Heel Lifts for Leg Length Discrepancy – The Best Solution to Kids’ Leg Length Discrepancy

Has your physical or occupational therapist recommended a pair of heel lifts to be fitted inside your kids’ shoes but didn’t specify which specific heel lifts or shoes you should buy? Being diagnosed with leg length discrepancy sounds like a serious issue, but something so simple such as fitting heel lifts inside the correct pair of shoes might be all your child needs to significantly reduce or eliminate this discrepancy.

About Leg Length Discrepancy

Leg length discrepancy is an orthopedic problem that usually appears in young children, in which a child’s two legs are of unequal length. Basically, this means that your kid’s legs are slightly different lengths, with one being longer than the other. Leg length discrepancy in kids is more common than you’d think and the cause remains unknown. The greater the discrepancy between the legs, the more problems this can cause.

You might be asking yourself: What does a shoe fitter know about leg length discrepancy? I actually helped several children who come to the children’s shoe store where I work with a leg length discrepancy looking for shoes and heel lifts.

Shoe fitter fitting a child in the correct pair of shoes.

After fitting children in heel lifts through the years, I can tell you with confidence that no single heel lift product works best in every shoe. In most cases, the doctor recommends the parent with a specific heel lift, but in certain cases, parents need to purchase it on their own and this can create all sorts of confusion and frustration.

Don’t Take the “Wait and See Approach” – Be Proactive!

I always recommend parents to be proactive and don’t take the “wait and see approach” when it comes to treating their children’s foot conditions. Leaving your children’s foot conditions untreated can only lead to the condition getting worse. The main issue with leaving leg length discrepancy untreated is that it might lead to knee, hip, and lower back pain in the future.

What Are Some of the Causes for Leg Length Discrepancy in Kids?

Some of the possible causes include:

1️⃣ An injury or infection that slows down the growth of one leg bone.

2️⃣ An injury to the growth plate that slows down bone growth in that leg.

3️⃣ A fracture to a leg bone that might cause an overgrowth of the bone as it heals.

4️⃣ A hereditary problem.

5️⃣ Certain conditions affect the muscles and nerves, such as polio.

Heel lifts for kids.

Conservative Treatments for Leg Length Discrepancy

Depending on the discrepancy between your kids’ leg lengths, your pediatrician will discuss treatment options carefully with you before any decisions are made. While I am not a doctor, I have learned that no treatment is generally required if your kid’s final leg length discrepancy is less than 2 centimeters at full height. However, if the discrepancy is more than 2 centimeters (0.8 inches), doctors might require surgery to shorten the longer leg or to lengthen the shorter leg.

Obviously, the heel lift option is the most convenient and economical one, and it is not nearly as invasive. Something as simple as wearing the correct pair of shoes with a pair of heels lifts might be all that your child needs. Disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links and we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you click our links and make purchases.

Heel Lifts for Leg Length Discrepancy

Below you can find the best shoe lifts for uneven legs. Firm in-compressible heel lifts are the most effective ones when it comes to treating leg length discrepancy in kids.

Wearing the right type of shoes can help children redistribute their body weight and prevent putting excess pressure on one foot or leg.

The Importance of Getting the Correct Type of Shoes

Keep in mind that if heel lifts are not fitted in the correct pair of shoes, you will defeat the whole purpose of your child wearing a pair of heel lifts. The shoes need to provide extra depth to allow the heel lifts to fit deeply inside of the shoes, otherwise, your child is going to have the impression that his/her feet are coming out of the shoes.

We are basically looking for two features in your kids’ shoes:

1️⃣ Extra depth for the lift to fit inside the shoe properly.

2️⃣ Firm heel counter for ankle support.

The Best Fitting Shoes for Heel Lifts – Deep and Supportive

Your children will have a much better experience walking and running around in a pair of heel lifts, as long as they are paired with the right shoes. 

How to Tie Shoes to Secure Your Child’s Heels and Prevent Heel Slippage

If you choose a shoe with laces, make sure that your child pulls the velcro or the shoelaces comfortably tight, otherwise your child might experience a lot of heel movement. The heel lift is already raising your kids’ feet, that’s why it’s so important that you prevent heel slippage by making the shoes comfortably tight. If your child is wearing a pair of shoes with shoelaces, take a look at the article below that describes the most effective shoe tying technique for kids who wear heel lifts inside their shoes.

Contact Me for Specific Shoe Recommendations

Do not hesitate to contact me with your child’s exact leg length discrepancy so I can provide you with more specific recommendations. 

Prevent Long-Term Problems by Taking Early Action – Good Shoes and Lifts!

If your kids are diagnosed with leg length discrepancy, they can still play and run around without any problems. However, as I mentioned before, if the child has more than 2 centimeters of leg length discrepancy and you don’t treat it, problems such as hip, back, and knee pain will arise as the child grows.

As parents watch their children grow and begin to crawl, a discrepancy in leg length will usually become more obvious. If you believe or suspect that your child has a leg length discrepancy, you should take your child to be evaluated by your pediatrician or physical therapist.

Have you found a pair of lifts and shoes that have worked well for your child? Please share your experiences in the comments section below so other families can benefit from them.