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.
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.
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.
- Order the shoe lift inserts by Jota on Amazon
- This heel lift is available in 3 different height levels: .75″, 1″, 1.5″
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.
Toddler Shoe Sizes (0 to 10)
- Order the shoe style RaveRun by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium, wide and extra wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Lightweight injection-molded EVA foam midsole provides lightweight cushioning
- Hook and loop closure
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style RaveRun by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium, wide and extra wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Lightweight injection-molded EVA foam midsole provides lightweight cushioning
- Hook and loop closure
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Original Jazz Lite 2.0 by Saucony on Zappos
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Leather and mesh upper for durability and breathability
- APMA Certified
- Traction pods on the outsole for serious grip
- EVA midsole for lightweight feel
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Ride 10 Jr by Saucony on Zappos
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Leather and mesh upper
- Non-marking traction pods to help improve stability
- APMA approved
- Toe cap for extra durability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 2510 by Tsukihoshi on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Removable insoles
- Lightweight and flexible
- Extra wide toe box allows natural splaying of toes for better balance, comfort, and foot health
- Long heel counter provides stability
- Machine washable
- I suggest that you get this shoe the same size as your toddler’s current foot size (shoe fits long)
- Order the shoe style 2510 by Tsukihoshi on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Heel stabilizer provides lateral stability
- Removable insoles
- The insoles are Infused with natural Green Tea extract (no chemicals)
- Machine washable
- I suggest that you get this shoe the same size as your toddler’s current foot size (shoe fits long)
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 650 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Velcro closure
- Leather and mesh upper
- Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a great fit and added comfort
- Extra deep
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 574 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium, wide and extra wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- Lightweight injection-molded EVA foam midsole provides lightweight cushioning
- Hook and loop closure
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Sr Thompson by Stride Rite on Amazon
- Available in medium and wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Ortholite memory foam footbeds
- Opens super wide which makes in and out easy
- Recycled material linings to help reduce odor
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style SRT Winslow by Stride Rite on Amazon
- Available in medium and wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Toe cap reinforcement and bumptoe protection against stumbles
- Opens super wide which makes in and out easy
- Step-stabilizing design with comfy Ortholite memory foam footbeds
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh 574 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium, wide and extra wide widths
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- No-sew overlays
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Robyne by See Kai Run on Zappos
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Breathable textile lining and cushioned insole
- Double velcro straps for easy on and off adjustability
- Padded tongue and collar for added comfort
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Robyne by See Kai Run on Zappos
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Canvas upper
- Toe cap is durable for early steps
- Double velcro straps
- Oversized opening for easy on and off
- APMA approved
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 574 New-b V1 by New Balance on Amazon
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Generous toe box and instep to accommodate and support a first-walker’s needs
- Mesh and suede upper for durability and comfort
- Extra deep
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 574 New-b V1 by New Balance on Amazon
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Generous toe box and instep to accommodate and support a first-walker’s needs
- Mesh and suede upper for durability and comfort
- Extra deep
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Little and Big Kid Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Order the shoe style RaveRun by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Synthetic and engineered mesh upper
- Stitched-on toe cap for extra durability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Nitrel v5 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Velcro closure
- Synthetic and engineered mesh upper
- Stitched-on toe cap for extra durability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Russell by See Kai Run on Zappos
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Double velcro straps
- Removable, contoured, leather-lined footbed for breathability and comfort
- Lightweight and flexible
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Robyn by See Kai Run on Zappos
- Fits medium, wide, and extra wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Double velcro straps
- Removable, contoured, leather-lined footbed for breathability and comfort
- Lightweight and flexible
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Velocity by Tsukihoshi on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Heel stabilizer provides stability
- Removable insoles
- The insoles are Infused with natural Green Tea extract (no chemicals)
- Machine washable
- I suggest that you get this shoe the same size as your toddler’s current foot size (shoe fits long)
- Order the shoe style 3584 Rainbow by Tsukihoshi on Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Removable insoles
- The insoles are Infused with natural Green Tea extract (no chemicals)
- Machine washable
- I suggest that you get this shoe the same size as your child’s current foot size (shoe fits long)
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 650 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a comfortable fit
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam Arishi v4 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Synthetic and engineered mesh upper
- Durable rubber outsole designed to withstand wear-and-tear
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Arishi v4 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Velcro closure
- Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a comfortable fit
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style RaveRun on the New Balance website
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Available in laces
- No-sew overlays for a sleek fit and feel
- Mesh collar and tongue are padded with foam for a great fit and added comfort
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style RaveRun on the New Balance website
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Available in laces
- Leather and mesh upper
- No-sew overlays for a sleek fit and feel
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Axon by Saucony on Zappos
- Available in medium and wide widths
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Cushioned footbed
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Axon by Saucony on Zappos
- Available in medium and wide widths
- EVA midsole provides increased shock attenuation, responsive cushioning and lasting durability
- Padded tongue and collar
- Cushioned footbed
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam 880v12 by Amazon
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 480 V1 by New Balance on Amazon
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Lightweight EVA midsole
- Leather and mesh upper for durability & breathability
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 327 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- FuelCell foam delivers a propulsive feel to help drive you forward
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style FuelCell Propel v5 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Dual-layer midsole construction featuring top-bed foam cushioning and underfoot Fresh Foam X
- I suggest that you get this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style 574 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- ENCAP midsole cushioning provides good arch and heel support
- Leather and suede upper
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Order the shoe style Fresh Foam Arishi v4 by New Balance on the New Balance website
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Lace-up closure
- Mesh upper is lightweight and breathable
- Lightweight EVA foam cushioning in the midsole and padded heel increases comfort
- Firm heel counter
- Supportive heel for active kids
- I suggest that you get this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
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.
My daughter is 6 currently appointed to a specialist recently got a 1 cm shoe raise what best shoe and shoe raise could you recommend an how do I go about a house hold foot raise
Hi Vanessa,
I am going to need further information in order to help you find the correct pair of shoes. I am going to need your daughter’s foot size, and whether she has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet.
I suggest that you send me that information via email: fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com and then I would be able to send you specific shoe recommendations. If you can I also recommend that you include a picture of the shoe raise.
Hi. My son was involved in an accident and was on a spica cast for 2 and a hslf months… Doc did not do sufficient follow-up. His femur fracture was set skew and he now has a 3cm leg discrepancy. We received our shoe with the heel lift stuck on the shoes. How long does he wear it for and how do we monitor growth… No instructions have been given to us. My son is 4 years old
Hi Seema,
I believe that the condition is not going to get corrected on its own. You can treat it by keep wearing the shoes with the lift and monitor your son for any foot or leg pain.
This is a situation in which you would have to consult with your doctor. Because your son’s difference is more than 1 inch (2.5 cm), you should consult with your doctor is surgery might help.
For my toddler who is 1.5 years old with a shoe size of EU 27 and who has a leg length discrepancy of 3 cm, which shoe can accommodate a 3 cm heel lift inside?
Hello San,
We need to look for a shoe that provides extra depth. If your child has medium, wide, or extra wide feet, you can find below my recommendations:
Option 1
Option 2
If your child happens to have narrow feet please let me know and I will send you different recommendations.
I hope this helps!
Hello juan,my son had a hip infussion about 3 months ago.and the leg discrepancy is 3 1/4 inches.And they want us to get a heel lift for him.but is so expensive plus how many shoes are you gonna do the lift on.is just too much money and heart breaking dont know what to do.can we get an over the counter shoe lift for him.plus can it work.he is 12 years old and so miserable right now.
Hello Ifunanya,
That is a question you should have asked the doctor. I always recommend trying the least expensive option first and monitoring how it works. Maybe a heel lift with a good supportive shoe is all what your child needs but we won’t know until you try it. Ask the doctor if you can start with a heel lift first. They definitely do work, but it varies from child to child.
Please follow up with me and let me know what they tell you.
Hello Juan,
Thank you for the article. My 5 years daughter has this discrepancy 0.5 cm. The first doctor which we visited, told us that is ok and she have only to wear sandals with height and hard heel, the second doctor told us to put the lift 0.5 cm in the left shoe (left leg is shorter). As I read, discrepancy less than 2 cm no need a treatment. I am confused now. I don’t know how to proceed. If we will buy this lift for one shoe, have she wear this all day? Thank you in advance.
Hello Elena,
I am not a doctor, so you should do what they recommend. Is she experiencing any type of foot or leg pain? If she is not, I wouldn’t worry about it too much since the difference is so little.
If she is having foot or leg pain then definitely try a lift in her shoes. If you do buy a lift for her shoe the more she wears it the better.
When it comes to sandals, try Keen sandals, they have a very hard and sturdy sole. You can learn more about them here:
Keen Sandals For Children – The Best Summer Sandal
My daughter has a 31mm difference and we’ve been recommended to have special lifts made on the outside of the shoe (very costly and noticeable). Would you recommend a lift fitting on the inside of a shoe for this much of a discrepancy? And any recommendations for summer shoes as well?
Hello Hallie,
In this particular case the discrepancy is more than 2 centimeters, and that’s when doctors might require either surgery or a heel lift. Obviously the heel lift option is the most convenient and economical one, and it is not nearly as invasive.
You should have asked the doctor if you could start with an over the counter heel lift and see how your daughter reacts to it instead of investing right away in a pair of special lifts.
great post ! thank you.
can i fit a one-inch feet lift inside the shoes you are recommending above?
also, what would be the best to wear inside the house e.g. slippers.
regards
Hatim,
Yes, but don´t forget to remove the inner sole and choose one of the New Balance styles, since they are deeper than the Saucony ones. You need to speak to whoever recommended the heel lifts and ask if your child can wear something else besides his/her sneakers around the house. If they say yes, take a look at this psot where I describe the best slippers for kids:
Supportive Slippers for Kids – These are the Best Slippers for Kids with Foot Problems
The link you included takes me to adult sided inserts which will not fit my child’s shoes. Also, the fact that this company only offers one size (2cm) lift is concerning since anyone underwing this serious issue will understand how individual the lift should be
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for your feedback. Please carefully review the heel lifts recommended as a woman’s shoe size 4 translates to a child’s shoe size 2. If your child wears a shoe size smaller than a size 2 do not hesitate to contact me directly and I will find you an alternative: fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Leg length discrepancy is not necessarily a serious issue as long as the discrepancy is less than 2 centimeters (0.8 inches) at full height. In this case no treatment is required, but if your child is experiencing foot or leg pain due to the discrepancy, then surgeons often recommend a heel lift as an alternative to a surgical approach.
Unfortunately there are no many heel lifts available for children. One alternative is to buy your child a shoe lift, which will allow you to choose a more precise size, but it can cost you around $100. I usually don’t recommend this alternative as children can outgrow their shoes anywhere between 4 to 6 months (depending on their age).
I can see that its so important to act quickly and appropriately if your child has a leg length discrepancy to prevent too much pressure causing damage which may stay with the child for life if it isn’t dealt with quickly.
Its amazing really that just from using heel lifts a lot of pain and issues can be avoided. Thank you for this information. Very informative.
Jen,
Taking immediate action is key in order to prevent future injuries and pain. A simple and inexpensive thing WILL prevent problems when the child gets older!
Hi Juan
But isn’t it better to buy heel lifts at some physical stores? I think it would be the best to physically place the lift inside the shoe to see if it fits the shoe. In order to solve the problem, the lift has to fit the shoe perfectly, hasn’t it? I checked few of the review on Amazon for these heel lifts and while some customers find these heel lifts perfect, some others state that these appear to be too narrow for the certain shoe. So ordering online is a bit risky, isn’t it? As this is very serious problem for kids so we cannot do something wrong. At least, this is my point of view.
Arta,
I always recommend to parents to take their children to their local children’s shoe store to have their feet properly measured. The same applies to when they are looking for heel lifts. However, not every parent has a local kids’ shoe store that they trust. I have received hundreds of emails from parents asking me to review a certain shoe or to show which shoes are better than others.
Big retail stores such as Stride Rite or Nordstrom’s don’t qualify as fitting stores. They don’t even carry heel lifts. I always advise to parents to stay away from these stores since in order to make a sale, they will put your child in the wrong pair of shoes. I wrote a post about it that you might find interesting, it’s called: The Best Place To Buy Kids Shoes – Avoid Stride Rite, Nordstrom, Payless…
I didn’t know this was such an issue.I know my child has leg length discrepancy but the doctor told us he was okay for now and we shouldn’t worry about it. We are worried because he is walking funny lately. Is this something that kids can grow out of? Will one leg catch up to the other?
I can certainly see the problems this can create, with balance, and how it can effect other parts of the body. Our bodies are designed to be aligned a certain way. I am afraid my kids’ feet and legs are hurting him and he is not saying anything.
You should definitely provide your child with a heel lift or an orthotic to compensate for the discrepancy. I recommend that you get a second opinion immediately, to make sure your kids’ feet and legs are doing okay. I have fitted several children with heel lifts and they make a tremendous difference in the way they walk!
My daughter sometimes complains about her feet hurting, but she’s two so I really didn’t pay it any attention at first. I mentioned it to her pediatrician, and nothing came of it. And it doesn’t appear that she has leg length discrepancy at this time. I will continue to monitor the situation as she grows, and should she need something, I now know where to find it!
Christian,
Keep an eye on your daughter’s foot and leg pain. It is NEVER normal for children to experience foot or leg pain. If the pain persists, definitely take her to another pediatrician and get a second opinion! Also, please make sure she is wearing the correct pair of shoes. By this, I mean shoes that are good and supprtive, and they must be the correct size for her feet.
My child’s friend has leg length discrepancy and she had no idea what to do about it. Her doctor told her to leave it alone since the discrepancy was not enough to worry. However, her child is complaining about leg pain now. I will show her this article. Great review and great list of products to help with this issue.
If the child is experiencing pain, something must be done as soon as possible. Good shoes and lift will take care of the pain issue. Please let her know that the pain can be removed by wearing the correct pair of shoes with a pair of heel lifts.