I just finally realized the top of my left hip bone is 1.5cm higher than the top of my right. I’ve always had left knee and groin issues, and I’m wondering if this could be the root cause. About 5 years ago I saw a specialist who measured my legs (with a measuring tape, not by x-ray) and they found everything to be normal. However, when photographing my hips with straight lines in the background, it’s obvious my hips are askew and I’ve had a couple friends confirm this.
If this is true, how would this be fixed? Would I get a lift in one shoe or would I just have to deal with the irregularity? I know some people do exercises to straighten out a rotated pelvis, but I can’t see how exercises would level the hips.
I would start by:
Consulting a doctor
Getting an x-ray of your spine to see if your have scoliosis
Checking to see if your legs are equal length
Don’t stand with your weight on one leg
Don’t sit with your wallet in your rear pocket
.
This is apparently somewhat normal. I myself have one hip which is slightly higher than the other causing all the body to adapt in all kinds of ways. The remedy that I’ve found and swear by is seeing a Rolfer. Google it.
Essentially, it’s the practice of applying pressure (often quite painful) to the muscles to make them plyable and then moving them back into their proper alignment. To fix my issue, my Rolfer had to stretch and move the constricted muscles in the one side of my lower back as well adjustments on the area of the hips and legs to adjust. It’s not for everyone and some might even scoff at it as ‘alternative’ medicine but it works for me and keeps me running strong.
I have the same issue. I don’t have a problem running, but after a long bike ride, my right hip muscles will tighten pretty badly and affect my run stride. I think I need my cleats shimmed.
I had this issue, probably all my life. After about 6 months of the Chiropractor straightening it out my run form has gone haywire. I’ve spent thousands of miles adapting to misaligned hips and now that its straight I’ve had a few issues. One leg supinates now, another pronates, and my left leg, which never got hurt, seems to be a huge weak point now.
I’m sure in a year or 2 when I get more miles it will fix itself, hopefully.
You do have symptoms consistent with sacroiliac joint dysfunction. You don’t need a plain x-ray to determine presence of this problem. Movement testing is sufficient in the hands of qualified professional. Your actual femoral and tibial lengths are supposed to be consistent regardless of your position, right? So whoever measured your leg length only got part of the story. Groin and knee pain are both common referral sites or directly affected sites because of their mechanics and muscular attachments. This type of injury is very frequent in cyclists and runners. The joint is very stable in most scenarios, particularly in running, but it does indeed move, sometimes moving into a position it would not otherwise and becoming stuck there. Tripping, falling into a hole, sudden twisting are notorious for this. You may initially have back pain from the ligaments surrounding the joint being tensioned inappropriately. However, it does not always cause pain exactly where the joint problem is as referred pain is very frequent. This pain often eventually subsides but leaves you with other odd problems from the alteration in biomechanics. Sometimes a real problem. Sometimes not. When you are referring to your hips, I assume you mean your iliac crest, which is really part of your pelvis. This should be one of many sites checked to determine what exactly has moved and which way it has moved. A high iliac crest is typically associated with a posterior rotation or an upslip of that side’s innominate (pelvis). One side of the pelvis can move up, down, inward, outward, anteriorly or posteriorly. Or a combination of these. The sacrum itself can move as well, regardless of these pelvic movements. A combination of all of these is very common, making the need for a knowledgeable clinician even more critical to fix them appropriately. Fixing it incorrectly can result in funny symptoms as well. A piriformis syndrome is a frequent result of chronic dysfunction because the piriformis attaches to sacrum. With an SI problem, the hamstring muscle group will often have different lengths on each side of the body, often being shortened on a posteriorly rotated side and long on an anteriorly rotated side, potentially contributing to abnormal positioning. Hip flexor length will often be just the opposite, meanwhile potentially contributing to groin pain. The challenge is re-stabilizing the SI joint once corrected in its position, especially if it has been out of place for a long time. It may bring back some low back pain. Please don’t initially try to fix it yourself. There are physical therapists, chiropractors, and osteopaths that do not know how to fix this issue correctly. However, there are several that do. I would do a little research on those individual clinicians in your region who have a good idea of sacroiliac joint function and movement. If they tell you that it doesn’t move and can’t possibly be your problem, I would find someone else to check it out. The joint does tend to lose motion in the elderly years but I’m taking a guess you aren’t an elderly triathlete. A qualified individual should also be able to instruct you in home exercises to help maintain correction. This requires muscles of one side of the body to pull the dysfunctional pelvis or sacrum toward the appropriate position while the other side of the body engages the opposing muscles. I have had to require some patient’s to perform them as frequently as every hour. It is difficult to stabilize, no joke. No exercises assigned by the professional? Go somewhere else.
I just finally realized the top of my left hip bone is 1.5cm higher than the top of my right. I’ve always had left knee and groin issues, and I’m wondering if this could be the root cause.
As someone else said, 1.5cm is a lot.
How sure are you about that?
I have a similar problem, but with less than a 1/3 of that height difference. I had bad posture, and was never able to run a continuously mile for the first 23 years of my life.
Then a guy in a rollerblading story diagnosed the problem, and suggested putting a small leg lift in my right shoe.
It was like night and day for me. The following week, I ran the entire Bay to Breakers (12k) non-stop.
In retrospect I realized that my running problem was due to my right shoulder caving in a bit as I ran, putting pressure on my chest cavity, depriving me of oxygen, and dragging me to a stop.
The foot lift solved of the problems. I use it in all of my shoes, not just for exercise. My posture is much better, and now I have no problems at all running.
That’s my story. It may or may not work for you.
Seeing a doctor is a good idea if it’s covered by your insurance.
Otherwise, you might want to just start with a $9 heel lift and see if it works for you. (site picked at random)
Ok, I just double-checked the height difference. My best calculation is a shade over 1.25cm (1.3?). It was obvious enough for my wife to see when I got out of the shower yesterday and she said “Hey, why is your left hip so high?”
I’ve always considered a lift but didn’t want to mess up my learned compensation for any length discrepancies in my body. However, I’ve always felt something was off but I was never able to measure a difference. I’ve always ever only looked at my knees though, never looked at the top of my pelvis. I’ll probably mention it at my next checkup and see what doc thinks. I’ve had a left knee problem my whole running career, and if I ever get it straightened out my pr’s will all be broken.
Is a lift the answer or is that just masking the root issue?
I have been told I have an apparent leg length discrepancy (goes away when seated and legs extended) by PT. Months of PT and no resolution. Symptoms are lower right back, right hip and tight right groin. When it is bad, I can even have what I think may be referral pain up my right side of body and into neck. Could this be all related to SI joint issue? High test anti-inflamatories, stretches, exercises, tried DonTingley “corrective” movements and still not pain free. Pain seems to come on more when sitting for extended periods or engaging in running. Cycling not too bad. Been almost a year now. Maybe a lift is the answer - willing to try anything at this point…
My wife noticed mine as well - once she pointed it out, it was easy to see. I have a lift in one shoe that has helped a lot. Not nearly as many back issues as before. I need something for my cycling shoe though. I’ll be following this thread as well to see all the general suggestions
I think that is the issue. Your body tried to accommodate the delta causing pronation etc issues. I am relatively new to the sport and I went my first 1.5 yrs pain and injury free - never even thought about it. Then almost a year ago a little ITB, then hip issues and now both along with lower back (SI) issues. It just grew into a serious problem and now I can’t seem to get it under control Everything from months of rest and only rehab (no running, no biking, no swimming - this was painful…) to trying everything I can get my hands on an couple of PTs and a Chiro. Major suckage.
Hi i yust saw you blog, i have the same problem, my question to you is have you used a lift yet, and if so in what shoe did you put it in, also is it working for you?
please let me know, because going to the chiro. causing me a lot of money.
please get back to me thanks Astrid:)
I have improved greatly since my last post. Still lingering problems for me but i can train and race (up to OLY this year). Major core and glute work. I also strech my quads and roll the legs out on a foam roller. This has seemed to help significantly and I do them religiously. First 8 weeks was everyday - now do 3x / week for maintenance.
All this has improved my descrepancy and reduced the delta significantly. I may look at a lift for the last little bit but will wait until the season is over for me.
Remember, everyone is different. Best of luck with your progress.
Thanks for getting back to me so soon:)
I am not a Triathlon, yust having the problem with my left hip being higher like you.
Iam seeing a Chiropractioner what is costing me a lot of Money, i dont know if it will help me in the long run, or is he yust sucking the money out of my Pocket, have you had any experience with Chir.?
Do you think he is yust in for the Money?
Any Advise would be greatly appreciate, thanks Astrid:)
A qualified individual should also be able to instruct you in home exercises to help maintain correction. This requires muscles of one side of the body to pull the dysfunctional pelvis or sacrum toward the appropriate position while the other side of the body engages the opposing muscles. I have had to require some patient’s to perform them as frequently as every hour. It is difficult to stabilize, no joke. No exercises assigned by the professional? Go somewhere else.