What is a heel cup?
A heel cup sits beneath and partly around the heel, creating a cushioned cradle that can absorb impact and reduce direct pressure during walking.
What is a heel cushion?
A heel cushion is a smaller in-shoe insert designed mainly to soften impact beneath the heel. Some designs include a removable central section so pressure can be reduced around a particular area.
What is a gel heel wedge?
A gel heel wedge is a tapered insert that deliberately raises the rearfoot by a defined amount while also providing cushioning. Unlike a heel cup or simple cushion, elevation is a key part of its function.
What is the difference between a heel cup, heel cushion and heel wedge?
A heel cup is mainly intended to cradle and cushion the heel. A heel cushion provides more local shock absorption beneath the rearfoot and may include a pressure-relief section. A heel wedge changes heel height and therefore ankle position and lower-limb loading as well as providing cushioning.
Which provides broader cushioning?
A cup-shaped design generally surrounds more of the heel and can spread contact over a broader area. A smaller cushion may be more focused beneath the centre of the heel.
When is a heel wedge different from ordinary cushioning?
A wedge is used where heel elevation itself is intended. Because changing heel height can affect the ankle, Achilles tendon, knee and overall walking pattern, the height should match a clear reason for use rather than simply being increased for comfort.
What do 5 mm, 8 mm or 10 mm heel-wedge heights mean?
These measurements describe the amount of elevation built into the wedge. A higher wedge creates a greater change in heel position. More height is not automatically better, and wedge height should not be increased or altered without a clear clinical or biomechanical reason.
Can heel cups, cushions or wedges help every type of heel pain?
No. They may reduce impact or pressure while worn, but heel pain can have many causes. Cushioning does not diagnose or correct the underlying problem, and a wedge is not appropriate for every cause of heel pain.
Should they be worn in one shoe or both shoes?
This depends on the purpose of the device. A simple pair of cushioning inserts may be used bilaterally, while a wedge used for a specific asymmetry or rehabilitation plan may be advised differently. If the device materially changes heel height or walking balance, professional guidance is appropriate.
What footwear works best?
The shoe should have enough depth to accommodate the insert while keeping the heel securely contained. The heel should not lift excessively out of the shoe, and the insert should lie flat without folding or moving.
Can heel wedges be stacked or modified?
Do not stack, cut or combine heel wedges simply to create more height unless this has been specifically advised. Unplanned changes can alter balance and loading and may create new symptoms.
How are these different from heel offloading products used for pressure care?
In-shoe heel cups, cushions and wedges are not the same as pressure-relief devices designed to offload the heel during prolonged sitting or lying. Where there is skin damage, significant pressure-injury risk or a clinical offloading plan, follow the healthcare professional's pressure-care guidance.
Important: Persistent or severe heel pain, marked swelling, pain after trauma, night pain, skin damage or difficulty walking should be professionally assessed. Heel-wedge height should be selected for a clear reason rather than self-increased to chase symptom relief.
