Leg Length Inequality Is Checked at Old Mill Chiropractic for its Effect on Back, Hip and Knee Pain

July 16, 2019

Leg length inequality is rampant. A short leg has an effect on joints in the hip, knee and spine. Knee, hip and back pain may develop. The St Peters chiropractic examination at Old Mill Chiropractic incorporates an analysis of leg length inequality and, depending on the discrepancy, the St Peters chiropractic treatment plan will fix it with a heel lift to help avoid conditions like hip joint arthritic degeneration, knee and back pain.

ASTOUNDING FACTS ABOUT INCIDENCE OF SHORT LEG

No one shares that he or she has one shorter leg than the other. It is not a typical conversation starter! But 90% of us has an inequality of greater than 1 cm! Only 10% of us has precisely equal leg lengths. Just 10%! Leg length inequality equalizes us all.

  • Hip and knee issues emerge in more patients who have leg length differences over 5 mm.
  • Hip issues usually occur in the long leg side. Knee conditions tend to be more typical in either leg – shorter or longer.
  • Low back problems appear more commonly on the short leg side.
Authors of the newest review of many papers written on leg length inequality  report that the bulk of papers find differences of more than 2 cm are a problem while variations of just 5 mm can lead to long-term issues. (1) Considering these facts, Old Mill Chiropractic finds it important to address leg length discrepancies to avoid painful issues as much as possible.

PREVENTION OF HIP JOINT ARTHRITIC DEGENERATION

Want to ward off hip joint arthritic degeneration? Young and old alike do. Those who have a short leg, the contact forces in the joints in the short leg rose as the leg length difference rose. The greater the difference, the greater the contact forces in the short leg. What does this mean? These forces wear on the hip joint the most as the leg length difference increases. (2) The older of us will want to stop further irritation, and the younger of us will want to stop long-term exposure to irritation and future joint degeneration. A short leg affects our joints.

St Peters CHIROPRACTIC CARE OF SHORT LEG

Chiropractors like yours at Old Mill Chiropractic understand how short legs affect knees, backs and hips. We were trained in chiropractic school to notice key issues like leg length inequality and address them. Chiropractors notice that correction of leg length difference of 5 mm or more is positive. The aim is to have no more than 3 mm of leg length difference, and heel lifts can correct up to 9 mm difference while a 10 mm or more requires a shoe build-up of the full difference under the heel and half the difference under the sole. (1) Chiropractic education has always included the diagnosis and treatment of short leg differences. It is important that to know that an xray Is not required to find and correct short leg syndrome. Using “pelvic leveling,” your St Peters chiropractor can do it for you.  Get this important anatomical factor for good spinal and general health measured by your chiropractor so proper correction can be made. Keep in mind, chiropractors like yours at Old Mill Chiropractic see more than the general percent of persons with short leg because it causes spine pain. Old Mill Chiropractic sees and helps lots of spine pain! Consequently, by correcting short leg difference in younger years of life, we can prevent degenerative conditions of the spine and extremities that cause pain and disability in middle and older years of life.

CONTACT Old Mill Chiropractic

Check out podcasts of patient cases and conditions on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson to hear how effectively Cox® Technic addresses back pain and brings relief for a multitude of spine-related pain conditions.

Schedule your St Peters chiropractic appointment. Old Mill Chiropractic will welcome you as a member of the 90%-of-people-have-a-short leg crowd…or not! Count on Old Mill Chiropractic to help you with all your spine issues!

 
Old Mill Chiropractic tests for leg length inequality as it is related to back, hip and knee pain issues.