A short leg by any
other name – leg length inequality, lower limb discrepancy, leg length
discrepancy – is still a short leg!
Short leg…that’s the easiest term to remember for this
condition, one that finds a person with a shorter leg on one side than the other. Vancouver Disc Centers finds this in people from all
walks of life with all types of issues. Chiropractors are trained to find these types of issues! So how does this occur and why should
it be addressed? Read on.
How does a short leg occur?
Short leg may be found in children and adults. Each is
considered a bit differently. In children, it may be found to be congenital due
to underdeveloped bones or other conditions like infection or tumor. In adults,
other factors may be at play. Just recently, two new research papers document
two root causes to consider:
total hip replacement and
osteoarthritic knee
pain.
So new hips and worn-out knees may affect leg length!
- Researchers suggest that a new hip addresses hip
alignment issues that were there before the total hip
replacement surgery, but that any leg length discrepancies remaining after the hip replacement needs to be addressed for the best heal. (1)
Then there is the osteoarthritic knee. Its pain
will be greatest on the side of a short leg. At least that is what researchers
found by observing 23 out of 32 patients who reported the most severe pain on
that side. (2)
So let Vancouver Disc Centers find your short leg be it from a knee
or hip problem. Your hip and your knee – as well as your back! - will be so
glad you did!
How is a short leg discovered?
Chiropractors look at the whole person when seeking a reason
for pain. Functional, mechanical, chemical can all be reasons for back pain and
leg pain. So during a chiropractic examination at Vancouver Disc Centers, our patients
undergo a thorough series of tests that includes a visual inspection of the
iliac crests, the top of the hip bones, to see if they are level when standing
flat footed. If there’s a discrepancy, your Vancouver Disc Centers chiropractor may order
an xray to confirm it. Simple enough!
What is the treatment for a Vancouver short leg?
Some people with a leg length inequality suffer with back pain. People with slight short leg differences may walk around and
not even know it, unless it is pain-producing. True for you?
When we humans hurt, we seek help, and Vancouver Disc Centers is here to help. Your
Vancouver chiropractor will determine the discrepancy and that it’s a
true discrepancy, not because of any other easily addressable reason. A heel
lift for inside the shoe or a whole insole lift may be recommended. We’ll work
together to correct the inequality which may be incremental with a smaller lift
now and work into the full amount.
So trust Vancouver Disc Centers with your short leg. We can
diagnose it and treat it with lifts as well as chiropractic care, especially
when the short leg leaves you with back pain. So contact Vancouver Disc Centers today
if you have back pain or had a total hip replacement or have osteoarthritic
knee pain, and we’ll check your leg length to see if it’s the pain-producing
culprit.