Common Signs an Uneven Leg Length Is Affecting Your Gait

Step Rite Shoe Lifts

Common signs are a subtle limp, one hip sitting higher than the other, one foot turning out, uneven shoe wear, and pain or fatigue on one side after walking. Any of these points to a measurement, and the measurement tells you the lift.

What you see

Stand in front of a mirror with your feet together. One hip may sit higher. One shoulder may drop to match. Walking, you may land harder on one foot or swing one leg out to clear the ground. People who know you may say you limp when you are tired.

What your shoes tell you

Look at the soles of a pair you have worn for a few months. Heel wear that is heavier on one shoe, or a sole worn at the outside edge on one side, is the difference writing itself into the rubber.

What your day tells you

Fatigue on one side by afternoon. A low back that tightens after a walk. A hip that aches on the stairs. One knee that feels older than the other.

What the signs mean

They mean it is worth being measured. They do not tell you how much the difference is; a tilted pelvis can look like a short leg and a short leg can hide behind a tilted pelvis. A physical therapist, chiropractor, podiatrist, or orthopedist sorts that out and gives you a number.

What to bring to the appointment

The shoe you wear most and a note of when it hurts. After the measurement, that shoe is the first one to lift, followed by the pairs you wear the rest of the week.