What is the primary purpose of a heel lift or platform?

• A. Accommodates for leg-length discrepancy
• B. Improves ankle dorsiflexion range
• C. Reduces hindfoot varus
• D. Increases plantarflexion strength

Answer: (A)

Heel lifts and platforms are used to compensate for a leg-length discrepancy. By raising the heel on the shorter side, you help level the pelvis and normalize the gait, which reduces the compensatory movements and stresses that occur when leg lengths are unequal. This is the primary purpose because it directly addresses the biomechanical imbalance that causes pelvic tilt and uneven loading.

They aren’t primarily about increasing ankle dorsiflexion range, since adding height under the heel does not improve joint mobility and can even change ankle mechanics in other ways. They don’t inherently correct hindfoot varus, which requires targeted hindfoot alignment adjustments rather than a simple heel elevation. And they don’t increase plantarflexion strength, as strength gains come from specific muscular training, not from altering heel height.