Leg Length Discrepancy and Back Pain: How Chiropractic Care Can Help
Do you notice one pant leg dragging more than the other, or a sore back after hours on your feet? You may be living with a leg length discrepancy (LLD), a common difference in the length of your legs. Slight differences are expected, but when one leg is measurably shorter, the pelvis can tilt toward that side and the spine shifts to make up for it. Gradually, that uneven base can stress the joints, discs, and muscles of the low back.
WHY ACCURATE LEG LENGTH MEASUREMENT MATTERS
Research shows that measuring a leg length difference takes care and consistency. Tipton, Sutherland, and Schwarzkopf (1) showed that measurements from a standard pelvic X-ray differed significantly from actual leg length, and encouraged checking for any preexisting discrepancy before hip replacement surgery. Kadhim, Kelly, and Sabharwal (2) found that three full-length standing X-ray methods produced comparable results, but suggested using the same technique every time, especially when the legs bow or angle. The source of the difference matters as well. Tolk, Eastwood, and Hashemi-Nejad (3) linked leg length differences in Perthes' disease to the upper end of the thigh bone near the hip. Birch, Makarov, and Jo (4) found that when one part of a child's leg is shortened, the unaffected part of that same leg typically doesn't grow extra to make up the difference. You can trust your chiropractor to figure it all out for you!
HOW CHIROPRACTORS ADDRESS LEG LENGTH AND BACK PAIN
That's where your chiropractor steps in. Chiropractic's most important contribution is identifying the discrepancy and recognizing how it alters spinal mechanics in ways that can cause pain. Your evaluation might include checking pelvic level, posture, and gait, along with X-rays if necessary. Your care plan might then include precise spinal adjustments, flexion-distraction to relieve pressure on irritated joints and discs, individualized exercises, and heel lifts as needed. If a discrepancy calls for orthopedic evaluation, your chiropractor can certainly help coordinate that referral.
CONTACT Aurora Chiropractic Center
If your back pain seems to have no clear cause, the answer might be right beneath you. Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. William Owen on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates the importance of communicating well with patients and healthcare colleagues about back pain sources like leg length issues and The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management. Then, book a visit with your chiropractor at Aurora Chiropractic Center to discover whether leg length is part of your back pain picture and how to restore your spine's balance.
