At Brown’s Enterprises our unique ability to fill prescriptions for custom footwear modifications is available in all of our retail channels. When you visit our store locations, call and converse with our call center product specialists, or visit us virtually on our website, we are ready to support your medical professional’s recovery plan.

Hip and lower back pain is often attributed to a leg-length discrepancy. The misalignment caused by this condition puts extra strain and pressure on these areas. When health care professionals make this diagnosis, they begin the process by measuring both legs to determine incremental differences in the length. The recommended shoe lift is generally 85% of the total leg-length discrepancy. For example, if someone is diagnosed with a 12mm leg-length discrepancy, a 10mm shoe lift is prescribed to elevate the shoe of the shorter leg. The purpose of the shoe lift is to balance the alignment of the hips and lower back which in turn reduces strain and pressure.

When placing a shoe lift order, 3 important measurements are necessary: heel, ball, and toe. The prescription should include the incremental measurements assigned to each of these reference points. If you are currently wearing a shoe lift and simply want us to duplicate it, a prescription is not required. We have a Waiver Form to be downloaded, filled out completely with date and signature, and then faxed back to us. Also available online is our pedorthic pricelist information.

A Certified Pedorthist cuts the soles of all shoes to be “lifted.”  Cutting through a shoe’s midsole is a precise exercise, leaving no room for miscalculation.  The prescribed lift is then inserted in the midsole and the outsole is “re-glued” back in place.  This process produces a finished product that looks better and lasts longer because the shoe’s integrity and function remains intact.  Unfortunately, many shoe labs and repair shops simply adhere the prescribed lift to the bottom of the shoe, which compromises the shoe’s outsole and appearance.  This method is faster and easier, but it creates other problems.  These lifts usually break down and wear out more quickly.  Traction problems can also result due to the outsole being covered with lift material.

A leg-length discrepancy doesn’t need to interfere with an active lifestyle. Based on a 12 mm length discrepancy, a doctor can prescribe 10mm at the heel, 5mm at the ball, tapering to 0 at the toe. This prescription produces a rocking chair shaped outsole that encourages a smoother transfer of weight placement. It supports each stride starting at the heel strike and pushing forward through the gait cycle to toe off. This tapered design also takes weight and bulk out of the shoe for ease of movement.

Sometimes a leg-length discrepancy is accompanied with stability and balance concerns. For a 12 mm leg-length discrepancy, a physician often prescribes a 10 mm lift at the heel, 10 mm at the ball and 10 mm at the toe, resulting in a more flat-bottomed and stable shoe. Even though the shoe becomes a bit heavier and less flexible, it offers highly improved stability. Balance and stability concerns can also be the result of neuropathy, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Parkinson’s, and more. This modification raises the quality of life by offering safe, stable support.

Another common problem that accompanies a leg-length discrepancy is arthritis in the Big Toe joint. A physician may prescribe a “Rocker Sole” to alleviate the discomfort of this condition. By using a 10 mm shoe lift at the heel, 10 mm at the ball and tapering to 0 at the toe (for a 12 mm leg-length discrepancy), the shoe has a forefoot rocker that rocks a bit like a rocking chair. It also retains a flat shape from the heel to the ball of the foot. This design supports a smooth transition of weight placement from the forefoot to toe off. Because it actually does the rocking motion for the foot, this modification drastically reduces the flexing of the foot and minimizes discomfort due to arthritis.

A specially designed shoe modification can also address a leg-length discrepancy that’s aggravated with other conditions, including Achilles Tendon problems, Equines Foot, or Foot Drop. Using the 12 mm leg-length discrepancy as a beginning point, the medical professional can prescribe a lift with 10 mm at the heel, 0 at the ball, and 0 at the toe. This design elevates the heel to address the length discrepancy, but without lifting the forefoot. As a result, pressure is taken off the Achilles Tendon by keeping it in a shortened state. This modification especially benefits those who are diagnosed with Foot Drop. The thinner, lightweight design of the forefoot and midfoot decreases the risk of falling caused by dragging the forefoot.