Altering shoes for leg length discrepancies

Because of some recurring back discomfort, I revisited my physical therapist for the first time in a couple of years. She said it’s time to get real about addressing my unevenness issues if I want to avoid needing a hip replacement when I’m in my 60s. One of my legs is longer than the other — probably by at least a half inch. My hips sit at completely different levels.

She gave me one pair of Adjusta lifts, which we put in my running shoe right on the spot. I ordered a few more from Amazon so I can put them in my most-walked-in closed shoes and forget about them. She recommends using them for any shoes I will wear for significant amounts of walking or standing. It feels a little weird at first in the one pair of fashion sneakers I’ve tried, but I got used to it right away in my running and trail shoes.

The problem is, sandals. I spend the vast majority of my time in summer in very open sandals and I don’t think there is a solution for that. Has anyone ever had the sole of a shoe or sandal altered to accommodate an extra bit of lift? Or am I pretty stuck with four months out of the year without this additional support (unless I am actually out running/walking and hence wearing gear). My PT firmly believes I will not need to stop wearing any of my beloved shoes, so that’s good!

6 years ago

Anonymous

Oh talk to a chiropractor! I had that when I played music and carried equipment every day, and he fixed it up! I think he's still there if you want info.

Ginger

Veteran

My left leg is about 4 mm shorter than the right, so a much smaller difference than yours. My chiropractor also gave me a lift, a simple hard rubber piece. I have worn it with sandals by sticking it on with fashion tape! It's not a perfect solution - there's some sticky left on the sole, and in the worst cases I've damaged the insole if the tape stuck too well - but it does help a lot. Like you said, it's not ideal to go without that correction for months on end.

You could also go without sandals. I thought I would not be able to do it when told no sandals but it has been ok even if I am miserable when my feet are hot. Try perforated shoes (I have sneakers and loafers), espadrilles, D’ Orsay style shoes with the heel and toe covered, middle part open.

Chris987

I've toyed with adding a full-size insert to the sole of a sandal (in my case for cushioning) but I've never quite figured out how plus it would have to be pretty thick to do what you need. Maybe a cushioned/arch support insert that's quite sticky and the same color and size as the sandal sole would be worth trying. Try attaching it with double sided sticky tape, and use a magic marker to make the sizes the same color as the sandal. Now I'm just imagining a solution, have never tried that myself....:-)

Maybe you could find a podiatrist who fits shoes for people with foot abnormalities...I know when I was a kid our regular shoe store was a place this did this as well as fit shoes properly for children but those places don't seem to be around much any more. Such a podiatrist might know of resources in your area.

Janet

(website)

Joy, banish the thought! LOL No, I really, really like sandals and am NOT ready to give them up. I have nice looking feet (as far as feet go), and I like showing them in summer. Plus, even with ventilation or no-show socks, I don’t love closed shoes on hot days. D’Orsays don’t even stay on my feet (narrow ankles — it is a rare loafer or pump that stays on my foot as well).

My cobbler has a couple of pairs of my husband’s shoes right now. When I pick those up, I will ask him about this.

bj1111

What Chris said. I’ve put in arch inserts on sandals.

Your hips are too precious. Anyway, you won’t see them from the back so it’s all good!

Angie

Fashion Stylist

I'm with Chris and bj11111.

Echo

A good friend of mine has this issue, and she has her shoes altered. She went years using lifts, but it just got too inconvenient, so she has the soles of her shoes altered now so that she doesn't need to wear anything inside them. I agree that your hips are not anything to play games with, and you don't want a hip replacement because of something preventable.

MsMaven

I have a similar problem, which resulted in bursitis in my hip when I was in my 50s. The P.T. suggested I use a heel pad. I also went to a specialty shoe store that altered a pair of comfort sandals that they altered for me. The work was unacceptable to me--obviously and unattractively altered.

Now I just buy heel pads--all kinds available online. For sandals I buy Dr. Scholl's high heel liners and cut them to shape so they just cover enough of the heel not to be noticeable. I buy them in different colors to match the insoles. Most stick-in heel liners are too obvious.

I used to be able to get Footpetals heel liners, but apparently they no longer have them. I have altered some of the regular ball of foot pads and that occasionally works. Sometimes in the heat the sticky stuff on the bottom gives way and the pad shifts. I've wondered if the right glue could work to reattach them.

Then I got plantar faschitis and other foot problems. My first podiatrist told me to get rid of the heel pads, but that is unacceptable. I found a different doctor and he is okay with what I do. He has me using Hapads metatarsal pads. I don't always need them, but often in sandals I do.

Hapads has heel pads too, but they are made of wool felt and don't work well for sandals--at least not for me. They are kind of thick and get dirty quickly.
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