Legs are different lengths

Hi,

I'm one of those people who has different length legs; my right leg is about 2-3cm shorter than my left. By doing rough measurements with a tape measure, I'd say that my right tibia is 1cm shorter and my right femur 2 cm shorter.

I know this is not uncommon. I think this is mostly genetic in origin. However, I did used to play football (soccer) from a young age (I'm right handed/footed). I also played a lot of tennis and cricket. I continued playing from 7-18 yrs of age. I'm 36 now. So, I wonder if this history of sports may have contributed to the whole of the right leg shortening.

Nowadays, I mostly do cycling, yoga, walking, running. So, not sports that require any bias to my right side.

Because of the imbalance, I have a problem with my left knee (long story), but I'm sure the problem is directly attributable to my longer left leg.

I've done loads of physio on my left knee to make it stronger. Unfortunately, all the physio does is relieve the pain that arises from cycling or running - it doesn't actually cure the problem. Ultimately, the physio can't undo the fundamental anatomical imbalance.

I'm aware that I could get a lift for my right shoe, which could correct some of the imbalance, but this is kind of an unsatisfactory solution because my body then, of course, becomes dependent on the lift.

Ideally, I suppose, I'd have an osteotomy, which would increase my femur length by 2 cm, and tibia by 1cm. I know this is a very invasive procedure though, slow and expensive.

Anyway, just wondered if anyone else out there had had any experience of this.

Is your name Eileen, by chance? :tongue:

I was told my left leg was shorter than my right by a centimeter or two, mostly from muscle tightness in my hip and back. The therapist said she'd have to do more careful measurements to see actually how much shorter the leg was. At least I think this is what she told me. Her German was really hard to understand. She basically just took me through some gentle stretching exercises, and then I couldn't walk for a week as a result. That's another story, though.

I have a friend who has been using a lift in his left shoe for 20 years now. He got it our senior year of HS, he went on to be a successful college wrestler, and is doing great today. Says it's like wearing contacts or glasses. Just something you deal with. The thought of getting my bone lengthened surgically....yikes. I think I'd try the less invasive procedures before ever, ever considering that surgery. But, I'll be 40 in a couple of years. Maybe if I was younger, I'd give it more serious thought. I figure I've had a pretty good run, so dialing things down a bit won't be all that bad. Better than having that surgery at least!

Good luck. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

In fitting riders to road bikes we do a pre-fit anylsis and compare leg legnth. The course teacher I learned from (Andy Pruit) said most inequality is from hips being mis-aligned and tendons being tight rather than actual bones being different lengths. This can cause apparent differrences of 1+cm. Laying on a massage table and comparing ankle bones side by side is a common way, followed by knees up comparing the postition of the top of the tibs.

It can be compensated for by cleat postion and cleat shims on bikes and orthotics in running, skiing and walking shoes.

Hope that helps a little! Here are two good links to read-

http://www.fpnotebook.com/Ortho/Hip/...thDscrpncy.htm

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/...9108-0,00.html

Good - I didn't misunderstand the therapist as much as I thought I may have. Thanks for the confirmation. For me, it's because of my jacked up back and how tight that has made everything around it, including my left hip.

Thanks Crampedon for that data. Some useful tips there that I could probably make use of.

I do a fair bit of yoga and so consider myself very flexible.

To alleviate the pain on the left knee I have plenty of stretches I can do but, like I said, they only alleviate the problem rather than solve it.

I guess, really, what I need is a very qualified/experienced sports physiotherapist to check me over and that means $$$$.

In terms of bike fit.
The shorter Tibia, because it acts in the vertical direction, would need cleat stackers.

When addressing the femoral length difference, we would want to make the long side reach longer... or a rearward cleat shift on the left side.

How much you need of each is not something I can say without seeing you.

In the whole scheme of things, its okay to be "reliant" on the lift in your shoe.

Only if that doesn't get satisfactory results would I look at the osteotomy.

If you are near Boulder, we would love to help you out.
www.bouldersportsmedicine.com

Crampedon- Didn't realize you were BG Certified. PM en route.

Hi, thanks again for the replies.

I've been going to the gym and putting as much load as I can on the knee. This seems to work to a degree as it relieves the joint but, if I stop going, the pain will return.

I ride a Mtn bike (26" wheels); one big problem I have is the geometry of bikes. The Top tube on my bike is 23.5" and I have a SR-Sakae Ringyo Lay Back Seatpost but the frame is still too small, which is really frustrating as I'm not that tall (184cm).

Generally, it doesn't seem that bikes with longer TTs than 23.5" are available unless you spend a lot of $ to get one specially built.

You guys would do well to see a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) physician. Measuring leg length is difficult and certainly not something you can do on yourself. As several of you said, apparent length differences can be caused by other factors, while true differences can affect other parts of the body. Making an accurate diagnosis, which is usually going to require xrays, is essential.