[Closed] One leg longer than the other..... treatment??

depends. I have one leg shorter than the other and suffer knee, back, pelvis pain and also indigestion problems. Chiropracter "re-alligned" my pelvis and things seemed to get better. Long term answer was uilt up shoe sole.

There have been various threads over the years about chiropracters and the magic/nuts debate. It worked for me, but I dind't like the answers (I like nice shoes). I'm sure a good physio would also be able to provide similar, if less rapid, but with greater longevity soloutions

Sacroiliac joint?

One of my best mates tried to kill himself in the tyres at Caldwell, fortunately he failed but his destroyed pelvis and hip gave him an inch difference!
He wears a built up boot for work and looks odd on the bike.
Gutted me this week as his Physio has said squash has gotta stop!
Basically not a lot you can do!

Unless you have been in a major accident where you have either broken your leg or damaged the growth plates whilst still growing it is highly unlikely you actually have one leg shorter than the other. It is more likely a skeletal imbalance, often related to your sacroiliac joint (well said Cinnamon Girl).

IIRC that joint is not a fixed across your body and is therefore susceptible to being twisted which can result in one side being higher than the other. This is then manifested as one leg shorter than the other.

My dad shattered his femur over 30 years ago and spent a good deal of time in traction in the hot, hot summer of 76. He has one leg 3/4 inch shorter than the other. I was 4, it wasn't my leg and I remember it. If you have no recollection of an injury such as this, I'd suggest checking out a physio (or a hypnotist as you clearly hiding some sort of memories!).

A chiropractor fixed me (awaits hysteria from the readership), alternatively an osteopath. Go on personal recommendation.

Sorry, just read your post properly!

I can heartily recommend both chiropractor treatment and physio guided exercises working on your core.

Knackered my pelvis alignment with never stretching after riding duly commute for too many years, got the pain sorted by chiropractor but never got pelvis fully realigned. I then had a bad off which exacerbated the issue but wasn't picked up fully until I got pregnant. Fantastic support from ante and post natal NHS physios gave me really good guided exercises that got progressively harder until my core muscles were able to pull everything back into place. Result was no back pain, no neck pain, no hip/pelvis pain. However, I became lazy and let the exercises slip and the issue is returning slightly, this is one of those things you need to continue throughout your life once sorted as it takes more than a year of right to sort out nearly 40 years of wrong!

As a final note, a podiatrist at the London Bike Show 2 years ago said I had one leg shorter than the other. Funnily enough this was not the case once I got my pelvis sorted out!

Physio.

There are real differences (unusual) and apparent difference (more usual) caused by hip rotation caused by tightness / looseness / something else.

cinnamon girl has it, go to someone recommended.

Panel saw

Thanks .. after some quick reading im pretty sure its my SJ.. I knew it wasnt actually one leg physically longer 😆
Any recommendations for stretches / exercises to help

Little Dean has one leg shorter than the other, technicly the legs are similar length the lack of hip socket has caused a difference. He has built up shoes its mostly towards the heal mind.

With him just learning to ride i've looked at riding positions and pondered....
different crank arm lengths? Would also make on knee not a raised at tdc.

Raised pedal? Though this would have the oppositte effect to the crank arm above making the knee higher at tdc.

Treatment the way to make your legs equal length (if it is significant) involves surgery breaking it and using a cage/ pin arragement to keep extending the leg as it heals. Cant do much in one go iirc.

Go see a good recommended physio as CG says. They will give you exercises to suit your need. The wrong exercises will make it worse.

Ok.. thanks for all the replies

There's a simple test - in the Joe Friel training bible I think, where you sit on the floor, back against the wall with knees bent, feet drawn in towards you. Put a spirit level across the top of your knees and see what you get. My bloke had a bad break in his yoof and was in plaster for nearly a year - the difference is quite significant. Interesting to read people's solutions to this one.

Speedway shoe

Hang upside down by your ankles and get x-rayed. That's the only way to know for certain.

It all depends if it's apparent length, or true length...
One is measured from ankle to top of thigh (basically), the other is to pelvis..
If rue length is out, surgery or built up shoe is the answer.. Otherwise it's a time pelvis.. Some of the above can help with that.

DrP

To echo a lot of what has been said above, as a bike fitter, I am very wary of correcting leg length discrepancies, unless the client has had it properly measured via an x ray.
A functional leg length discrepancy can be due to issues at the pelvis, many of which can be resolved, sometimes very quickly, by the therapist of your choice.
Correcting those issues with stacks, and you don't say how much correction has been added although normally you would only add 50 per cent of the measured discrepancy ie .25 of an inch in this case, can cause as many problems as it solves.
In a nutshell, I'd make some further investigations to get to the root of the problem rather than carrying on regardless.
If you want to discuss it further drop me a line at fit2ridebikefit@gmail.com
Cheers.

Joauim cruz famously had one leg longer than the other and went on to olympic 800m gold. Beating coe in the process. He was also one of a small number who ran under 1:42.

That's because it will have helped him running round in circles...

I had a mother in law with one leg shorter than the other.. We treated her to her fair share of piss taking and banter.. She seemed to thrive on it..

I love the randomness of stw.
Im pretty sure its SJ.
Pain / aching in my glutes, tight hamstrings, mid back pain.
If i press the back top of my pelvis it feels niggly.

Im guessing physio and core strengthening and maybe pilates or yoga.

+1 to go and see a physio.

I had knee pain and I saw a physio last week. She noticed I had different length legs and "fixed" me there and then with some manipulation.

Other issues were also noticed and the exercises I'd prescribed myself were not all suitable, with some being potentially damaging.

Looks like being money well spent.

That's because it will have helped him running round in circles...

It was the other leg 😀

[i]I can heartily recommend both chiropractor treatment[/i]

I'm not going to get into an argument as it's not the thread for it but do some reading on the lack of proven efficacy for chiropractic treatment before handing over nay money. It's very much at the homeopathic end of the 'scientifically proven results' spectrum.

Have been to a chiro before.. they just seem to treat the symptoms with manipulation rather than treat the root cause. My experience is pretty negative and will be seeking out a good physio. Ive been asking around various friends to find someone.

Have a look at njd sports if yr in lancs or close.

Cycling is their speciality.

Im in Pembrokeshire.. so unfortunately too far.
I think ive found an experienced physio who can help

You need to get it seen to or you'll just be going round in circles.

Hope you can see the funny side. You ought to get a good opinion from a physio as lots of problems can stem from this. There was an England cricketer a few years back called Alex Tudor, who was a promising quick bowler. Loads of injuries he suffered stemmed from this problem as it causes all sorts of issues with the pelvis, sacro iliac etc.

TBH when i think about my other back problems over the last 10 years.. i think its been my SJ causing it

I think ive found an experienced physio who can help

This is the important bit. When I was younger I used to go and see a masseur who had no formal qualifications but was extremely experienced and lots of the very fast guys I knew had sports massages which they swore by. I have known lots of physiotherapists over the years who were an absolute waste of time and money. Qualifications dont make you a good physiotherapist.
Recommendations are usually the best way to go.

My dad was in a similar position about 10 years ago when he decided to have surgery to extend his leg but by 30mm.

Having seen what he had to go through I wouldn't recommend this unless it really is your last resort. He's only got back to normal in the last year or so.

Turns out i do indeed have one leg about 10-15mm longer (one feumur is slightly longer) and the physio advised leaving it alone as my foot and ankle get round it with pronation and a flatter arch. After much stretching around, prodding and flexing he declared my musco-skeletal health as pretty good and i dont seem to have SI joint issues. He recommended strengthening my core and gave me some good stretching and strengthening exercises. He wasnt totally sure why my glutes hurt but thought it probably be the increase in mileage. He flicked some needles into my glutes and lower back (acupunture) and 15 mins later i was on my way. My ankle is still a little sore so havent ridden with my shimmed cleat this week.

Can I ask who you got to help you please? I'm in Pembs too and would like to see someone about some reoccuring problems in my lower back.

Cheers

The physio was Richard ohara.. he's in Pembroke dock. I'd seen him before when I hurt my wrist..

Cheers, is he expensive?

Costs an arm and a leg

HTH

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They just shimmed the cleat when i had a bike fit done, mine was about 5mm different and never knew it.