speaking of Halloween: skeletons - how symmetrical are you?
My husband is a chiro and helps people diagnose and deal with the differences all the time. It's not that rare (extreme ones maybe, but it doesn't seem like minor ones are). My friend was one of his patients, and she LOVES her heel lift. Simple and saves her a bunch of discomfort. If you are uncomfortable, have a doc evaluate it and make some suggestions.
Miles of Life --- Powered by MarkyV
Pre had one leg longer than the other, but most of his races were in circles, so maybe that helped.
I go to a chiro and I have to get evened out because of ACL surgery I had on my right need causes me to compensate somehow and my muscles tighten up and make my right leg a bit shorter until it gets worked out.
'Nothing to it, but to do it!'
I wear orthotics even though I'm a neutral runner. My right leg is almost 1/2 inch shorter than my left so the right orthotic has a lift built in. I discoverd this during the late 70's when it raised havoc with my running and have worn a lift of some sort or another ever since.
"If e wishes to sweem in dangerous waters, oo are we to deny im?
-Chef Skinner
http://antonspath.blogspot.com
Thanks, everyone, for your input.
Anton, do you do anything with your biking shoes, or is it strictly just the "runners" that get the orthotics?










I'm looking to get a professional bike fitting this off-season, and it coincides with a medical procedure being performed in our family that has caused me to pay extra attention to asymmetry. (My 14 yr. old son is being treated for a Leg Length Discrepancy that will entail his longer tibia being "arrested" for a spell by a transphyseal screw.)
This of course has made me more aware than ever of growth rates and angles. And...
I've just noticed the silliest thing: I pull on my pants with my right knee swung outside my right arm, whereas my left knee comes up between my two arms! Wonderful. I can only guess what's causing this preferential orientation but there it is. Not only that, but I've looked down while I'm mashing away on the pedals and I see a slight toe-in on my right foot compared to my left. (it's probably a blessing I can't see myself most of the time)
There's no pain, I can flex myself into the symmetrical poses, it's just that these are the ways I "tend" toward.
My questions are:
1) Anyone else have a discernible difference in their symmetry?!
2) Have you made accommodations for it in any of the SBR legs of tri? I'm most interested for the moment in the bike aspect since I'm facing a fitting. Have you used shims, orthotics, wedges successfully? Have they made a difference for you, in pain reductions (if you had chronic pain beforehand) or performance results... as I imagine these would be the two main reasons?
I guess it's a miracle so many of us are at least functionally symmetrical, so I do thank my lucky stars for that much. Just wondering what the consensus is for seeking supports & treatments. Realizing that our specifics may vary in each case, your experiences will still be of great help, if only to let me know I'm not alone!
http://www.snail-male.blogspot.com/