Leg length discrepancies are more common than you’d think. In fact, it’s estimated that 40-70% of people have a leg length discrepancy. However, not every person is aware they have uneven leg lengths. There are cases where it’s very clear there’s an issue but many times it’s a subtle difference unnoticeable to the naked eye. Typically a difference of leg lengths greater than 1/8 inch is when you start to feel pain or experience other bodily symptoms due to the length inequality.

People may brush off certain aches and pains as just a sign of aging or perhaps sleeping in the wrong position. In reality, there could be an underlying cause capable of being corrected.

Whether your leg length discrepancy was something you were born with, or something you acquired later in life following a fracture or surgery, it’s important to recognize the signs and symptoms associated with this problem.

Affected posture

When the length of one leg is slightly different from the other it can have a domino effect on the rest of the body. This can ultimately cause an altered position of lower limb joints, the pelvis and the spine. In turn, a disturbance can be created in your posture control, which can lead to problems with things such as balance and gait.

Problems with gait (manner of walking)

Two different leg lengths can lead to your entire body being off-balance. This eventually can contribute to a noticeable problem with your gait. If you, or someone you know, does any of the following, there may be an issue with gait:

• Walking with head or neck tilted to one side
• Dragging or shuffling feet
• Irregular, jerky movements when walking
• Taking shorter steps
• Waddling
• Walking slowly or stiffly

Your rib cage or hips are forward on one side more than the other

When you lie on your back does one rib stick out more than the other? This is often a sign of a pelvic tilt which is connected to leg length inequality. It may not always feel painful, but it can be very uncomfortable and can lead to pain if left uncorrected.

Loss of muscle tone in one leg

If one leg is longer than the other, your body is likely overcompensating to make up for this deficiency. This means one side of your body is doing more work than the other, leading to more muscle tone in one leg.

Pain in the lower back, hip, ankle or knee

These are classic symptoms of one leg being longer than the other. They occur when your body is overcompensating for one of your legs being longer than the other.

Pain being more severe on one side of the body than the other

As we just mentioned, your body will overcompensate to make up for your uneven leg length by having one side of the body work harder than the other. Because of this, you may feel more stiff or sore on one side compared to the other.

If you’re experiencing these symptoms, speak with a chiropractor, physical therapist or physician. If it’s determined you have a leg length deficiency, try one of our Adjust-a-Lift heel lifts. Our heel lifts are designed to relieve any type of discomfort you might experience due to one leg being shorter than the other one.

Have you recently had—or are planning to have—a total knee replacement?

If so, you may experience some leg length deficiencies. In this article, we’ll cover what a leg length deficiency is, how knee replacements may cause it, and what to watch for following your surgery to see if you’re suffering from uneven leg lengths.

What is a leg length deficiency?

Leg length deficiency, or discrepancy, is simply a difference between lengths in a person’s legs. A leg length deficiency is typically not noticeable to the naked eye, however, doctors and physical therapists can measure limb lengths, analyze your gait, do an x-ray or a CT scan if they feel there may be a deficiency.

How can a total knee replacement cause a leg length deficiency?

A knee replacement, also called knee arthroplasty or total knee replacement, is a surgical procedure to resurface the knee. Over 600,000 total knee replacements are performed each year. While not common, it’s possible to have a leg length discrepancy following this procedure. An uneven leg length can occur when the knee that’s been replaced, makes that leg slightly longer.

What signs should I watch for following my knee replacement to see if I have a leg length deficiency?

The effects of a leg length deficiency can vary from person to person. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms once you’ve healed from your total knee replacement surgery, you may have slightly different leg lengths:

• Difficulty walking or running
• Lower back pain
• Tiring quickly when walking
• Limping when walking
• When standing or walking you tire more quickly on one side
• Your level of discomfort gets worse after standing or walking
• You feel like you have lost muscle tone and walk with more of a “swing the leg” gait rather than lifting your leg evenly one side to the other
• Feeling like your rib cage or hips are forward on one side more than the other
• If someone stands behind you and observes you walking, they notice that your belt line or shoulders might not be completely level with the ground
• Your pain is more severe on one side

How do I treat it?

The most non-invasive way to treat a leg length deficiency is by using a heel lift. This can be implemented in tandem with physical therapy depending on how much the discrepancy is affecting your day-to-day life.

Our Adjust-A-Lift® heel lifts are high quality, versatile items that are helpful in treating a wide range of symptoms arising from the effects of leg length inequality.

Our lifts come in a variety of sizes and are made with three layers of extra firm, open cell foam rubber held together with double-sided adhesive. The best part is, layers can be removed based off of the height required to even out your leg lengths.