Leg length inequality is rampant.
Leg length inequality affects joints in
the knee and hip and spine. Knee,
hip and back pain may develop. The Pensacola
chiropractic examination at Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center incorporates a test
for leg length inequality and, subject to
the difference, the Pensacola chiropractic treatment
plan will correct it with a heel lift to potentially
avert problems like hip joint
arthritic degeneration, knee and back pain.
SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT INCIDENCE OF SHORT LEG
No one talks about having a
shorter leg than the other. It’s not a usual
conversation starter! But 90% of us has an inequality of greater
than 1 cm! Only 10% of us has exactly equal leg lengths. Just
10%! Leg length inequality equalizes us all.
- Hip and knee issues
crop up in more patients who have leg length differences
over 5 mm.
- Hip issues usually occur in the long leg side. Knee problems
have a tendency to be more typical in
either leg - shorter or longer.
- Low back problems happen
more commonly on the short leg side.
Authors of the newest review of many
papers written on leg length inequality report that the majority
of papers find differences of more than 2 cm are a problem while differences
of just 5 mm can lead to long-term issues.
(1) With these facts
in mind, Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center 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 will want to take note of this. Those who have a short leg, the contact forces in the joints in the short leg were
increased as the leg length difference increased. The greater the difference, the greater the contact forces in the
short leg. Why does this matter? 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 prevent long-term exposure to irritation and
future joint degeneration. A short leg affects our joints.
Pensacola CHIROPRACTIC CARE OF SHORT LEG
Chiropractors like yours at Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center know short legs affect knees, backs and hips. We were trained in
chiropractic school to note important issues like leg
length inequality and deal with them. Chiropractors find
that correction of leg length difference of 5 mm or more is beneficial.
The aim is to have no more than a 3 mm difference in leg length, 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 50% 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 establish and
correct short leg syndrome. We can do it by “pelvic leveling,” a technique your Pensacola 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. Remember,
chiropractors like yours at Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center see more than the general percent
of persons with short leg because it causes spine pain. Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center sees and
treats 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 Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center
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 Pensacola
chiropractic appointment. Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center will welcome you into the fold of the 90%-of-people-have-a-short leg group…or not! Count
on Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center to help you with all your spine issues!