Leg Length Discrepancy (Why It Probably Doesn't Matter | Evidence Based)

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In this video, I explain what leg length discrepancy is, how it’s measured, it’s connection to pain, how much of a difference really matters, and if we do have a difference, what can we do about it.
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My story (0:00)
What is LLD? - 1:26
How to measure LLD - 2:13
Connection to pain? - 3:52
Clinical Relevance - 5:04
Treatment options - 6:07
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Disclaimer: The information presented is not intended as medical advice or to be a substitute for medical counseling but intended for entertainment purposes only. If you are experiencing pain, please seek the appropriate healthcare professional.
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Studies:
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31456...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33721...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7595107/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23049...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1828627/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6869652/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2525016/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/66435...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/77883...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14668...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12892...

[@E3Rehab]

Thank you so much for watching! Make sure you check out our more recent video leg length differences - kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKbJnoGLetSFptk What other topics do you want us to cover?

[@whyarewestillhere8562]

Hello, i had an xray of my pelvis taken a few weeks before. My spine is assymetrical (my fault entirely) but even tho the xray is scaled at 69% my legs are indistinguishable. Is there any chance i could send it to you so i could hear your opinion as well?

[@Pilgrim_2014]

am tire of life bkos my right leg is paralysis and get smaller somone pls tell me how may i be cure

[@jacquelinemolloy2977]

Scoliosis

[@amenamen6896]

Please tell me what u put inside ur shoes?I have same problem

[@poovizhitechplus]

@@amenamen6896 (souls) for shoe's

[@evancampbell7138]

Great video 🙌 Many thanks all the way from little old Tasmania, Australia 😌

[@matheusdantasrossetto8413]

Great one as always!! Keep it up! Big hug from Brasil!!!

[@E3Rehab]

Thank you!

[@philipkim9779]

Leg length discrepancy consumed me in my early 20s as well. I was living quiet healthy life style like regularly working out, having healthy diet, and not smoking. So, when I was diagnosed with herniated disc, I kinda blamed my leg length discrepancy since my leg length difference was pretty big like yours. I was doing all kinds of "corrective exercise" and was afraid to load during squats and dead-lift. I was being overly paranoid about my stance during squats as well. Later I realized I can't really change my anatomy and I can just load the weights and work out like others I felt silly and regret the times that I wasted trying to fix the things that I cannot fix. I wish I saw this video in my early 20s. I believe contents like this would help lots guys like me. Thank you for the great content!

[@SSjLuigi1]

Do you do not think your disc issue was related to your length discrepancy?

[@philipkim9779]

@@SSjLuigi1 As far as I know identifying what exactly caused my disc issue is close to impossible. There are too many factors are involved. I'm not an expert on this matter but I find just being active and increasing strength helped me way more than focusing on "correcting my body". My sciatica and lower back pain worsen when I'm not being active and not getting enough sleep.

[@erick1581]

Hey man very similar issue here. I still wonder if your leg length had anything to do with your herniated disc? And also I'm the opposite as in my back pain gets worse when I start doing too much exercise as opposed to not doing any at all all week

[@flaffa4837]

@@erick1581 same issue here, ive had sciatica on my longer side for months. Nowdays i experience some painful stiffness on the shorter after squats or hinges. My chiropractor got my legg difference from 1.5cm to 0.3 but the pain is still there. Did you fix ur issues?

[@davidyang3068]

@@flaffa4837I went to PRI trained physical therapist and they helped me fix my issue. I had severe pain on one side of my leg which I no longer do. The PT told me some amount of asymmetry is normal though as our body is not symmetrical. If you have painful stiffness, I recommend you give it a try.

[@candidonegrao9494]

Thank you for sharing this video! I also relate to the fact that knowing you have uneven legs has a lot of impact in the psychologic aspect, maybe even more than the real impact it really has in your body functionality.

[@jamesbray9434]

Amazing video - I have encountered so many patients who have been told their back pain is due to a leg length discrepancy.... It is awful as the patients tend to believe this is the sole cause and they think they have to come in to get it "reset" for the rest of their life....

[@SUZABQ]

I agree with what you are saying. Clinically I have reached these same conclusions. I am a PT specializing in PF rehab. First I find it rare to even find a noticible leg length difference. When I do it is almost always

[@kathrynbrooks7091]

Hey man, thanks for the video! Super helpful! In trying to diagnose an unexplained hip issue over the last 12 months, the surgeon consequently found a 17.5mm lld (shorter on the side of pain). More interestingly, the xrays showed that the full 17.5mm difference was in the formal neck length, with a different angle too. Although he doesn’t believe it to be the cause, he does believe it if further aggravating the hip joint. I’m awaiting surgery to fix a cartilage tear, but he also discussed putting a grove in the bone to “assist” with normal range of motion (to match the other hip)?? Ever head of this intervention?

[@thomasokeefe3081]

Great video. I had GBS in 1962 and still suffer symptoms. I have one leg longer than the other. What I have tried is wearing a A.F.O. on both legs because of foot drop.

[@dktn8080]

I don't think about the pain i just want it to look the way it should and it will make me more capable.

[@dktn8080]

@nik holm No when i say, it should look the way it should that can also mean, the best and most healthy way possible. not a % of People. Just how it should be, with good insight, and principles.

[@asudelevent1528]

I had gotten really obsessed with it ever since I learned that I had 1.5 cm discrepancy and it made me so anxious. Thank you so much for this video now I feel a lot better.❤️

[@were2baby134]

Don't worry, none of the chiros or PTs ever said anything about having a short leg. But I actually do have a 1 inch difference (Dx by xray). All these years of back pain, hip pain, could have been helped with a freaking heel lift. The best we could do was get me to a difference of 1 cm, but it's so much better than 1 in.

[@alimurtaza2241]

man, is you pelvic uneven?

[@CallumValeAV]

This is me I was born with Mild cerebral paulsey from birth and had 2 surgery’s now all I need to correct is my leg length and I’ll be walking like A normal person would but people always have a little laugh to themselves and it’s made me feel anxious but I’m learning to walk properly so I’ll have to put some work in 👍

[@Jose-sy1je]

@Jonny P You can't get insoles for a 4 cm difference. You would have to rely on a buildup

[@Jose-sy1je]

@Jonny P So you place it inside the shoe? I'm always looking for options with heel lifts, inserts or buildups. It's very expensive for me and I have been trying to get buildup on shoes. Usually heel lifts are rarely more than a centimeter bc otherwise you start slipping out of the shoe. Been spending quite a lot of money on getting shoes ruined for buildups or inserts.

[@myfavouritelistsong1324]

Hi there i just landed on this video and found much better content. 3 years back i was recieved a firearm injury on my right tibia and had to go through Illizarov surgery for tibial union. After removing my frame i started to feel pain in back especially after long standing when i checked it seems there is now clear difference between the two legs. I have to undergo police training next month as part of my job which keep me haunting all the time due to hectic workout. Please suggest me anything excercises or shoelift. Sincerely yours!

[@Clawson12g]

You covered some good points about LLD, but you should have discussed structural vs. functional LLD as well. Lifestyle changes and increasing activity/exercise frequency is definitely beneficial. I am a PTA and I only recommend a heel lift after correcting pelvic alignment, assessing gait pre/post corrections, and re-measuring for structural LLD (all with open communication with the supervising therapist). Very nice and informative video overall!

[@polycarpemakinga2460]

good topic, how I wish you could have given more info on different type and clinical management

[@luciaseacreature8705]

I just discovered your channel and really find it so valuable. Is there a situation where your pelvis can shift causing a change in leg length... and also cause severe or persistent injuries especially as an athlete recently my ankle strained months ago and won't heal and I feel crooked... I had this problem before. I think my core muscles and butt muscles are weak (I run surf mostly) and I think over the years my body is not balanced (worst injury related to pelvis shifting was when I almost fractured my ramus) thank you

[@horvathzsofia]

Hi Tony! This was a really informative video, thanks! When you said that knowing you have a leg length discrepancy can be really devastating I totally felt it. As I am a really active person, I always worry about my uneven legs causing problems on the long haul. I can feel the difference, I can't stand evenly on my feet throughout the day, I can't squat evenly, I can't walk evenly... I can feel that the weight distribution on the sole of my feet is totally different. I also have muscle imbalances, my thigh on the shorter side is 1 cm bigger, than the other. My lower back muscles are visibly different, even though I don't have scoliosis (yet?). I don't really know what to do about it. Tried heel lifts, but it didn't feel comfortable and I was worried it might cause more problems. I don't know if it's an anatomical difference (I don't think so) or if it's coming from my hips, cause I can feel differences in the mobility of my hip joints. Should I opt for a hip x-ray to see it? What would you recommend?

[@bertfatagain5814]

Heel lifts only lift the hip while weight is on the heels,they contribute nothing when running, jumping or walking during the portion your weight is on the forefoot. Performing unilateral activities with an uncorrected true LLD will result in/develop muscle imbalances

[@ahah5992]

@@bertfatagain5814 how would u correct a true lld

[@capriyasharma2780]

I also have this discrepancy because of a brain clot since childhood and I am totally agree with you this is not something we have to put all our energy instead make this as a strength. Initially I did same like you but now I accept it and put my energy to focus on bright side and make this as my anchor. This is my strength thanks to this I am so much into physical exercises mainly in advance yoga. After watching this I realized someone also feel the same way❤

[@Sugar-hr9il]

but girls dont get leg discrepancy tho

[@faraazkhan90]

I have this same issue as well. Due to this, I lack coordination and flexibility. My balance is good though. When I play football, I have no issue with my right leg, but my left left being thinner and shorter, makes me feel very awkward when trying to kick. Plus when I'm running, my left foot is bent and is not straight like the right foot. Very frustrating. As for now, my left foot has become better and coordination and flexibility in the left leg has improved 😃.

[@sujit_94]

Same beo

[@sujit_94]

Same problem bro

[@vijaynirgude3941]

Same here

[@lemma4223]

Thank you for this ! I have back pain on my right leg and decrease in size

[@sergiolemusXxAssassin006xX]

Thank you hardly anything ever bothers me but I found out yesterday my left leg was 18mm longer and made me realize just how strange I've always walked but never noticed till now and connected to all times I had injuries on my lower right side . I really enjoy running so I'm still pretty upset but I'm doing a little better after seeing this video

[@amornrartniyomrart5000]

So easy to fix. This is problems coming from back and hip muscle very tight.

[@WyattMatheson]

Hey Tony, great video! Like you, I have become obsessed over this for several years now. I've noticed that without a lift, my spine develops an "S Curve" (scoliosis) due to the misalignment of the pelvis. Since my left leg is 12mm longer (free xrays in Canada :)) my left shoulder is held visibly lower than my right, just as you appear to hold your right shoulder lower due to the longer right leg. Given that you wore a lift for 5+ years, I'm sure you're aware of how limiting it can be with both exercise (wakeboarding, martial arts, etc), and from a social aspect (entering ones home liftless haha). I was wondering what your experience has been regarding pain with a lift vs without, and what exercises/stretches you have used to combat it? Really looking forward to your response.

[@E3Rehab]

Thanks for sharing! I personally did not notice any trends with or without the lift and pain. And this was regardless of activity (weight training and hiking were my primary forms of exercise). I experienced pain doing activities just like everyone else, but I could not say it was 100% due to my leg length discrepancy since pain is often more complex than that. If I am to experience pain (which again, I am not even sure is due to my LLD), I just modify my activity temporarily if needed (for example, if a bilateral strength exercise does not feel great at the time, I will do a single leg variation), and focus on other factors like sleep and stress management. I used to obsess over the LLD and the shoulder height you mentioned, but honestly these things are just out of my control. I will not change these nor do I need to. I do not believe there is a magic exercise/stretch for LLD but rather you need to find what works well for you. Can you modify the activity to find it more comfortable? Are there alternatives that you enjoy? Are there other lifestyle factors that you can work on? Is there a position or movement that feels better? I know this is not a solid answer, but in context of this topic and many others, it is often quite variable person to person.

[@Jy-oe3ns]

@@E3Rehab do you still have an leg length ?

[@richieroo4791]

what about preventing arthritis and other issues down the track? are there correlations between discrepancies and this?

[@jahoch7586]

Thank you for your video. It is very helpful. I am 38 y.o. and have both sides TEP because of Hip Dysplasia. I am 3-month post-surgery and my right leg has on RTX. 0.5 cm more, but in reality, it is 2 cm or 2.5 cm. I have a lot of Pain and kan not walk without Help. It is very terribly.

[@yohndem8373]

A leg length discrepancy is usually associated with an atlas subluxation. I'd advise you visit a NUCCA chiropractor. They can help. The root culprit is probably your neck.

[@leonlaurent6183]

Thanks for your video.I do have a right leg differences,what are the physical activities should I do so as I can correct it?

[@artfox8304]

this product has changed my life .POWERLEGS The remote control seated walking machine. Relieves pain and promotes blood circulation, buy it now and stop the pain! www.amazon.de/dp/B07JN8LBYQ?ref=myi_title_dp

[@tariqebadi7536]

You should talk about what you should do to relieve the pain associated with lld

[@carlosbenavides5639]

at 11 my left knee ligament was tore, when I turned 20, I found out my left femur is shorter by 2.3 cm. I've been cycling on and off for a great part of my life. now at 56 every year after my cycling season is interrupted because of winter, I have been developing all kind of aches in my shoulders, lower back etc. I saw your video on you tube and hope you can give me other advise different than using shims which caused pain on my left knee, thanks.

[@Jose-sy1je]

Was this determined via x-ray? A 2.3 cm difference is very significant. I am wondering how you would have gone on for so long without surgery. The effect on your hip and knew in your longer leg must be significant.

[@BKNew2022]

My daughter just got diagnosed with less than 6.35mm (0.25 inches) assymetry. The doctor is attributing her ankle pain (lasting several months) to the leg length disparity. All sorts of quack alarm is going off in my mind especially after watching this video and other videos regarding this condition. Still searching for answers but I’m getting a second opinion for her.

[@ernestogonzalez6175]

I was worried about the way I walked, but had no pain at all. I visited a doctor and got x-rays and got a 27mm difference, this due a broken bone from my childhood, he stated that the incident may have caused an over stimulation on the growing of that leg (I was 12yo) he recommended shoe heel lifter so I can walk better, but pointed out that if I had no pain there is not a lot to worry about, your body tends to compensate irregularities and it’s all right. Pain is usually the way your body talks back to you to inform something is wrong and needs attention.

[@Xavierzzzzu]

How are you now

[@sagar9060]

Hey, what X-rays, scans did you take to find out the length? Thank you.

[@apkingboy]

Thank You u so much for this information I have a 8mm length difference but I do have differences in the muscular mass of my legs, my longer leg is thicker in the quads and calf. And I have pain in my hip or higher part of the quad when I run , jog or do any kind of impact sport. Or for example when I squat I feel imbalanced. Did you experience this too? If so what did you do, I hope you can respond please

[@adityasansanwal917]

Same here ..i have about 5 cm length diffrence..feel sometimes pain..and even my one leg is thicker then the other one..is there any requirement of surgery for balancing the both

[@E3Rehab]

For muscle mass differences or a feeling of imbalance, working on unilateral (so single leg exercises or single sided exercises) can be a consideration. Some examples include split squats, singe leg deadlifts, single leg bridges, side planks, etc.

[@sheshitkarthikeya1528]

While doing squats in the gym, the shorter leg always seems to get more activated than the longer one and the QL on shorter side gets fired up. Is it safe for me to do squats or can it trigger any slip disks and stuff?

[@Zodliness]

I have a 5cm (2") discrepancy in the left leg. Always had to wear a platform shoe, where in many instances throughout my life, we're not financially available. They only fit for so long before requiring a new pair, I always have to buy two pairs when in retail, as I proudly own a size 12 left foot and a 14 UK right foot.

[@nathanreilly2898]

How tall are u?

[@kasinath4102]

Got a Right Video

[@christiangonzaga6750]

I have a 1 inch discrepancy. When I was provided a 1/2 inch heal lift for my military boots while I was active during, I tore my Achilles tendon. The orthopedic specialist determined that a full length lift from front to back would benefit me for rigorous training. Been using them since and its been pain free ever since on my S1-L5 area. The lifts will cause your short leg to hyperextend your ball as if running on your tippy toes so they will eventually tear your Achilles. Hope this helps.

[@mattknap6528]

Really interesting information. I;m suffering from the same problem (shorter righ leg). I have been to many physiotherapist and they can't sort this problem out. In case of having a heal lift (if applicable) should I put it under my linger (left) leg or shorter (right) leg? It seems to me that heal lift should be under my longer (left) leg cause based on your comments if I put it under my shorter leg I could tear my Achilles.

[@undeadban2742]

A physical activity when you have a +2 cm leg discrepancy , great idea Go for a run for at least 15 min and you'll already feel a huge pain in a hip , or even both

[@Zodliness]

I can't run, I go around in tight left circles! 🤣

[@undeadban2742]

@@Zodliness same 🤣

[@nisalfd3046]

Come to sri lanka .. i can heal u

[@winterbird4447]

Swimming is probably the best.

[@marylee4510]

I went to see a doctor 10 months ago because of painful left shoulder. The doctor gave me a skeletal scan and said my left leg or pelvis is 1cm shorter. That's why causing the pain. I did ask the doctor if it is frozen shoulder but he said it's not. So he put me under therapy for a week with several injections and my shoes and slippers were adjusted .5cm on left side. But after therapy one month after the pain comes back. I research more and feel I really do have the classic case of frozen shoulder. 10 months after I'm still wearing pads on my left side but I find my left leg had lose strength when I started wearing the pads. The doctor also told me I will get rid of my vertigo with this adjustment but 10months after I still have vertigo. So I'm thinking of stop wearing the pads because I feel my legs coordination really bad when I don't have this problem before

[@animo-y-adelante]

My podiatrist says that people tend to overpronate on the leg that is longer. This can leed to various foot problems on the longer leg.

[@nanaprn7809]

I wish you had included the measurements in inches also. I kept trying to convert in my head while you were talking. I had a discrepancy of 1 1/2 inches (over 3 cm.) as a result of polio and had a shortening of the opposite leg which, of nothing else, improved my self image.

[@donreinke5863]

Conversion......2.54 centimeters = 1 inch.

[@williewaset]

Not much pain there, but I can pull the groin more often on the shorter leg (right) as I passed 50. My big desire is running the 100 and 200 meter senior races. I never used a heel lift, but now I will try it.

[@E3Rehab]

Probably worth adding in some strengthening exercises for the groin too. I would recommend checking out our Copenhagen program (its free). e3rehab.com/copenhagenplanks.

[@ashleytaylor994]

My right QL is really tight and I think it is causing right side ankle instability. My right foot rolls easily and is always wobbly

[@perseverance9888]

Thanks for the video. I'm an avid cyclist I ride 30 to 40 miles a day 7 days a week. As my training progressed I was noticing lower back pain. I had a standing X-ray done and my right femur is 12 mm shorter than my left. Do you have any insight on setting up a bicycle for like length difference? I wear Orthotics from years ago that changed my life because of inner knee pain and once I had custom orthotics made I've never had that inner knee pain again from running, but as my cycling and running intensity training has increased the last few years I believe my body can't really compensate anymore from the anatomical leg difference. My lower right back pain does feel better when I add a full-length insole lift to my shoe but it has caused some left foot metatarsal pain probably because of the shift in weight or biomechanics that is changing with the lift and that I've had this leg difference my whole life and I'm just now trying to compensate for it.

[@jenniferrivera1805]

Can you still workout everyday like go on 30 min runs and lift weights with this condition ??? I used to love running but stopped becuase of the pain and scared I might damage it more

[@perseverance9888]

@@jenniferrivera1805 I don't have a problem working out I still ride my bike 40 miles a day and lift weights and I run once a week. I do have custom orthotics in my shoe and the right orthotic has a 7 mm lift and I have a 12 mm leg discrepancy so it's not the full amount and it helps you have to see what's right for you you may not need a full lift or you might you just have to try it out. It's a lot of trial and error but I've definitely been able to manage with the orthotics and stretching and listening to my body I do some type of workout everyday 7 days a week.

[@orfeas_arvanitis]

Useful video! I 've been said the same by a doctor and had custom made orthotics. After a few days pain was worsed. The same doctor told me later that I didn't have lld. It all started with ITband injury. Yes my right hip is higher than left but I think that is because of weakness and imbalance in some hip muscles. I want to ask you if you use heel lifts ?

[@E3Rehab]

I used a heel lift for about 5-6 years and stopped using it about 2 years ago. I did not experience any significant change with pain or function during that time (in my opinion), and would say using it was based more on psychological dependency. I personally don't use one any more, and spend more time focusing on other factors. But, I do think they still have a time and place, but like mentioned in the video, we need to look at a few factors.

[@funghoul9124]

it sucks because i have a length difference from breaking my leg and it healing a little off when i was young and i like to run but its an ongoing issue that causes injuries.....i wear a gel in the shorter leg's sneaker but sometimes i still must run strange without noticing and wind up getting either shin splints in that leg or ankle issues.....it just blows

[@livingweaponnightmare]

I have a longer left leg and longer left foot. The foot positioning meant that I always did my deadlifts and squats with my feet slightly off as my ankles and heels weren't aligned. In my case it is quite noticeable. My entire left side is also bigger and more muscular, with slightly different muscle insertions.

[@Rossisreal7]

Same here but with my right. I avoid squats and deadlifts And do single leg stuff. I always wear my shoe left and try try stretch ur hips glutes to center ur pelvis as much as possible

[@andriipurskyi23]

feel you brother, how do you deal with this?

[@Rossisreal7]

@@andriipurskyi23 wear shoe lifts whenever I’m out of bed , know certain places I’m going and what to expect so I’ll wear pants instead , choose good clothes that fit me well, I workout upper a lot because more muscle takes away that illusion, and trying to stretch, and last but not least. Single leg stands , single leg RDLs, just standing for a few min every here and there gives me a lot more control before I put my shoe back on and takes away my back pain if it triggers

[@Rossisreal7]

@@andriipurskyi23 mentally how to deal with …? Man just live ur life, try not to overthink and know everybody has something … oh well right

[@andriipurskyi23]

@@Rossisreal7 for sure, have a good one

[@rimakocharians4206]

Hi thanks for thought provoking video. I wish you had no Socks on in the video as it would show your foot shape and linkage effect of LLD on your feet ? May be two different feet Surely the SIJ responds by compensating for LLD ? (As that’s it’s role in gait wt transfer Centre of gravity shift !) Perhaps pelvic drop and angle of obliquity on shorter side Wouldn’t-this cause compensatory changes in lumbar spine long term ? Hence gluteal dysfunction? And many other symptoms as well you may have treated . Unilateral SIJ pain TBS ,ITB syndrome, knee pain , Ankle pain , Plantar fasciitis,heel pain , Perhaps a pattern of movement eventually it becomes structural? 🙃🙂😚

[@drritikajain4854]

My husband too has same 1.5cm Leg length discrepancy. His hamstrings have become very tightened, we have started with physiotherapy. Which insole do you suggest him to be used. He has no hip pain n back pain just started with slight knee pain bcz of pressure on that knee.

[@WhiteRapunzel]

Id be interested to hear about muscular causes of leg length discrepancy

[@gfriedman99]

This would be muscles attached to the pelvis which cause assymetry in the iliacs

[@ashleytaylor994]

QL

[@gerardcoyne1738]

YES!! The functional leg discrepancy. How over compensation takes place and the importance of weight bearing.How favoring one leg( not shifting weight) basically dragging the other leg around can lead to a severe leg discrepancy and all the illness associated with it. Somebody please explain the whole condition and how to correct it after having and being deformed by the condition for decades.

[@hansbuke]

I had a right ankle fusion which has left that leg 1.5” shorter than my left. I’m really struggling with this and my doctors are not helpful. They tell me to just wear a special boot for the rest of my life. My quality of life is very poor and I desperately need to find someone who can help me. I’m in the Philadelphia area but I’d travel.

[@jcjohnsong8570]

Why not try these exercises and see if they help at all ... m.kzbin.info?sp=mAEA&search_query=Limb+length+exercises

[@MadfugginMax]

im 36 year old male 6'2 when i was growing during puberty my left leg grew 2 inches longer then my right by the time i was 18 years old and i have gradually developed more and more lower back pain (among most my spine all the way to my neck,shoulders ect.) and sometimes if im lifting heavy things at work my hip will pop almost like what a rotator cuff injury feels like (like that half popped out feeling) and every step ill take for days afterwards it will pop an pop and ill get excruciating pain waves down my entire leg straight down to my foot, i have been told by doctors i can do 3 things,have my themur in left leg chopped an have 2 inches removed then have it plated back together, have my lower right leg bone (forgot name) stretched with a series of rings and wires that i crank bolts on every other day to stretch it out looking like something straight out of a hellraiser movie :/ or simply get a shoe lift but a 2 inch shoe lift is alllooooot of lift and its not a permanent solution, But anyways for now until i decide to just get my themur chopped putting me in a wheelchair for 6 months then another 6 months rehab for the muscles becoming a loose rubber band im looking into any kind of stretches that will be safe and relieve some of this pain im enduring, this is actually the first time ive searched youtube for something about lower back pain stretches so im going to try out some of these stretches you are showing and hopefully ill get some results,because as of now im in so much pain at age 36 with this i can barely do anything,i cant do the things i love like hiking, fishing, mountain biking and just generally anything that requires me to pretty much stand up anymore because of the pain i have no ambition for it and it depresses the heck out of me. I fear if i dont do something soon im going to permanently damage my hip or spine for rest of my life so i must find something or have the first operation i mentioned done at this point in my life. Ive subbed and thanks for these videos. also i forgot to mention my spine is very crooked from it and just tweaking my back one way or the other makes it pop and crack in several areas so loudly it actually freaks people out near me when i do it.I try not to do this cause i know its not good for me but its almost like a addiction now cause its so relieving once i do it pain wise.

[@yohndem8373]

A leg length discrepancy is usually associated with an atlas misalignment, a mis alignment in the neck. I advise you visit an upper cervical NUCCA chiropractor,

[@gfriedman99]

@@yohndem8373 How is that possible? neck causes leg length issue??

[@Jose-sy1je]

Do you have an update? Have you gotten surgery? Your leg length discrepancy is way too large. It was confirmed by x-rays, correct? Surgery would be best in your case. If that's not possible you would need a shoe buildup. I know it sucks, but it will just cause you more pain as you get older.

[@deannekliene2673]

My husband has a leg an inch shorter , he's developed knee issues and now his knees are bone on bone, he has issues with the good leg because it compensates for the other...his knee braces are causing fungal infection from sweat that builds up...I even made him some cotton leg covers for under them....he's 57 and worked his whole life, the accident happened when he was young and he had knee surgery years ago....it's time for disability but he gets so stubborn...finally he put in for early retirement with his union...so we will see....I just don't know what to do ...his age goes against him and being on them detailing cars for many years...he can't do this job anymore....his hips knees n back hurt constantly....all caused by a drink driver who drug him under a truck for close to a mile but glad he's here.....

[@DanteLikesRock]

Woah im so sorry for you & him. That sounds terrible.. do you know the context of that incident..?

[@KatJ3st]

I'm getting THR and told I would have a longer leg length discrepancy afterward due to scoliosis of my spine. Will this cause me chronic pain in the future?

[@washurhands1422]

I haven't been told about having leg length discrepancy since I haven't gone to see a doctor but I know that I do. I have scoliosis as well. Because of leg difference, I've had pain on my left leg which is my longer leg. If I stand too much, walk too much, or even sit for too much I start to get pain throughout my tailbone and left leg. Usauly just the butt all the way to the knee(basically my thigh). My leg doesn't get affected at all tho. So ya I'm pretty sure you'll experience pain.

[@miguelchicanotitan6497]

Omg ive been insure about this for a while i feel whole now.

[@HassanThelander]

I just got diagnosed with 3cm diff - needed to hear this as seems to be quite rare.

[@Jose-sy1je]

And what are you planning to do about it if you don't mind me asking?

[@HassanThelander]

@@Jose-sy1je Yo, is this an opportunity to vent :D So I got diagnosed by a Physio when I posted this. I have since went to a podiatrist to confirm and turns out it was pretty accurate. It really depends, - Here is my context - I was a gym goer for a couple of years before getting injured (due to improper posture from this LLD) and I am 25 years old for context. Not super athletic at all but decently fit with probably 10-15kg to lose and was a basic/intermediate lifter and used to avoid deadlifts/squats as always felt torque in hips and shoulders (used to think one hip higher than other, now I FINALLY KNOW the truth lol) Used to work on mobility a lot cos always felt off and my lower body was decently strong also. The podiatrist gave 3 options. Surgery - The only way to permanently fix. But one should ask if invasive surgery, with all potential complications, is worth it. Surgery I was told is normally given to people in the 5cm+ range where life quality is highly reduced. Heel Lift/Insole - This is normally a solution for people wiith less than an inch discrepancy. Podiatrist had 37 years experience and said that really it doesn't truly help except for some relief in the cases of people who struggle with resulting symptoms (mild scoliosis, shoulder, chest , back, hip, knee and ankle). He said reality is, there is no practical insole for 3cm diff and that heel lifts would have to be made for all your shoes etc, impractical, and most people dont do it. Also, he said that the body learns to compensate so if you introduce heel lifts intermittently, you might cause pain in other ways. Self-Management - The podiatrist said that in all honesty, due to youth and that, although my gait is noticeably altered and my centre of gravity etc is skewed, I am still mobile and should aim to strengthen my core, lower body and keep my entire body supple with stretches etc. He said, as you age, you will probably present more symptoms but doing what I just mentioned will mitigate those mostly and it if gets worse than I should consider the aforementioned options. He also said that, because your body is compensating by elevating hip on longer side, which bends the spine, for which one shoulder has to drop to level out, my upper body and lower body will be more prone to injury when under load especially on standing exercises. He said probably best not to run as a staple exercise etc. He recommended that I see an osteopath to work on managing my alignment issues and should continue working out. I will say this - I was very active, despite being a fluffy gym goer, cycling everywhere etc and since injuring myself (likely due to this issue) I became very sedentary instead of rehabbing consistently and/or doing what I could. I have found the symptoms and imbalances have gotten significantly worse in the last few months so, if you do have this issue and its affecting your training, dont make the mistake I have and wait to get to back to your old self - it wont happen, you will just get worse. I am preaching to myself here as I hope to finally return to the gym, but the mindset looks like it has to be not about training for strength and aesthetics or at the intensity you used to train , but mobility and fitness until I can load safely again. I would recommend looking into Knees over Toes guy - The one thing that scares me is how much I feel my knee on the longer side - and it seems that is the biggest quality of life issue alongside shoulder and neck issues. But yeah in summary, confirm your difference, see a podiatrist, see an osteopath to talk about alignment (havent done yet) and just safely load and focus on mobility. Hope that helps my bro and that felt good to vent

[@KittyKat-jv8nq]

I have mild S scoliosis with a 7 mm discrepancy on right leg because of pelvis tilt. I have had issues throughout my life with my back because of the curve but now am starting to have some tingling but no pain in right leg. Would a shoe lift help or hurt at this point. I am 68, medium height and build. Thank you

[@E3Rehab]

We cannot say for certain whether a shoe lift would help or not. We suggest anyone who has questions relating to individual needs, to seek out a qualified medical professional for evaluation and guidance.

[@SOjuice]

stretch, stretch, stretch, stretch... stretch! there's nothing you can do about it especially if it's a structural damage to your growth-plate. heel lift doesn't help, there are some advanced ones that ables you to do athletic activities my chiropractor recommends, but I doubt it'll work. I tried to fix it on my own the longest time but I feel I've been this way for so long that it actually damages, should throw away any hopes of them becoming even, ever again. therefore best thing is to just live your life and stretch a lot. I follow this guy "WIM HOF" who practices deep breathing/ breathe control and cold exposure to help with pain and stress on the mind. foam rollers are great rubber bands are great don't sit for more than 15-20minutes straight, get up stretch try not to run too much, instead try to swim for cardio. maybe treading water type of exercises yoga is really good it sux but gonna have to change your lifestyle~ just keep up what I mentioned on top to preserve the condition of the body don't be down, pretend like you're a shark, which will die once they stop moving (swimming)... just keep on moving keep your head up~!!

[@foxcity5406]

so, can it get fixed? fell's hurt when i walk 😢

[@SOjuice]

@@foxcity5406 it depends. First, I suggest pay your own money to go see a good chiropractor (because insurance limits their services) and get a proper diagnosis

[@artfox8304]

this product has changed my life .POWERLEGS The remote control seated walking machine. Relieves pain and promotes blood circulation, buy it now and stop the pain! www.amazon.de/dp/B07JN8LBYQ?ref=myi_title_dp

[@ebsss100]

Hey man, so I have one leg an inch and half longer than the other ( was born with a disorder) years of skateboarding caused unnecessary inury to my knee and had to get surgery. I have been stretching but it's so hard to keep up with it. Maybe i also need to work on hip flexibility as well? Im still young, 26, and still want to use my legs for alot of things. Trying to not let it get me down

[@SOjuice]

@@ebsss100 sorry to hear about your problems. what I listed was just off the top of my head at the time and of course, there are more things that will help. Recently, I've been rebuilding myself, working out those weak areas, build more muscle and it's been helping with the pain (well.. not in the beginning). the key was to completely to reset my body with just stretching for awhile but realized that also causes problems since i started losing muscle mass. and when I did started working out, tried my best to not go buckwild. probably better to seek out some kind of guru on the issue since everyone has different problems. I'm thinking someone who is in the injury recovery field? kinesiologist? or someone who just experienced similar things and has recovered. another thing that helped me out the most is to change my mindset. before, I was OCD about trying to correct everything but I've realized, nothing is perfect, including my own body. So I've decided to just let go of the idea of correcting leg length and just work with what I've got, and then I started making progress. i know it's hard to stay committed but try your best. always gauze with pain and also not a bad idea to seek help from different areas, like meditating and breathing exercises. I follow this guy named, "Wim Hof" , look him up if you have some time. What this guy does was life-changer for me.

[@lidijapetrovic1928]

Because of this I have back pain and one glute bigger paim in hip knee and ankle

[@mariawilson5427]

Hi, thanks for the video. Is your Leg length difference cause you in-toe walking? or any visible walking difficulty? Thank you.

[@physiotherapistsushmeet7648]

How to treat toe walking in LLD ?

[@jakestock7685]

Dr. Tony! Thank you for this video. I myself have been consumed by my leg length variation. Mine, however, is from a motorcycle accident where i landed on my right foot and crushed it. My right leg is now technically a Half inch longer than my left. I never noticed it until i started to Squat and Deadlift. I went 12 years with no discomfort other than some tight hips. I noticed my right leg is growing more than the left and now that i'm lean i can see in the mirror that my hips have a slight lateral tilt. Is a half inch enough to cause any spine injuries when using heavy load? i can always add more single leg work for the growth imbalance but i'm mostly concerned with the safety and health of my spine ect. I tried a half inch heel lift which leveled my damn near perfect but then experienced some hip tightness and headaches after that session. I can't wear the heel lift 24/7 after all... Thanks for the videos they're super helpful!!

[@edoardonurdin8164]

Same problem here I got 1.3cm difference after knee injury and now I got problems to squat

[@Godnoddy]

@@edoardonurdin8164 i have suffred thigh bone fracture 10years ago on my right leg. And now my right leg is short And i can't balance on my left leg Are u also facing this

[@icedoe9158]

I took a leg x ray test and it wus shown that i had same lenght legs but i still feel uneven but also the docotor say the mind makes someone believe that we do have a difference

[@candychimes8184]

Doc Tony, i just like to ask is correcting your leg/pelvis discrepancy will really correct your spinal cord alignment? Actually early this year i went to see a doctor coz my left arm was really painful whenever i reach my back. The doctor perform skeletal scan on me n also ultrasound my left shoulder. He said my pelvis n left leg is shorter by 1cm n i need to wear pads on my shoes n slipper for my left leg for half a cm. He said this will also cure my vertigo n adjust my spinal which he said have slight curve and also this will also cure it. He gave me several injections during a week of therapy for the pain in left arm n some physical therapy n acupuncture. I did ask him if it is frozen shoulder n he sait it is not. And he said its cause by my shorter left leg. After a month the pain comes back of my left arm but at this time i realize it is frozen shoulder n i do exercises every morning so after 6 months its better. But now i want to know should i continue wearing the pads of my left leg? Coz its almost a year and i still have vertigo. Since i started wearing the pads my left leg seems to lose its strength, my walking has not been like before. Its like im dragging my left leg. When before i can walk smoothly. And i do feel wobbly. Its like i cannot balance very well unlike before. And also i feel like both of my feet wants to fold in. I didnt feel this before only after the padding. Its like i have more problems than what he said will accomplish with it. And i didnt want to go back and see him because i feel he will put me in another round of therapy.

[@Davidsavage8008]

Broke my femur on 17th birthday. In traction and due to having to retake and straighten my femur I ended up with my left leg longer by 5/8 inch.. 4 years later and my 2nd year on use midway , I started having problems. I couldn't do the Navy and took my honorable . after 30 years my back was destroyed....

[@Xavierzzzzu]

My age 19 i have 1 inch lld what would you recommend me

[@connecthumbal]

I m disabled by polio i have also the same problem how i can get an appointment ???

[@victorvalencia7007]

What if your right hip is lower and your right leg is also shorter compared to the left ?

[@SuperBond113]

I broke myv ankle. i did not had surgery and now i sm almost fully recovered there but due to about 2 mm leg dicrapancy. i feel it prevent me from learning walking. my question can that feeling that i never had before breakingg my ankle can be caused by short muscles ? After all had quite in low to no physical activity for 3 months.

[@marjoriemasacayan9069]

Hello, I'm 17 yrs old and I think I'm in the same condition whenever I tried to lay down, I can really see the space between the surface and my leg in my other leg. I 've tried physical therapies, Insole shoe lift and many more. But I feel like my other leg is just super stiff and tight not shorter coz whenever i stand I can really see that the other leg is not totally straight. can you guys suggest what can I do. Also my balance is really poor and I look funnny whenever I run.Thank you.

[@2ndfhhjcddg793]

Try yoga to stretch the muscles but i would suggest that you go see a doctor so e can diagnoses your problem

[@rielyking-muscat3648]

I just want to get rid of the pain, it's stopping my ability to play the sport I love, I'm 13 and its so painful just walking. I go to the Chiro for a period of time once a year, but it is just coming back worse every year I get older.

[@jokuvaan2003]

I have pretty big leg height difference about 2cm. My taller leg is normal and strong. My shorter leg is weak and really skinny. My hips are uneven I have scoliosic also. Im 174,5cm normally and with my taller leg 178,5cm.

[@michaelnotmike5515]

Good work this is the number one problem. arrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[@alimurtaza2241]

Sir, I think because of this leg difference my pelvic has changed and my one iliac crest bone is higher and I have a prominent hip on one side the side of the longer leg. Can you please tell me if it's fixable somehow?

[@UdaySingh-ow3vk]

1.Will it effect our spin,coz spine also bends due to uneven length. 2.is there any chance of damage to hip-femur joint in long term

[@gfriedman99]

yes and yes

[@Full_monty]

My diffrence is 1.25 inches in difference My hip is killing me Mine is from a clubbed foot

[@jirensays6994]

BUt this is impacting my pushups or so I feel, please reply if you have any experience regarding this. I feel like after aligingin my feet, one hand gets placed a bit ahead of the other and this is causing imbalance. Any advise for giving balanced even pushups for both arms when you have a shorter leg?

[@backupfarheen5042]

i have this exact same problem! i also feel unbalanced when doing tricep dips. if anyone knows how to help with this, it would be very appreciated.

[@rockman6482]

How to cure it ??

[@lawyergreat8934]

my own came from knee injury I had as a kid but now after 20 years, One of my leg shortened. Any suggestions

[@__Ned_Flanders__]

Is this the reason i get problems with squat like uneven elbow

[@chihero1589]

Hello there my right leg is longer than my left leg last year it was 1.5cm this year it is 2cm what should i do when i grow up my left leg is getting shorter and it is also affecting my growth my youngest sister is also taller than me what do you recommend

[@washurhands1422]

So I've gotten my right foot run over by accident about 4 yrs ago and never went to the doctor. The pain was like hell. It was during a school day as well so I still ended up going. Thanks mom -_-(I still hold a grudge against her since she never took me to the doctor). I feel as if my right leg completely stopped growing ever since that incident. My left leg is noticeably longer than my right. My foot also stopped growing as well. Its about half an inch to a full inch shorter than the left. Seeing how I grew throughout those 4 years, my left side basically got a whole lot longer than my right. Its like time completly froze for my right side. Ive experienced pain when I stand, walk, and even sit for too long. When doing so, my left leg takes all the pressure instead. It sucks because its not equally balanced with my right so the pain will always affect my left leg.

[@jenniferrivera1805]

Go to the foot doctor to help you!!

[@prasannaselvarasu4803]

Is there any possible to increase the leg length by doing any excercise and streching???

[@onatortilla4736]

So over 20 mm, would they benefit from a external lift added to the sole of their shoe? I feel like the minor ones definitely can be resolved with lifestyle, but my partner was hit by a car as a kid and broke every bone in his leg, it was reinforced with bars and it affected the length of one of his leg. 25 mm difference and a visible limp that makes the old women in our town tease him for his “pimp walk”. Lots of back pain around the hips and moves into his shoulders. I can’t imagine his struggle would simply resolve itself with just lifestyle changes, with his hips twerked that much.

[@anthonycharles5808]

I have a short leg with right leg with ten centemiter and the left is six so I need help

[@gmeyer6657]

I continued to sprain my L (shorter leg) for my whole life. Until I got custom orthotics w/ a 5mm lift. No issues or ankle problems for now over 30 years.

[@SkyHermit]

what is the leg length discrepancy between your both legs?

[@jazminyanez7923]

How about soft tissue therapy? Leg length can be influenced by a hip rotation which can be helped with soft tissue therapy and release of neighbouring muscles.

[@afrokid3890]

you could feel like theirs a leg length discrepency due to hip rotation but if you actually have one leg longer than the other, soft tissue therapy of course won't do anything.

[@plainkady]

I rotated my hips during a splits stretch. I can't do the splits since and one leg is now "shorter" and the opposite knee is overcompensating. I am still looking for the exercises that will readjust my pelvis and sacrum. This video is not it.

[@porkbandit1107]

F

[@bendover7152]

I had pain in my left lumbar region. Turned out my left leg was 1cm(half an inch) longer than the other. I got a 1 cm sole that i put in my right shoe when going out to the gym, work or whatever, and after 3-5 weeks my pains was mostly gone. I work out alot also, so the different leg lenght was making my leg movements like squat and deadlift very uneven causing all sorts of muscle thightness. Now i love doing those movements again so i definetly felt like adressing the leg lenght problem helped me.

[@SkyHermit]

How does barefoot walking feel to you since you are used to 1 cm insole?

[@bendover7152]

@@SkyHermit its ok. It doesnt bother me too much but i do notice the difference sometimes.

[@SkyHermit]

@@bendover7152 my left leg is 0.7cm shorter than my right after hip replacement surgery. I have been wondering if I should use the 0.5cm insole on my shorter leg, since I like to walk naturally

[@bendover7152]

@@SkyHermit it sounds like a good idea. It helped me.

[@babycakes8741]

I have this and I wanted to be a dancer but couldn’t do the splits because of it. People are always just telling me to stretch more.

[@sylaszamora4223]

I have it but even before the surgery I could do the slipts after a year of stretching every 5 days to 6 days every single week plus martial arts but a lot of leg work and exercise by using your muscles and hamstrings helps. Just don't over do it on the stretching and how far you can go because you could pull something or hurt yourself. I have a surgery tomorrow for my femur to remove the plate, rod and screws they put in to heal it after they broke my femur and took out that extra length. Hope you have a great day and I hope this was helpful. And if you see this. You are not alone

[@butterflycousins8070]

Same

[@Xavierzzzzu]

​@@sylaszamora4223what is your lld at how many cm they recommended the suegery

[@fairnxezgt99airbornejackei48]

I get hip raise differences ones more smoother and tough to shift

[@alloutabderrahmane5459]

Hi rehab, Hope you are doing well. Just i have different leg length about 1.8 cm Can you provide more details about the treatment . And also my short leg it's weaker then the longest

[@thomasokeefe3081]

I also have a weak short leg. Sit on the edge of a sturdy chair. Start with a 10 lb. wgt. and place in on your knee. Start with 20 reps by raising your knee up and down to strenghten the hip muscles.

[@afraza5946]

HELP! I broke my femur in Sep 2022, post recovery, my left (fractured) leg is longer than the right by .9 inches. I have no idea why and my surgeon and other docs (took second opinions) are also clueless. Any idea why did this happen?

[@TheScorpion615]

Does this also include leg muscles size? I'm asking because my right leg is way bigger then my left leg.

[@davidgan792]

Me too, but left is bigger than right and 1 shoe size bigger.

[@notFakali]

Same. My right has bigger bone size and bigger muscle. That is why it is so noticeable that my right is bigger.

[@TheScorpion615]

@@notFakali Same exact thing here as well have you found any reasoning behind it or talked with a Doctor about it?

[@notFakali]

@@TheScorpion615 nope. When i was young the difference is not noticeable and i have a birthmark in my right leg. While i was growing my right leg gets heavier and growing faster than my left leg and the birthmark gets bigger.

[@not_sus1771]

@@davidgan792 same man idk what to do it feels uncomfortable walking

[@AussieRollerDerby]

Mine is 7cm difference and I’m in pain in my short leg hip and my back. I’ve never used any supports or adjustments for it.

[@brooke1639]

Do you mean 0.7cm ? Or a full 7 cm? Mine is about 2.5 cm. I just wondered do you suffer from migraines? Because I do and they are always on my left side of my head which is also my shorter side. I get them particularly after sports or exercise.

[@AussieRollerDerby]

@@brooke1639 a full 7cm, I don’t get migraines but I get vertigo attacks.

[@wonka_my_willy3139]

My knee starts hurting every time I run and I noticed that my left leg carries less weight and my right leg is doing all the work yk and I want to know if there is any help for that because it also hurts a lot when I kinda cross my legs

[@TheNAVN7]

Are you found any solution? Because I have same concern , please email me [e-mail]

[@icedoe9158]

If your younger than 21 and you r american citizin with have ur healthcare can cover it up unless u have to pay over $80k

[@icedoe9158]

Btw leg lengthing is the solution

[@abedadavids5468]

I have the same problem. Also hurts under on the side of my right foot on the underside

[@Samirtouf]

I started jogging and after 3 months a knee pain showed up. I didnt go to the doctors i tought it was temporarly 1year later I went To the docs They gave me a heel lift. The pain went away but i don jog anymore and i miss it so match

[@7bkdanbabu707]

I was worries about my condition i.m not just having Lower lag I have hemophilia it's causing lot blood clotting in my lags and my back bone

[@arifrahman.i8012]

6:15 did u use it to the shorter leg?

[@kunalrathod790]

My left leg is shorter than my right leg. Show an exercise. If there is any treatment

[@E3Rehab]

there is no specific exercise for leg length differences. As the video mentions, a heel lift can be a consideration in some cases. As for exercise, it varies greatly person to person.

[@sarlaaggarwal1939]

Hlo sir , my mom also suffering from leg desspracy but her one leg is abou 15 _20 cm smaller then other can youbplz help us

[@ZeeshanAnsari-mn9ss]

Hello Tony i had a femur bone operation 3 years back . I think my leg is shorter than other leg and I can't run properly Please tell me something what I do .

[@Jim-yk1ug]

Same man, it sucks. I quit running and just bike

[@HYDROCARBON_XD]

Bro when I do test my legs are the same lenght but I feel like the right one is longer and stomps more on the ground than the left

[@Watonearth]

What happens when the case is a bit extreme. What's your advice

[@E3Rehab]

might be worth trying a heel lift to help with symptoms

[@sahasra492]

Sir my child13 yeras, two legs lenth difrent , at a waking time one side bend how to clearly my problem