Uneven leg length affecting clothing

OK you guys are probably getting officially sick of my weird little obsessions LOL

I guess this is kind of OT but if it weren't for thinking so closely about fit of clothes I wouldn't have worked this out!

But, does anyone else have uneven leg lengths and find it affects your hip lines and fit etc?

I always thought I had uneven hips, and whilist trying on a few tops today I realised that I really do, and I think its because my legs are an uneven length...

Here's a pic that shows the curve on one side of my hip vs the opposite side.

http://i294.photobucket.com/al.....240017.jpg

That's really me standing flat footed and evenly balanced on my legs... so its no wonder I often feel like I'm a bit wonky on my feet and clothes fit one side better than the other... (I did place a couple of mags/catalogues under my left foot and when it was brought up a bit - around 1- 1.5cm I think - the hips looked more even and the curves were more similar).

Anyway, I'd love to hear from anyone else who has similar clothing challenges - are skirts/dresses really the best option to disguise something like this? I'm thinking yes? This explains why I often look like I'm "hippier" on one side than the other - its not just the way I'm posing!

Oh and from my brief googling on the topic I think I need to see someone and find out if orthotic inserts are beneficial to me - anyone know enough to agree/disagree? If this does prove to be the case, I'm wondering if this is why I'm prone to sciatica and have had shoulder pain for as long as I can remember - everything is so out of alignment and compensating...

THANKS FOR BEARING WITH ME!!!!!

15 years ago

Ljubica

Active Member

Hi, Theresa!

I have a similar issue, and it's due to scoliosis, a medical condition where your spine is curved in the form of an 'S'. I have been diagnosed it since I started school, but only lately I discovered it was the reason my pants are all uneven - it's not that my leg is shorter, it's one hip higher than the other.
And I have some sort of a dent in that hip, my pearish saddle bag is more prominent on that side ;).
It's pretty visible in snug skirts, especially made of more clinging materials.
Well tailored clothes and stiffer fabric can hide it successfully.

But it is painful and I need to exercise a lot to make my abs as supportive as possible, to relieve the pain and to look better.

anne

Veteran

Theresa, I also have a mild form of scoliosis and have one side of my waist that is a more pronounced curve. I don't think about it much though, and don't adjust my clothing choices.

Lana

It definitely could be the reason for your sciatica and pain. One of my hips is just slightly higher than the other and I have lower back pain from that. Some good orthotics would probably help you and maybe some chiropractic adjustments, if you'd go for that kind of thing. The only reason I never got orthotics (and I'm not nearly as misaligned as you seem to be) is because I can't wear them in any of the shoe types I'm always wearing. Oh the vanity!

florida

Theresa, I have this problem too: One pants-leg is always about a quarter of an inch shorter than the other for me. I have very slight scoliosis (curvature of the spine)--my doc said that it's about a 5-degree curve.
This only became evident to me after low-rise pants came in to fashion. My hips aren't even, so when the pants are sitting on my hips, one side is higher than the other, making the legs different lengths. I just ignore it--no one else has ever noticed it!
I don't think that this is very apparent in your picture--barely noticeable. But if you're having any pain or discomfort you should go to the doctor!

chewyspaghetti

I wonder if it's really that your hips are mis-aligned rather than your legs are different lengths? I had a friend who had this happen from always carrying things (like kids!) on the one hip. Her chiropracter straightened it out for her and she no longer had back pain. I would have it checked out.

taylor

WOW, lots of good help here. You are in good company apparently")

bella

(website)

It is really not that visible to anyone but you. But also, it is a common problem for lots of women. We favor one leg over the other which overtime may result in these issues.

Theresa

I'd forgotten all about this thread!

Thanks for the input girls. I still have yet to see my Dr about it!

Interestingly, pre-children, I was receiving chiro for my shoulder issue and he did say my hips were out of alignment, but I can't really remember what the go was - and then I moved, had a baby and haven't been back to anyone since...

I think this is actually why the lower rise jeans I've tried recently weren't so good - it was only one side that I kept wanting to pull up...

Susan

I'm going into the chorus. I have mild curvature in my hips as well. I'm going to assume that the health care system in Australia gives you access to chiropractic care? Since I've been getting "adjustments", I can definitely feel a difference and I supposedly distribute my weight better.
But honestly, I looked and could see much. It's probably less noticeable than you see it.

Louise

I honestly hadn't noticed it till you pointed it out and I still don't really notice it even though you've pointed it out so I wouldn't worry about it from a cosmetic view but i'd definately go and see someone if it's causing you physical pain or discomfort x

I realised something else in relation to this today - the shoes of my right leg (the one that I think it longer/more curved at the hip), always wear out on the toe first - I think I drag it along the ground rather than lifting it up as much...

I've just made an appt to see my Dr - but I can't get in for a month (she's very busy).

We do have chiro's here but they aren't covered by our medicare system so its all paid for - unless you have ancillary cover on your private health - but I don't have that cover.

I do think you are all right though that I'm the only one that notices it! But it does bother me - nothing ever sits quite right (and I'm a perfectionist), and if it does happen to be the cause of my issues, I'll be very happy!

MsMaven

About ten years ago I developed bursitis in my left hip and went to see an MD who specialized in physical medicine. She made quite a few measurements and told me my right leg is slightly longer than the left. I had physical therapy but it didn't help much. She also advised me to wear a heel pad in my left shoe. I also had some orthotics made but they didn't work out as well as the heel pad--just raising that leg a bit makes a big difference.

I knew there was an imbalance because the hem on my left leg has always hung lower than on the right. I still have pants hemmed 3/8" shorter on that leg--and this is with adding height to my left foot. As I get older I have more problems going back to my jogging days with that imbalance--foot problems on the left side and knee problems on the right. I wish I had known years earlier to go see a doctor who could deal with this issue--I would have fewer problems now.

One more thought--I think this is a fairly common problem--just walk around the mall and look at women's hems. You will see many with one hanging lower than the other. The same with shoulders--many many women have one shoulder lower than the other because of years of wearing a shoulder bag on one side--I can see where the baby carrying thing might do the same thing.

shiny

YES!

First please understand that leg-length discrepancy can be congenital (you're born with it) or acquired. Before you get an orthotic (which will severely limit your shoe fashion choices), explore the possibility this is an acquired issue. I was told mine was probably congenital, doctor made a lot of money selling me custom orthotics and treating my injuries, and then a few years later (tired of being resigned to ugly shoes) I figured out on my own that my discrepancy is not congenital at all.

I figured this out by taking up yoga!!! Yoga stretches you out evenly and thoroughly.

Many, many women have this issue and the reason is quite simple: we are apt to cross our legs when we sit! This is the number one reason one leg ends up shorter than the other. We usually prefer to cross one leg over the other - the one on top will be your longer leg.

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