential part of alleviating existing pain from Achilles tendinitis and torn calf muscles by mitigating strain on those parts of the foot.

For a leg length discrepancy, how do I know how much lift I need?

For leg length discrepancies, we always recommend an adjustable heel lift. Unless you already know exactly how much lift you’ll need, it largely comes down to trial and error to find what heel lift height is best for you.

We recommend trying half the height of an adjustable heel lift first. If you feel like it’s not enough lift, you can add more; and if you feel like it’s too much lift, you can remove more. Over time, you can make minor adjustments by adding or removing a layer here and there to see what configuration is most comfortable for you.

Do I place the heel lift below or on top of my insoles?

This question is entirely dependent on the type of insoles you wear and the type of heel lift you use.

In general, we find that wearing the heel lifts underneath the insoles works the best. Especially if your insoles have a heel cradle or heel cup, not only would using the heel lift on top feel awkward, but it would also eliminate the benefits of the heel cradle/cup. Using the lift underneath the insole allows the heel of the insole (and your foot atop it) to be elevated while still giving you all the same comfort, support, and benefits of your current shoe insoles.