Leg Length Inequality: The Most Ignored Cause Of Lower Back Pain

Back pain is the most common ailment afflicting Americans today. Over 80 million Americans suffer from back pain at some point in their life. It's a problem that costs employers millions of dollars each year due to lost time and productivity. New and better treatment methods are always sought after in hopes of reducing the economic impact this condition causes, but a little known condition with an easy solution just might be the answer to reducing the frequency of lower back pain.

Leg length inequality, or LLI, is a condition where one of a person's legs is physically shorter than the other. This can occur because of genetics, where a person is predetermined to have a variation in the rate of growth of one or more of the bones in the leg. Injury to the growth plates of the tibia or femur can also be responsible for the different rates of growth. This explains why gymnasts are so prone to having leg length inequalities. The constant pounding forces applied to the growth plates of pre-teen female gymnasts explains why so many lower back problems exist as these individuals become adults. Fractures of one or more of the leg bones, foot bones, or even surgical changes seen in procedures like hip and knee replacements can also cause a variation in overall leg length.

Leg length inequality is often measured in orthopedic and chiropractic offices by use of a tape measure and measuring the distance between the lateral malleolus and the anterior superior iliac spine on each side of the patient. Although this method is common, it is not always accurate. The most accurate method of comparing leg length differences is with the use of a standing pelvic x-ray. The central ray of the x-ray is aimed at the sacral base, and the resulting film not only shows the position of the pelvis and sacrum, but also each femur head. With these structures visible, line drawings can be made on the film that allow the health care practitioner to determine the exact difference in millimeters.

Treatment for leg length inequality typically consists of an orthopedic shoe lift. These are very inexpensive, usually costing less than twenty dollars, compared to a custom orthotic of $200 or more. When the amount of leg length inequality begins to exceed half an inch, a whole sole lift is generally the better choice than a heel lift. This prevents the foot from being unnecessarily stressed in an abnormal position.

Leg length inequality goes largely undiagnosed on a daily basis, yet this condition is easily corrected, and can eliminate many cases of lower back pain and muscle spasm. If you're suffering from chronic lower back pain and haven't found relief, ask your doctor to consider leg length inequality. It's easy to find, easy to fix, and just may the key to ending your lower back pain.