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Leg Length

Leg Length image

Do you have back pain? Believe it or not, the cause could be from having one leg longer than the other.

Leg length differences can be caused by poor alignment of the pelvis or because one leg is longer than the other. Your body wants to be symmetrical and will do its best to compensate for the length difference. The bigger the leg length difference, the earlier the symptoms will occur to the patient. Diagnoses that coincide with leg length issues include: scoliosis, lumbar herniated discs, bursitis, hip arthritis and patellofemoral syndrome. Other potential causes could be due to an injury such as a fracture, bone disease, bone tumors, congenital problems (present at birth) or from a neuromuscular problem.

If your doctor thinks that leg length differences (LLD) could be the cause of your symptoms then they will measure your leg from the hip to the ankle. In certain instances x-rays would be ordered to check the length.
Treatment for leg length differences could be as easy as a shoe insert for the shorter leg. In which you would go to a podiatrist or orthopedic doctor to be fitted for. Other treatments could include Physical therapy or surgical intervention if the difference is greater than 5 mm.

So, if you are having issues with leg length, come see one of our doctors here at Saratoga Spine for a full evaluation.

For more information on this topic, click on the links below.

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00259

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/423194_5

https://scienceblog.com/33105/approaching-treatment-involving-leg-length-discrepancy/

Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery