Did you know that your legs can be two different lengths? Crazy, right? But what’s even crazier, is that many people don’t even know it affects them. You may be thinking, “How is that possible? Wouldn’t I notice if my legs were two different lengths?” Well, the answer isn’t exactly black and white. Let’s take a closer look, as there are actually two different types of leg length discrepancy (LLD).
Anatomical
An anatomical discrepancy means that one leg is actually physically shorter than the other. How does that happen? It can be caused by a broken bone that doesn’t heal properly, bone cancer, or an abnormality in development. Sometimes these discrepancies are even noticeable to the untrained eye, while at other times the LLD can only be detected with radiographic exams.
What can be done? Well, it depends on the severity. A mild case of anatomical LLD can be remedied with something as simple as shoe inserts or specially designed shoes. More severe cases may require prosthetics or surgery.
Functional
Functional LLD means the discrepancy is not caused by the physical bone structure. Instead it can be caused by joint restriction, joint laxity, muscle contraction, improper foot motion, or misalignment. Here are some everyday life scenarios that could cause LLD:
– a mother that consistently carries a child on one hip
– an athlete that rolls his/her ankle and favors one leg
– someone who is sore from starting up a new workout routine
– over or under stretching
– improper posture or old shoes
When muscles are contracted or relaxed for extended periods of time on one side of the body, it can result in LLD. No matter the cause it can have a cascading effect that leads to other problems. This may include low back pain, hip/ankle/knee pain, muscle spasms, poor posture, limping, toe-walking, or poor balance. However, the good news is that functional discrepancy can be treated with chiropractic care!
How Can Chiropractic Help?
“Chiropractors fix backs. That’s it.” This is a common misconception that is far from the truth! In reality, chiropractors are trained to treat a patient’s entire body, which would include treating LLD. A chiropractor can use methods such as muscle work, adjustments, and strengthening exercises to realign a patient’s hips and remedy the discrepancy.
So what does this mean for you? Well, if you experience any of the previously mentioned symptoms (low back pain, hip/ankle/knee pain, muscle spasms, poor posture, limping, toe-walking, or poor balance) it would be worth your time to ask your chiropractor about LLD. He/she is trained to recognize the signs and symptoms, and can restore you to peak health. Better yet, seek out a house-call chiropractor that can come to you!