A method for changing the distribution of the loading pressure prevailing in the press nip of a shoe press, which shoe press includes a number of adjacent loading elements (K) acting on the press shoe (70), the first end of the elements being supported on the supporting beam (12) of the shoe press and the other end on the press shoe (70). The loading elements (K) are moved in the machine direction (MD) in the space between the press shoe (70) and the supporting beam (12) by acting on the loading element (K) at least at the end adjacent to the press shoe in such manner that the end adjacent to the press shoe is moved in the machine direction (MD) in relation to the press shoe (70), and that the end of the loading element adjacent to the supporting beam (12) can be caused to freely assume a position in relation to the supporting beam (12), preferably at least during the transfer.