Silicone Products
Silicone heel cups, pads and toe products
Medical-grade silicone products for the foot: heel cups, cushioning pads and toe separators that redistribute pressure and reduce friction.
Silicone, where pressure needs to move
Silicone does something fabric cannot: it deforms under load and spreads pressure away from the point that hurts, then returns to shape. That makes it well suited to the foot, where the problem is usually a small area carrying more load than it can tolerate — a heel, the ball of the foot, the side of a toe.
Products in this group are shaped for particular areas rather than sized by circumference, and most are designed to sit inside footwear.
Getting the fit right
A silicone product fits when it stays where it was placed through a full day of walking, and does not crowd the toes or lift the heel out of the shoe. Try it in the shoe you will actually wear. Redness that fades within a few minutes is normal; a mark that stays, or skin that breaks, means the shape or the size is wrong for that foot.
Choosing the right one
Choosing a silicone product
- Identify where the pressure is. Silicone products are shaped for a specific area; a heel cup will not help pain under the ball of the foot.
- Check the space in the shoe. Adding height under the heel changes how the whole shoe fits. If the shoe becomes tight, the product will cause a new problem.
- Use both sides where it matters. Raising one heel changes the level of the pelvis. Unless you have been told to use one side only, use a matched pair.
- Skin first. Silicone against skin that is already broken, or on skin with reduced sensation, needs advice before use.
If you are recovering from surgery or an injury, or you have been given a specific brace to wear, follow the instructions of the clinician who prescribed it. Nothing on this page replaces that advice.
Care and safety
Common questions
Can I move them between shoes?
Yes, and that is one of their advantages. Check the fit in each shoe rather than assuming it carries over.
Do I need one or a pair?
Use a pair unless you have been told otherwise. Raising one side alone changes your alignment.
They feel slippery inside the shoe.
Make sure the shoe and the product are both dry, and wear a sock. A product that still moves is the wrong size or shape for that shoe.
Getting used to silicone
Silicone products change how you load your foot, and the rest of the leg notices. Build up over a few days rather than wearing a new heel cup for a full day immediately, and stop if you develop a new ache further up the leg.
Wash them regularly. Silicone holds moisture against the skin and is more comfortable, and lasts longer, when it is kept clean and dry.
Silicone products
These products work with your shoes, not instead of them. Check there is enough room inside the shoe before choosing a thicker model. Silicone is firmer and heavier than foam, which is what lets it keep its shape under load, and nothing soaks into it, so it wipes clean. Start with the thinnest model that does the job and move up only if it is not enough.