Leg length inequality is prevalent. A short leg has an effect on joints in the spine, hip and knee. Knee, hip and back pain may follow. The Southern New Hampshire chiropractic examination at New Hampshire Spine and Sport incorporates a test for leg length inequality and, depending on the difference, the Southern New Hampshire chiropractic treatment plan will address it with a heel lift to help avert conditions 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 typical conversation starter! But 90% of us has an inequality of more 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 typically occur in the long leg side. Knee problems have a tendency to be more common in either leg – shorter or longer.
- Low back issues happen more commonly on the short leg side.
Authors of the newest review of many papers written on leg length inequality found that the majority of papers find differences of greater than 2 cm are a problem while variations of just 5 mm can lead to long-term issues.
(1) With these facts in mind, New Hampshire Spine and Sport finds it valuable to address leg length discrepancies to avoid painful issues as much as possible.
PREVENTION OF HIP JOINT ARTHRITIC DEGENERATION
Want to prevent 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 prevent long-term exposure to irritation and future joint degeneration. A short leg affects our joints.
Southern New Hampshire CHIROPRACTIC CARE OF SHORT LEG
Chiropractors like yours at New Hampshire Spine and Sport know short legs affect knees, backs and hips. We were trained in chiropractic school to notice key issues like leg length inequality and deal with them. Chiropractors notice 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 are used to correct up to 9 mm difference while a 10 mm or more needs 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 determine and correct short leg syndrome. Using “pelvic leveling,” your Southern New Hampshire chiropractor can do it for you. Get this important anatomical factor for good spinal and general health checked by your chiropractor so proper correction can be attained. Remember, chiropractors like yours at New Hampshire Spine and Sport see more than the general percent of persons with short leg because it causes spine pain. New Hampshire Spine and Sport sees and helps a great deal 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 age and beyond.
CONTACT New Hampshire Spine and Sport
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 Southern New Hampshire chiropractic appointment. New Hampshire Spine and Sport will welcome you as a member of the 90%-of-people-have-a-short leg group…or not! Count on New Hampshire Spine and Sport to help you with all your spine issues!