What is
a limb-length discrepancy
? A limb-length discrepancy is when one leg or arm is shorter than the other leg or arm. The difference in length can range from a fraction of an inch to several inches. Some children are born with congenital limb differences that cause their legs or arms to grow at different rates.
Can leg length discrepancy be corrected?
If a child has stopped growing, orthopedists can sometimes correct a leg length discrepancy
by shortening the longer leg
. This is done by removing a piece of bone from the longer leg. Limb lengthening surgery also can be done.
What causes uneven leg length?
There are many different reasons to have a leg length discrepancy, but there are two main causes: 1) your child was born with a condition that caused one leg to grow slower than the other or 2)
something happened during your child’s lifetime that affected the length of the bone (i.e. a fracture)
or affected the growth …
What happens if you have one leg shorter than the other?
If one leg is shorter than the other,
the hip joints will be stressed as the leg-length
discrepancy will cause an abnormal gait or walking motion. This is evidenced by the waddling gait of someone with a hip problem.
What is leg length discrepancy?
Leg length discrepancy (LLD) is
an orthopedic problem that usually appears in childhood
, in which a child’s two legs are of unequal lengths.
Can a chiropractor fix uneven legs?
Chiropractic care does wonders for helping individuals regain their spinal alignment and loosen the joints and muscles affected by leg length inequality, but the underlying issue of Short Leg Syndrome remains. The goal of an orthotic heel lift is to balance out the legs, which in turn balances the hips and pelvis.
Is it common to have one leg shorter?
Having one leg longer than the other is relatively common. The condition is known as
leg length discrepancy
. Some research indicates that 40–70% of people have some form of leg length discrepancy (LLD).
How do you treat uneven leg length?
Treatment for a discrepancy depends upon the severity. In many cases, a minor difference in leg length can be evened out
by wearing a lift in one shoe
. A child with a more significant difference, however, may benefit from surgery to make his or her legs the same length.
When Should leg length discrepancy be corrected?
There is good consensus that leg length discrepancy should be corrected to 1 cm and 2 cm
residual inequality in growing children and after skeletal maturity
, respectively (2, 22).
Can uneven leg length cause back pain?
Those who suffer from functional leg length discrepancy are those who tend to suffer from lower back pain. The Academy of Clinical Massage shares that
tight back muscles on the “short side
” are often the cause of the leg length difference.
Does polio make one leg shorter?
Related to this is the possible shortening of the limb. In a growing child, bone grows as a result of the muscle pull on it and/or weight bearing. Therefore, many who contracted polio as a growing child may have one arm or leg or foot that
is shorter and smaller than
the non-affected/less affected limb.
Can a chiropractor fix leg length?
A
Chiropractor Can Help with Leg Length Discrepancy
However, if you suffer from leg length discrepancy, your chiropractor will address the various misalignments he or she finds throughout your legs, hips, pelvis and spine by administering very specific chiropractic adjustments. He or she may also prescribe orthotics.
Can scoliosis make one leg shorter?
There are two different types of limb length discrepancy (LLD), which are as follows: Functional Leg Length Discrepancy – Functional LLD is caused by scoliosis. A curved spine may cause the pelvis to become uneven, making
one leg appear to be longer than the other
(even though both legs are actually the same length).
How do you know if you have a leg length discrepancy?
- Affected posture. …
- Problems with gait (manner of walking) …
- Your rib cage or hips are forward on one side more than the other. …
- Loss of muscle tone in one leg. …
- Pain in the lower back, hip, ankle or knee. …
- Pain being more severe on one side of the body than the other.
Is leg length discrepancy a disability?
The disability from LLI is generally associated with the
long leg
, but may be associated with the short leg depending on individual circumstances. The disability from LLI may be associated with resultant compensation mechanisms for LLI , such as pelvic tilt and scoliosis.
Can you have one leg fatter than the other?
Chances are if you are reading this, that one of your legs is larger than the other, but what causes the swelling in only one leg? The answer is
lymphedema
, which is also known as lymphatic obstruction. In order to better understand lymphedema, it is first important to understand the lymphatic system.
