Which side of Frida Kahlo’s body was weakened by childhood polio?

Childhood polio weakened Frida Kahlo’s right leg.

Kahlo contracted polio at the age of six. The illness left her right leg thinner and shorter than the other, contributing to a lifelong limp. She later used clothing, footwear, and posture to manage or conceal the visible difference.

The effects of polio were one of several major physical experiences in her life. In 1925, a bus accident caused severe injuries to her spine, pelvis, and right leg, adding new pain and medical complications. These later injuries are often mistakenly treated as the original cause of her leg difference.

Kahlo’s clothing became part of her public image. Long Tehuana skirts, elaborate blouses, and distinctive shoes helped shape the visual style associated with her photographs and self-portraits.