Scoliosis and Uneven Leg Length: When a Lift Can Help with Balance

Step Rite Shoe Lifts

A leg length difference can add to a spinal curve, and some clinicians prescribe a lift to level the pelvis under the curve. When your spine specialist or physical therapist prescribes a lift, it is built into the shoe on the shorter side at the amount they set.

Two ways they connect

A curve can tilt the pelvis and make one leg act shorter. A short leg can tilt the pelvis and feed a curve. The spine specialist sorts out which is which with a standing X-ray, and decides whether leveling the pelvis helps the curve.

Staging

Spine patients are often prescribed part of the difference first, then remeasured after a few weeks. The lift on a shoe can be raised when the next number comes in.

Teens with scoliosis

Most scoliosis lifts we build go on school shoes and sneakers for teenagers. The lift is color matched and shaped to the sole so the shoe still looks like the shoe, which matters at that age.