At-Home Checks for Uneven Leg Length: What They Can and Can't Tell You

Step Rite Shoe Lifts

At home you can notice uneven hips in a mirror, uneven shoe wear, and a book under one foot that makes you feel level. Those checks tell you it is worth a clinic visit. The clinic gives you the measurement the lift is built to.

The mirror

Feet together, hands on the top of your hip bones. If one hand sits higher, note which side.

The shoes

Turn over a worn pair. Heavier heel wear on one shoe, or wear at the outside edge on one side, is a clue.

The book

Stand with a thin paperback under one foot, then the other. If one side feels level and the other feels worse, you have found the short side. The thickness of the book is a clue to the amount, and only a clue. A tilted pelvis can fool this test in both directions.

Booking the measurement

A physical therapist, chiropractor, podiatrist, or orthopedist measures it properly. Bring the shoe you wear most. After the visit, that shoe gets the lift at the number they gave you.