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Leg Length Difference or Unequal leg length

FAC Articles

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Knee Pain

FAC ArticlesExcessive rotational forces coming from the ground up can have a significant impact on the body, particularly on the knees. When the foot posture is not ideal, these rotational forces can be transmitted throughout the entire body, leading to knee pain and...

Heel Spur Relief

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Hip Pain

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Toe Walking For 11 Years

18 Year old patient presents that has been toe walking for 11 years. He was told he needed surgery to fix the condition, after speaking to his worried mother we investigated our options to see if we could help.Toe walking refers to a walking pattern in which a person...

I have been suffering tendonitis for a few years.

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Understanding Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms and How to Manage Them

If you're a runner, an athlete, or someone who spends a significant amount of time on their feet, you've probably heard about plantar fasciitis. It's a common foot condition that can cause significant discomfort, and understanding its symptoms is the first step toward...

Flat Feet Over Pronation

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Condition Treated List

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Tips for keeping feet happy in the office

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Bunion Treatment

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Shin Splints Treatment

Shin Splints TreatmentShin Soreness, Why? Put simply shin soreness or shin splints is a definition used to explain agony in the shins. Shin soreness is a common injury for those new to exercise and in many running based sports, e.g. basketball, netball, football. It...

Sciatica pain

Sciatica Nerve PainSciatica pain is a type of pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve, which is the longest nerve in the human body. The sciatic nerve starts in the lower back, travels through the buttocks, down the back of each leg, and ends in the feet. Sciatica...

Sever’s Disease Treatment

Sever’s Disease TreatmentSever's disease is a common condition that affects children and adolescents who are going through growth spurts. It is caused by inflammation of the growth plate in the heel, and it can be very painful. Kids that are prone to Severs are...

Recurrent Muscle Injuries

What are Recurrent Muscle Injuries.  When your body is well exercised, fit and healthy, you have appropriate muscle tone to manage the stresses carried by your calf, quads, groin or hamstrings.  If your base of support is not stable then the muscles of the...

Plantar Fasciitis – Heel Pain Treatment

The following document will outline heel pain and the appropriate Plantar Fasciitis symptoms, solutions and treatment. Heel pain is our most searched term. Plantar fasciitis is a condition that causes pain in the heel and bottom of the foot. It is a common problem...

Piriformis Syndrome

Piriformis Syndrome is a myofascial syndrome whereby the piriformis muscle (due to excessive work in trying to stabilize the hip) develops trigger points. Increased tension in this muscle can cause entrapment of the sciatic nerve and hence sciatic like symptoms. As...

Patella Maltracking Treatment

If your base of support (your feet) is not stable then the muscles of the lower limb, pelvis and back are overworking to compensate. A pronated foot is likely to overwork the lateral compartments of the calf and thigh hence resulting in micro trauma, soft tissue...

Pelvic Imbalance Treatment

Pelvic imbalance may arise from a multitude of causes including lifestyle and occupational habits. Interestingly the shape of your feet and your leg length can put uneven strain on your pelvis. A recurrent pelvic imbalance (“upslip”, “inflare” etc.) may be due to an...

Muscle Imbalance

If you suffer from pain and discomfort, your body tries to make allowance. Muscle imbalance refers to the balance between strength and length of muscles acting around one or more joints. Muscles respond to the stresses placed upon them. Therefore it is of utmost...

Insoles For Flat Feet

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Osteoarthritis Treatment

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Osgood Schlatter Disease

Osgood Schlatter Disease During your child's adolescent growth spurt, his or her bones grow rapidly. If your child is involved in a lot of running and jumping activities during this time, he or she is at risk of developing Osgood-Schlatter disease (tibial tuberosity...

Metatarsalgia Treatment

Metatarsalgia Treatment Metatarsalgia occurs when one or more of the metatarsal heads become painful and/or inflamed, usually due to excessive pressure over a long period of time. It is common to experience acute, recurrent, or chronic pain with this common foot...

Morton ‘s Neuroma

Morton 's neuroma is localized pain in the interspace between the third and fourth toes due to nerve compression. Flat feet can cause the nerve to be pulled toward the middle (medially) more than normal, which can cause irritation and possibly enlargement of the...

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Unequal leg length, also known as leg length discrepancy, can have several different causes and effects on the body.

Causes:

  1. Developmental factors: Some people are born with unequal leg lengths due to developmental abnormalities or conditions such as hip dysplasia or scoliosis.
  2. Trauma: Leg length discrepancy can occur as a result of a fracture, dislocation, or other trauma to the leg bones or joints.
  3. Surgical procedures: Leg length discrepancy can result from surgeries such as joint replacements, bone grafts, or limb lengthening procedures.

Effects:

  1. Gait abnormalities: Leg length discrepancy can cause a noticeable limp or uneven gait, which can lead to additional strain and discomfort in other parts of the body such as the hips, knees, and lower back.
  2. Pain: Unequal leg length can cause pain in the affected leg, as well as in the lower back, hips, and knees due to the altered biomechanics of the body.
  3. Arthritis: Unequal leg length can lead to arthritis in the joints of the affected leg due to increased pressure and wear and tear.

A majority of people have a measurable leg length difference of 5mm or more, although most people adapt to the difference with no apparent ill effects. Unfortunately, some do not, and the effects range from low back or sacroiliac pain to hip, knee, or foot problems. A number of causes can contribute to leg length discrepancy, including:

  • Any bone in the leg ever broken, particularly during growth years,
  • Congenital differences or uneven growth,
  • Disease-caused shortening of the muscles and connective tissue,
  • a common after-effect of polo.
  • Surgically-induced differences, especially common after hip replacement surgery,
  • Compensation for problems elsewhere in the body,
  • such as pelvic or spinal scoliosis.

Short leg syndrome or anatomical (structural) or functional (adaptive) leg length discrepancy, is often treated using custom orthotics. A CT scanogram is routine for diagnosing leg length difference.