Our goal with this series is not to make you believe what we believe but to think more critically about your bike fit and provide you with many facts about Leg Length Discrepancy. If you missed Part 1, we recommend you go back and read it too.
We must factor in the pertinent details when we discuss Leg Length Discrepancy (LLD). When we say, “I have a leg length discrepancy.” Knowing the root of that is essential, and there are two common sources. Muscular or Structural.
Muscular leg length discrepancies are often caused by tightness and imbalances that often appear as a leg length discrepancy. These can be displayed by things such as pelvic rotation or arch variability. These variables can often be resolved with physiotherapy or a focused effort via modalities such as massage, stretching, or trigger point. If you know us, you know that we are big proponents of solving the problem vs. putting a Bandaid on it.
Structural variabilities are less likely to be fixed unless other methods like surgery exist. As fit specialists, we must first factor in the location of a leg length discrepancy. Whether the LLD stems from the pelvis, femur, cartilage, tibia, foot, or ankle makes a difference in the possible resolution.
Remembering, ultimately, that the end all be all answer is not to “shim it.”
If you are uncertain of what you should do and need help? BOOK a bike fit today and let one of our Fit Specialists help you!
One thought on “Do I Need to Use Shims for a Leg Length Discrepancy? – Part 2”