Kinematic effects of heel lift use to correct lower limb length differences*

The effect of the heel lift to correct a limb length difference was studied by electrogoniometry (elgons) in four male subjects with a limb length inequality between 3/~6 inch (0.48 cm) and 3h inch (0.95 cm). Six elgons were attached to bilateral hip, knee, and ankle joints as the subject walked (3 mph) and jogged (6 mph) on the treadmill twice, once with the heel lift and once without. Recordings from the elgons examined maximal flexion and extension during support and swing phase, amplitude of movement (ROM), duration of each movement, and angular velocity of each joint. Within the limitations of the study, the following conclusions were drawn: 1) the addition of a heel lift did not appear to significantly affect biomechanical measures of gait; and 2) insertion of a heel lift did tend to cause more symmetrical movement for the maximum angle of hip extension and ROM of the swing plantarflexion phase of the ankle but more asymmetrical ROM of the swing flexion phase of the knee. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1986;7(4):173-179.