In the past couple months, I’ve noticed an imbalance that is very interesting, and I was wondering what T-Nation had to suggest about it.
Often, while standing relaxed, I’ll look down and see that my right foot is toes-forward, and my left foot is turned inward, toes at the 2 o’clock position or so.
I’m wondering if the problem is in my knee or maybe my hip. Any idea what is making my left foot twist inward? I have no history of broken feet or left ankles (sprained the right one 5 years ago, but never had a problem since).
I do squats, leg curls, calves about once every 5-6 days. My one thought is that, with the machine on which I do leg curls, the bar against my legs attaches to the machine on the right side. If the machine’s construction is a little “off,” then my hamstrings are being worked differently due to slightly different leverage. I’ve started using a standing leg curl machine and doing hamstrings separately, but haven’t noticed a significant difference in strength between my legs.
Just a puzzle to throw out to any amateur (and professional) anatomists!
Have you done any diagnostic stretching to see if there is any tightness or discomfort in any particular area? A podiatrist would be a good person to ask this interesting question. Any podiatrists here?
I’ll mention only that the knee joint is not always symmetrical from side to side. A slight inward rotation may be your natural position. Certainly you could hang from a bar and see where your feet point?
The above may offer some piece of mind if you come up clean. For lack of pain, you get a tentative thumbs up, but I’ll pass on a recommendation until the Eric Cresseys of the board chime in.
O’Shea,
That’s a logical step that hasn’t occurred to me. I’ll give it a try.
KnightRT,
Thanks for that link. Yeah, no pain either standing or while walking or stretching or exerting.
I realize now that, while doing leg curls, my left leg/foot winds up in that position a lot, despite my efforts to keep things even/straight. I’m still suspecting that there is something unbalanced about the machine I use for leg curls. Must experiment some more!