Leg length inequality is widespread.
A short leg has an effect on joints in
the hip, knee and spine. Knee,
hip and back pain may result. The Malverne
chiropractic examination at Malverne Health & Wellness incorporates a test
for leg length inequality and, subject to
the discrepancy, the Malverne chiropractic treatment
plan will address it with a heel lift to potentially
prevent problems 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’s 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 problems
crop up in more patients who have leg length differences
over 5 mm.
- Hip issues usually occur in the long leg side. Knee problems
tend to be more typical in
either leg – shorter or longer.
- Low back pain conditions happen
more commonly on the short leg side.
Researchers recently reviewed many
published articleswritten on leg length inequality and report that the majority
of papers find differences of greater than 2 cm are a problem while differences
of just 5 mm can preempt long-term issues.
(1) With these facts
in mind, Malverne Health & Wellness 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. In
people with 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.
Malverne CHIROPRACTIC CARE OF SHORT LEG
Chiropractors like yours at Malverne Health & Wellness understand
how 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 are used to correct
up to 9 mm difference, but a 10 mm or more needs 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. Using
“pelvic leveling,” your Malverne 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 made. Keep in mind,
chiropractors like yours at Malverne Health & Wellness see more than the general percent
of persons with short leg because it causes spine pain. Malverne Health & Wellness sees and
treats a great deal of spine pain! Therefore,
by correcting short leg difference in younger years of life, we can avert
degenerative conditions of the spine and extremities that cause pain and
disability in middle age and beyond.
CONTACT Malverne Health & Wellness
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 Malverne
chiropractic appointment. Malverne Health & Wellness will welcome you into the fold of the 90%-of-people-have-a-short leg crowd…or not! Rely
on Malverne Health & Wellness to help you with all your spine issues!