A Different Leg Length Problem

Kathie Ribant has had polio, but this isn’t stopping her from taking spinning classes twice a week. She has one leg much shorter than the other and she is having a problem with discomfort on the foot of the longer leg. We make our suggestion as to what she should do to cure this problem and some others she may have with un-symmetrical pedaling

Question:
I have been spinning twice a week for over a year. Also, have had polio with right leg paralyzed from the knee down. My feet are two different sizes and my right leg is approx. 1.5 inches shorter than the left. I had some shims put under my bike shoe cleat to help with the difference in leg length. Within the last month, I am getting a very painful “hot spot” on my left foot (this is the leg and foot that carries most of the load during spinning). The pain is under the cleat, causing a bruising feeling and resulting in toes becoming numb after about 45 minutes. I’ve tried moving the cleat back, new inserts with various shims, gel inserts – anything that will help distribute the load. My spinning instructor suggested I try a Shimano insert that has a very thin metal plate positioned over the cleat. Have you ever heard of this and any idea where I may find this item. Also, any suggestions would be appreciated. I may need to purchase different shoes with the Look cleat system. Trying to avoid the purchase, since I have to buy two pair to fit my feet. Thanks.

Hi Kathie,

Good for you, getting stuck in to your spinning. I have known people with a similar problem to your, with even up to more than a 2 inch leg difference, but having different sized feet must cost you a fortune in shoes?

Yes inserts are a way of fixing your leg length problem, but it’s not really the correct one. If you look at your pedaling; at the bottom of the pedal stroke with the inserts everything is even, but at the top of the crank revolution your foot is much higher and when your foot is forward on the way down or at the back on the way up it is not in the correct position or should I say balanced position with the other foot, this will put more pressure on the right foot and could be causing you “hot spot”. It may not be the cause, but it will cause you other positional and pedaling problems. The answer is a shorter crank for your left leg, now I don’t know if this is possible for you to change the cranks on the spinning bikes at your gym? If you have a shorter crank this will make you’re pedaling more symmetrical and will level up the pressures on the soles of your feet.

I would say this is where your problem is coming from and wouldn’t change your shoes, but try to get the correct length crank, there are a few different ones available, Power Cranks make adjustable cranks. Please tell us what you decide and how you get on?

Adjustable Crank