Leg length inequality is rampant.
A short leg has an effect on joints in
the spine, hip and knee. Knee,
hip and back pain may result. The Severna Park
chiropractic examination at Back And Neck Care Center includes an analysis of leg length inequality and, depending on
the discrepancy, the Severna Park chiropractic treatment
plan will correct it with a heel lift to potentially
prevent 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 exactly equal leg lengths. Just
10%! Leg length inequality equalizes us all.
- Hip and knee problems
appear in more patients who have leg length differences
over 5 mm.
- Hip issues usually occur in the long leg side. Knee conditions
have a tendency to be more common in
either leg – shorter or longer.
- Low back pain conditions 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 differences
of just 5 mm can lead to long-term issues.
(1) With these facts
in mind, Back And Neck Care 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 prevent hip joint arthritic degeneration?
Young and old alike will want to take note of this. In
people with 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. 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 stop long-term exposure to irritation and
future joint degeneration. A short leg affects our joints.
Severna Park CHIROPRACTIC CARE OF SHORT LEG
Chiropractors like yours at Back And Neck Care Center know short legs affect knees, backs and hips. We were trained in
chiropractic school to note key issues like leg
length inequality and address them. Chiropractors notice
that correction of leg length difference of 5 mm or more is beneficial.
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 50% the
difference under the sole. (1) Chiropractic has always taught in its education to
diagnose and correct short leg differences. It’s important that
to know that an xray Is not required to determine and
correct short leg syndrome. Using
“pelvic leveling,” your Severna Park 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. Keep in mind,
chiropractors like yours at Back And Neck Care Center see more than the general percent
of persons with short leg because it causes spine pain. Back And Neck Care Center sees and
helps a great deal of spine pain! Therefore,
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 Back And Neck Care 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 Severna Park
chiropractic appointment. Back And Neck Care Center will welcome you as a
member of the 90%-of-people-have-a-short leg group…or not! Rely
on Back And Neck Care Center to help you with all your spine issues!