Leg Imbalance Fitting Advice

[BCPilotguy]

I've been riding for a couple years and have recently started having some serious adductor and knee pain as well as some arch pain on my right side that's kept me off the bike for a few days now.

When I examined my cleats (SPD-SL) I found that the left one was in good shape, but the right one is very worn so it seems my right leg is fighting against the pedal and cleat more.

It's clear that I need to make some adjustments to accommodate whatever imbalance I have going on with my right leg but I have no idea where to start.

Can anyone point me in the right direction as far as some adjustments I can make to get myself back out there pain free?

[mdeth1313]

Find someone who can determine whether the issue is structural or functional. If it's structural you can use shims and cleat position to adjust. If it's functional you'll make it worse. Mine is functional. PT and then the therapist showing me correct stretches and adjustments I can make on my own to maintain have allowed me to keep my legs/hips level and ride pain free.

[LouisN]

Yup. Self analysis isn't the solution,
Specialists is the way to go. Sports MD, physio, osteopath, kinesiologist, look for ones with a cycling background.
If needed bike fit by a known professional.

Louis

[sychen]

Definitely agree.. Self doctoring imbalance is very difficult and likely to cause more issue than it fixes.

Also with the cleat condition... Which leg is the clip in/out one? I'm guessing it's the right leg which would cause it to wear alot more than the other one.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

[robbosmans]

My right cleat also wears more than my left, but that’s just from clipping out at stop signs (when I am not trackstanding off course)

[BCPilotguy]

Thanks for the replies. I'll try to get myself looked at by a professional before I go making big adjustments.

I never thought of unclipping at stop signs to be the cause of uneven wear, but it makes perfect sense!