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Leg Length Discrepancy (LLD) has profound effects on the body’s biomechanics, which can result in back pain and a number of other debilitating conditions.
Leg length inequality/ leg length discrepancy affects as many as 60 to 90% of the population.
It is categorized as functional or structural, but both have profound effects on the body’s biomechanics and result in back pain.
Other conditions include:
Functional Short Leg: Alignment difference of the supporting structures between the ground and the top of the femur or thigh bone.
This is caused by excessive pronation or the natural rolling in of the foot as someone walks.
Anatomical Short Leg: A difference in the size or length of the thigh bone (femur).
This is most often caused by growth asymmetry that can be inherited/genetic condition but can sometimes come from a fracture or surgery.
Excessive stress gets transmitted to the ligaments, which then creates:
A Chiropractor will use a combination of techniques to help your condition, but treatment is dependent on the cause and symptoms.
The first goal of treatment is to improve alignment and restore symmetry.
This can be accomplished with:
Sometimes LLI causes a profound gait (walk) disfunction, which means physical therapy could be necessary.
The body’s foundation can be made level with custom orthotics, but it does take some time to adjust to proper and healthier alignment/posture.
Talk to your doctor or chiropractor to learn more.
Symptoms:
Chiropractic care does wonders for helping individuals regain their spinal alignment and loosen the joints and muscles affected by leg length inequality, and the orthotic heel lifts balance out the legs, which balances the hips and pelvis.
Approximately 80 percent of the population will experience some type of back pain sometime throughout their lifetime. Low back pain and sciatica are several of the most common complaints frequently reported in a doctor office setting. But, did you know that low back pain and sciatica can be caused due to foot problems? Custom-made functional foot orthotics can help support and promote the natural alignment of the spine. Poor posture associated with foot problems and other health issues can be corrected through the utilization of custom-made functional foot orthotics. Because every individual has unique foot anatomy, custom-made foot orthotics can be beneficial for a variety of people with foot problems and other health issues. Dr. Alex Jimenez is the non-surgical choice for foot problems.
According to the American Chiropractic Association, a study found 75% of subjects who suffered from lower back pain had legs that were slightly different lengths (5 millimeters or more). This condition is called Short Leg Syndrome and causes a variety of issues for its sufferers. The symptoms can be quite severe, depending on the degree of difference in the leg length.
The premise of this condition is that the leg length inequality disrupts the body’s entire balance, possibly resulting in issues in the knees, hips, and back. The spinal system is designed to bear weight evenly, and, when one leg is shorter than the other, this places additional weight and stress on one side. According to The Back Pain Authority, common causes of Short Leg Syndrome are a past history of fractures, hip or knee issues, or the individual was simply born that way.