Unequal leg length
| Unequal leg length | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Rheumatology  |
Unequal leg length or leg length inequality (LLI) refers to a medical condition where the legs are of different lengths.
One form is "leg length alignment asymmetry" (LLAA) which is a condition in physiology where one leg (the 'short leg', or unloaded leg) is unequal in length while in a supine or prone position (i.e., lying down).
LLAA can be either anatomical in nature (short bones due to growth or an accident) or neuromuscular (hypertonicity in the musculature of the pelvis or leg).[1]
The most common treatment for discrepancies in leg length is the use of a simple heel lift, which can be placed within the shoe.
Although prone "functional leg length" is a widely used chiropractic tool in their Activator technique, it is not a recognized anthropometric technique, since legs are usually of unequal length, and measurements in the prone position are not entirely valid estimates of standing X-ray differences.[2] Measurements in the standing position are far more reliable.[3] Another confounding factor is that simply moving the two legs held together and leaning them imperceptibly to one side or the other produces different results.[4]
References
- ^ Knutson, G. A."Anatomic and functional leg-length inequality: A review and recommendation for clinical decision-making. Part II, the functional or unloaded leg-length asymmetry". Chiropractic & Osteopathy, 2005, 13:12 doi:10.1186/1746-1340-13-12.
- ^ D W Rhodes, E R Mansfield, P A Bishop, J F Smith. The validity of the prone leg check as an estimate of standing leg length inequality measured by X-ray. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. ;18 (6):343-6
- ^ E Hanada, R L Kirby, M Mitchell, J M Swuste. Measuring leg-length discrepancy by the "iliac crest palpation and book correction" method: reliability and validity. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2001 Jul ;82 (7):938-42
- ^ Keeping Your Spine In Line, Adjusting the Joints, and Video, Alan Alda, PBS, Scientific American Frontiers. Video discusses Activator technique and leg length