i feel i'm leaning slightly to one side when i run - and one leg weaker than the other?

[cornishgirl54]

I've noticed for a while that I have a sensation that I lean slightly to my left when I run. It's a visual perception more than anything, when I look down at my feet I don't seem to put them down exactly symmetrically underneath the line of my torso (I'm not sure I'm explaining this very well!), so it could be down to my wonky eyesight. But I also noticed last week when I was running around the perimeter of the local rugby pitch, which hadn't been cut for a few weeks and the grass was a bit long, that my left foot was brushing the grass when I ran but my right foot wasn't. My guess is that my left leg is weaker than my right, so I don't pick my left foot up as much, and I lean slightly to the left as my right leg pushes harder than my left and makes me a bit unbalanced. I've been trying to push more strongly with my left leg, partly to see if I can strengthen it and also to see if that counteracts the feeling of leaning slightly. I know I have a weakness on my left side, I had physio for some months for a sciatic pain down my left leg. I just wondered if anyone had found the same problem and might have any suggestions for a way to strengthen my left side?

[Roxdog Graduate]

I think it's very common for one side to be weaker than the other. My left side is definitely less stable and strong and I ended up with an injury, which I believe was due to weaker glute muscles on my left side.

If you're not actually injured, you might find that doing bridges and hip stability exercises will help. I'm doing some of the exercises on the James Dunne youtube videos. Search for him on YouTube and you'll find lots if useful advice on building strength and stability. Good luck!

[cornishgirl54 Graduate in reply to Roxdog]

That's so helpful, thank you. I definitely think I need to try to sort out the problem before it becomes a bigger problem. I'll have a look at the James Dunne videos.

Thank you, I'm really grateful for your advice.

[Roxdog Graduate in reply to cornishgirl54]

I think that once you're a 'runner' it's important to work on strengthening your body to support you continuing to run injury free. Sounds like you're doing great and it's good to be aware of what might need a bit of work! Good luck.