Left leg is 7mm longer than right!

[kirsje]

I have had trouble with my left ski/leg for the last few years, but this year was significantly worse. I found a sports medicine doctor that was a former doc for the Canadian ski team, yay! On my left side she found significant weakness in my glutes, limited ankle mobility, and super tight peroneal muscles. I also had super tight piriformis muscles, particularly on the right side. She sent me for a leg length discrepancy study and I just got the results - 7mm! I have been doing PT for three weeks and it has already made a huge difference in my skiing. I still feel weak on the left side, but can hold and inside edge properly now.

I will be fitted for custom orthotics with a 4mm lift on my right side to compensate. They don't go the full 7mm because it would be too much for my body to handle all at once. What I don't know, is how to level myself out for skiing. There is no earthly way a 4mm orthotic will fit in my SNUG intuition liners. I was so shocked I didn't even think to ask about what to do for skiing. Which is funny because trouble skiing was the whole reason I went to see her.... Anyway, anyone been through this? Or know if there is anything I can/should do? My shorter leg is the stronger more stable leg when I ski, so I'm not even sure I want to have a lift on that side. But if it will help even things out, then I would do it. I will be asking the PT that's going to analyze me for the orthotics on Wednesday, but I have no clue if he's ever dealt with skiers.

No wonder I could never run without injury!

 

[pinto]

My lld is a bit more than 7mm ... and I have some done inside the boot, and some on the outside. I have plates on the bottom of my boots, and one is a few mm more than the other. Then the rest is done inside the boot, in the footbed.

By the way, I have separate orthotics for my boots and my other shoes. I would get the ski boot one done by a ski boot fitter. You don't want to put regular orthotics in your ski boots; it's better if they are posted. The boot fitter can grind away some of the material on the longer leg, as well, and then add a little to the shorter leg, so that the difference inside isn't as drastic.

 

[callmijane]

I have different length legs too. I have custom orthotics for both boots and shoes, and one is thicker than the other, to compensate. But before I had the orthotics for the boots, I put a lift (just a little cork pad) in the shell, under the liner.