How do you treat functional leg length discrepancy?
A functional leg length can often be corrected with a combination of chiropractic adjustments and stretching. The chiropractic adjustments will properly align the pelvis, which may be the cause of the leg length difference.
What causes leg discrepancy in kids?
Some children are born with congenital limb differences that cause their legs or arms to grow at different rates. Other limb-length discrepancies are caused by serious fractures, a fracture that does not heal properly, a bone infection such as osteomyelitis, or bone tumors or bone cysts.
What is considered a significant leg length discrepancy?
A survey of 74 skeletally mature patients with leg length discrepancies of 1.5 cm or more revealed that patients with less than a 2.0-cm discrepancy did not consider their short leg to be a problem in any way.
Which orthotics is used for leg length discrepancies?
While adjustments and exercises may be useful, an orthotic with a pronation wedge under the heel is usually needed for long-term correction. In most patients, providing the proper orthotics for leg length discrepancy and support for excessive pronation is all that is necessary to balance the functional leg lengths.
How do you treat one leg shorter than the other?
What are the treatments for leg length discrepancy? Small leg length difference can be observed or treated with a shoe lift. Larger leg length differences may require surgery. Options for this include slowing down or stopping the growth of the longer leg or lengthening the shorter leg.
When Should leg length discrepancy be corrected?
Conservative treatment 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 orthotics fix leg length discrepancy?
What are possible treatments for leg length discrepancy?
The most common treatment for leg length discrepancy is to put a lift in the shoe of the shorter leg. The lift theoretically evens out the length of the legs, relieving the uneven stress being put on the joints, bones, and soft tissues.
How to evaluate for leg length discrepancy?
Examination and outcome measures. The most accurate method to identify leg (limb) length inequality ( discrepancy ) is through radiography. It’s also the best way to differentiate an anatomical from a functional limb length inequality.
Why is my leg longer after hip replacement?
When the hip is replaced the leg length will be longer but the shorter muscles will pull the pelvis down and the patient will experience the leg as too long. It takes time for the muscles to adapt. In some cases the problem is caused by the positioning of the cup part of the joint.
What is a true leg length?
True limb length is usually defined as the distance from the anterior superior iliac spine to the medial malleolus. True leg length inequality is defined as lengthening or shortening of the above measurement as compared with the contralateral limb.