It is quite common to have a slight difference in leg length. However, according to John Martinez, PT, owner of Therapy Experts any discrepancy greater than a quarter of an inch should be examined by a physician or physical therapist. "Big disparities in leg length can lead to a slew of other problems down the line," he warns. Martinez points out that it is just the fact that every uneven step you take when you walk, run or jog places inconsistent stress at abnormal angles on your joints, especially the ankle, knee, hip and back on both sides of the body. Just standing on uneven legs can take its toll. The result is increased ankle injuries due to constant ankle twists, knee strains and sprains, abnormal tracking of the knee cap, pinched nerves -- the list goes on. "Even if all of your joints are healthy and normal, they will be affected by imbalanced leg length," he says.
If you feel there is a significant variation in the length of your legs or you're experiencing chronic, unexplained joint issues, it's worth a trip to an orthopedic specialist for an evaluation. Martinez advises having your doctor check to see if the length discrepancy is the result of a rotated pelvis -- another common structural problem -- rather than a true difference in length.
