Leg length inequality is rampant.
Leg length inequality affects joints in
the knee and hip and spine. Knee,
hip and back pain may follow. The Manchester
chiropractic examination at Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries incorporates a test
for leg length inequality and, depending on
the difference, the Manchester chiropractic treatment
plan will address it with a heel lift to help
avoid issues 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 is 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 typical in
either leg – shorter or longer.
- Low back pain conditions 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 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, Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries finds it valuable
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. Those who have 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 affect 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 bothers our joints.
Manchester CHIROPRACTIC CARE OF SHORT LEG
Chiropractors like yours at Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries 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 find
that correction of leg length difference of 5 mm or more is beneficial.
The goal is to have no more than 3
mm of leg length difference, and heel lifts are used to 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 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 Manchester 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 Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries see more than the general percent
of persons with short leg because it causes spine pain. Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries sees and
helps lots of spine pain! Consequently,
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 and older years of life.
CONTACT Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries
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and conditions on The Back Doctors
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Schedule your Manchester
chiropractic appointment. Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries will welcome you as a
member of the 90%-of-people-have-a-short leg group…or not! Count
on Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries to help you with all your spine issues!