Top 10 Signs You May Have a Leg Length Difference (LLD)
Leg Length Difference (LLD) is more common than most people realize. Many people live with mild discrepancies without ever knowing it. But when the difference becomes significant, it can throw your entire body out of alignment, leading to pain and dysfunction that shows up in unexpected places. Here are the top 10 signs you might be dealing with an LLD:
1. Pain That Travels Up and Down the Leg — Especially After Walking or Running
Imagine walking along the sloped shore of a beach. One foot lands lower than the other with each step, creating an uneven impact on your joints. If you have an LLD, this same effect happens every day—on flat ground. Over time, that imbalance can lead to chronic discomfort along the leg, particularly after activity.
2. An Observable Limp or Altered Gait
If one leg is shorter than the other, your body naturally compensates, often with a limp or a shift in how you walk. This can become more noticeable when you’re tired or walking barefoot. It may not be painful at first, but it’s a clear sign that your body is adjusting to an imbalance.
3. Uneven Hips or a Tilted Pelvis in the Mirror
Next time you’re getting dressed, take a moment to stand in front of the mirror. Do your hips look uneven? Is one pant leg consistently longer than the other? LLD can cause the pelvis to tilt, creating a visible discrepancy in hip height.
4. Frequent Lower Back Pain
When your legs aren’t the same length, your spine often takes the hit. The imbalance creates a functional scoliosis or curvature that can strain your lower back muscles and discs. This is a major red flag, especially if back pain shows up without an obvious cause.
5. Recurring Hip or Knee Pain
Your hips and knees work in partnership with your legs, so if something is off below, they’ll feel it. Chronic pain in these joints, especially if it’s isolated to one side, can be a symptom of the body working harder to correct a misalignment from uneven leg lengths.
6. One Shoe Wears Down Differently Than the Other
Check the soles of your shoes. Is one heel or side significantly more worn down? This tells a story: your body is adapting to an imbalance, and the asymmetry is showing up in your footwear. It’s one of the simplest clues to spot.
7. You Tend to Stand Unevenly
Some people with LLD unknowingly favor one leg when they stand, shifting weight to one side or locking out one knee. Over time, this can cause fatigue or discomfort on the dominant side and lead to muscle imbalances throughout the body.
8. A Noticeable Difference in Leg Muscle Tone or Strength
One leg doing more of the work? Over time, you may develop stronger or more defined muscles on one side, while the other remains less engaged. This imbalance can affect performance, posture, and increase injury risk during physical activity.
9. A History of Injury
Old injuries—especially to the pelvis, hips, or legs—can lead to subtle changes in leg length. Even a fracture that healed slightly out of alignment may shorten or lengthen one leg. If you’ve had significant trauma in the past, LLD could be part of the long-term effects.
10. Post-Surgical Changes After Hip or Knee Replacement
Joint replacement surgeries are incredible at restoring mobility, but sometimes, they result in a slight leg length discrepancy. If you’ve had a hip or knee replacement and now feel “off,” you may be compensating for a new imbalance.
What to Do Next?
If any of these signs resonate with you, it’s worth getting evaluated by a qualified professional. A simple assessment—including physical exams, gait analysis, and sometimes imaging—can confirm the presence and degree of a leg length difference. The good news? There are many effective ways to manage LLD, from corrective inserts and targeted therapy to surgical options in more extreme cases.
Your body is always talking—don’t ignore the signs.