Treatment for Short Leg Syndrome in Augusta GA

Treatment for Short Leg Syndrome in Augusta GA

Is it really important to have level legs? If the legs have always been different lengths, why does the back suddenly start to hurt? The answer lies in the fact that the leg length difference causes a tilt at the bottom of spine and is constant stress to the balance of the skeleton. Sooner or later, because this delicate balance is disturbed, the area becomes painful.

What's the difference between an anatomical and a functional leg length inequality?
Anatomical LLI refers to a leg which is physically shorter than the other due to unequal growthrates, fractures, or deformities. In a functional LLI situation, both legs may be identical in length (or nearly so), but one functions as if it were shorter because of either a postural imbalance in the body or uneven muscle contractions between the two legs.

An example of a functional LLI could be something like this: say the structures in your right foot (arches, bones, muscles, tendons, etc.) are all working properly and holding up their side of your body in its correct and most stable position. However, your left foot has a collapsed arch, and the bones there have dropped to a less stable position, which causes your left foot to pronate (flare out) as you stand or walk. Your left leg now functions as if it were shorter because it isn't receiving the same amount of foot support as the right leg. This imbalance can cause pressure, stress, and pain in your knees, thighs, hips, pelvis, and spine.

Functional Leg Length Inequality

About 90% of all leg length inequalities fall into the functional category. The most common cause being excessive pronation of the feet. This is commonly referred to as dropped arches. When this occurs more on one side than the other, a functional leg length inequality results. The hips and pelvis must then compensate and the low back takes the brunt of the stress. Other causes or co-existing conditions include pelvic subluxations in which the hips rotate or tilt more to one side. Muscle contractors and sacral misalignments with a decreased range of motion in the hips can also play a role. Because discrepancies in leg length can affect the entire kinetic chain, symptoms can manifest anywhere along the chain.

Common symptoms include: chronic or recurrent sciatic pain; hip pain, arthritis or other hip problems; low back pain, scoliosis, uneven hip heights; and pain in the thigh. Symptoms may also present up the kinetic chain causing headaches and neck pain. These symptoms are generally worse after walking or standing all day. Symptoms are decreased in the morning after recumbent rest. Athletes are more prone to theses symptoms and they will vary with activity level.

Chiropractic is considered by many to be part of mainstream Western medicine and primary care. Similar to other medical professions, many chiropractors have extensive postgraduate training and become board certified in certain areas such as diagnostic radiology, neurology, nutrition, orthopaedics, physical rehabilitation, and sports medicine.

Short Leg Syndrome Specialist in Augusta GA

As experienced chiropractors in Augusta GA and chiropractors in Evans GA, Georgia Clinic of Chiropractic has successfully provided patients with treatments without the use of pharmaceutical drugs or invasive procedures. If a patient’s short leg syndrome is caused by a functional difference, Georgia Clinic of Chiropractic can provide customized treatments to address the underlying biomechanical cause and areas of imbalance.