Odd Legs

rjsterry

I have noticed that my legs... err... aren't symmetrical. No this isn't some weird body obsession, my leg muscles are visibly (to Mrs RJS on the other side of the room) different on right and left legs. I'm assuming that this is down to stopping and starting at endless traffic lights, and always pushing off on the same foot. I also tend to freewheel with the same foot down, which probably reinforces it.

Anyone else suffer/experience this and is it anything I need to worry about? I've read various things about muscle imbalances in legs leading to lower back problems and the like. The obvious solution is to learn to put the other foot down, which might be a bit of a challenge.

Any thoughts, suggestions and mickey-taking welcome.

stuaff

I'm the same- noticeably more muscle on my left leg than my right. As I'm left-handed, think I've just developed a bias that way. As to whether it's a real problem, pass.......

On a sidebar: Pinarello's Dogma has an asymmetric frame as they decided more stress goes through the drive side of the bike. What about people like me?

rjsterry

A quick search on BR has revealed this

http://www.bikeradar.com/fitness/article/health-protect-your-back-24568

The bit about lower back pain looks relevant. Thankfully no back pain at the moment, but prevention is better than cure and all that.

tailwindhome

An odd number of legs would present greater difficulties

rjsterry

cyberknight

Good Article !!

Try pedaling up hill with weaker leg

always_tyred

rjsterry

I was waiting for that

plowmar

Try pedaling up hill with weaker leg

Do we have an option to leave it behind? :roll: :roll:

prj45

Apparently I'm right handed but left legged.

rjsterry

plowmar wrote:

Try pedaling up hill with weaker leg

Do we have an option to leave it behind? :roll: :roll:

Right leg stops at top of hill and waits or left to catch up.

I'm not sure if one leg is noticeably weaker than the other overall, but different muscles are more pronounced on one leg than the other. Just checking a diagrram of the various muscles, I think the Rectus Femoris is more pronounced on the right leg, while the Vastus Lateralis is more pronounced on the left. I'm presuming this is down to the fairly basic mechanics of the first few pedal strokes when pulling away from stationary (traffic lights). Any medically trained people care to shed any light on this?