Uneven Legs and Collapsed Arch Causes Knee Pain?
By Dr. Shi Feng Lin
Uneven Legs and Collapsed Arch causes knee pain and here’s why. One day, you’re walking just fine, and the next, every step feels like a struggle. If you’ve been dealing with persistent knee pain and can’t seem to find relief, it might not actually be your knee’s fault.
Recently, at Empowerment Physical Therapy in Yonkers, we had a patient experiencing severe knee pain. After a thorough evaluation, we discovered that her pain wasn’t actually originating from the knee itself—it was caused by a leg length discrepancy and a collapsed arch. These two factors were throwing off her alignment and putting excessive strain on her knee.
Here’s a YouTube Video that you can watch encompassing all the contents below and for demonstration purposes:
This got me thinking: How many people are struggling with knee pain but don’t realize that something outside the knee could be the real issue? If that sounds like you, keep reading—this could be the missing piece to your recovery.
How Leg Length Discrepancy (Uneven Knees) Contributes to Knee Pain
Let’s start with leg length discrepancy (LLD)—a condition where one leg is slightly longer than the other. Some people are born with it, while others develop it over time due to posture issues, hip problems, or injuries.
Even if the difference is small, it can throw off your entire gait (how you walk). Imagine walking on an uneven sidewalk all day—eventually, your body compensates in ways that put strain on certain joints. Over time, this can lead to:
- Uneven weight distribution – One knee absorbs more impact than the other.
Gait imbalances – Walking patterns shift to compensate for the shorter leg.
Hip and lower back pain – Your body tries to realign itself, which affects more than just your knees.
At Empowerment Physical Therapy in Yonkers, we examined a patient whose longer leg was forcing her to put more pressure on the shorter side, leading to chronic knee discomfort.
Signs That Leg Length Discrepancy Might Be Causing Your Knee Pain:
- Do your shoes wear down unevenly?
- Does one leg feel more tired or sore after a long walk?
- Do you feel slightly off-balance when standing for long periods?
If any of these sound familiar, you might have a functional or structural leg length discrepancy that’s contributing to your knee pain.
How a Collapsed Arch Can Lead to Knee Pain
Many people don’t realize that their foot posture directly affects their knees. If you have a collapsed arch (flat feet) on one side, it changes how weight is distributed when walking. That imbalance doesn’t just stay in the foot—it travels up the leg and affects the ankles, knees, and hips.
- Uneven weight distribution – More pressure is placed on one foot than the other.
- Misalignment up the chain – The way your foot hits the ground affects your ankle, knee, and hip.
- Increased knee strain – The knee compensates for the lack of arch support.
For our patient, her collapsed arch was on the same side as her shorter leg, creating a double imbalance—one that made her knee pain even worse. Once we identified this, we could start targeting the root causes.
How to Tell if a Collapsed Arch Is Affecting Your Knee Pain:
- Do you notice one foot flattening more than the other when you stand?
- Is your knee pain worse after long periods of standing or walking?
- Do you feel more pressure in one knee compared to the other?
If so, addressing your foot mechanics might be the key to relieving your knee pain.
Why Knee Pain Is Often a Symptom, Not the Root Cause
One of the biggest takeaways from this is that the knee is often a victim, not the cause of the problem.
Think of it this way:
- Your hips control your knees, just like parents guide their kids.
- Your feet dictate how force moves up the chain.
- If something’s off in either area, the knees take the hit.
So, if your knee pain has been persistent, it’s worth asking:
- Is the problem actually coming from above (hips) or below (feet)
- Is my knee compensating for an imbalance somewhere else?
At Empowerment Physical Therapy, we focus on identifying and treating these underlying issues, rather than just addressing knee pain at the surface level.
How to Fix Knee Pain Caused by Leg Length Discrepancy or a Collapsed Arch
The good news? There are ways to assess and correct these issues.
- Get evaluated by a PT – At Empowerment Physical Therapy in Yonkers, we specialize in assessing movement patterns to pinpoint the real cause of pain. A professional evaluation can determine if you have LLD, a collapsed arch, or another imbalance.
- Try orthotics or shoe inserts – A simple adjustment in arch support can change how force moves up your leg.
- Strengthen your core and hips – A strong foundation helps balance out gait issues.
- Pay attention to your walking mechanics – Even small adjustments in posture can make a difference.
If this is something you’re dealing with, we highly recommend looking deeper into it. We recently made a video breaking this down in more detail, showing how leg length discrepancy and a collapsed arch contribute to knee pain—and what you can do about it. Check it out here.
Final Thoughts: Understanding the Bigger Picture of Knee Pain
Before evaluating this patient, I never thought something like a minor leg length difference or a collapsed arch could mess up movement so much. But now, it makes perfect sense.
If you’re dealing with knee pain that won’t go away, take a step back and consider the bigger picture—your pain might be coming from somewhere else entirely.
Have you ever dealt with something like this? What worked for you? Let’s chat in the comments! And if you’re in the Yonkers area and need help figuring out what’s really causing your knee pain, visit us at Empowerment Physical Therapy—we’d love to help you move pain-free again!
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