Leg Length Discrepancy
If you keep having the same leg or foot problems even after getting the right treatment, it might be due to a leg length discrepancy (LLD), also known as short leg syndrome. This means there’s a noticeable difference in length between your legs.
UNDERSTANDING LEG LENGTH DISCREPANCY
Overview
In Singapore, people with leg length discrepancy (LLD) often have trouble describing their symptoms, so it can easily be missed or confused with something else. Many say they feel “uneven” or notice “one hip higher than the other,” and they often also experience lower back pain.
Parents should watch for any signs that their child is limping, has less hip movement, or walks unevenly. These could be signs of LLD, but they might also indicate other serious issues like hip problems, fractures, or scoliosis.
Causes of leg length discrepancy:
Structural Factors:
This is when one leg is actually longer than the other due to differences in the length of the bones, like the femur or tibia.
Functional Factors:
This occurs when the bones are the same length, but the muscles around the hips, waist, or lower back aren’t working properly. This can make one hip seem higher than the other and affect how the legs move and look.
Symptoms and causes to Achilles Tendonitis
Symptoms of Achilles Tendonitis
Birth Defects:
Conditions you’re born with, like one leg being shorter than the other.
Tumors or Bone Diseases:
Growths or diseases affecting the bones.
Hip Issues in Children:
Problems with the hip that develop during childhood.
Injuries:
Accidents or trauma, such as from a car crash.
Infections:
Diseases like polio that affect the bones.
Causes of Achilles Tendonitis
Soft Tissue Tightness:
Tight muscles or other soft tissues affecting leg alignment.
One-Sided Pronation:
Uneven foot rolling, where one foot rolls in more than the other.
Scoliosis:
A curved spine that affects body alignment.
Pelvic Rotation:
Tight muscles or other soft tissues affecting leg alignment.
Pelvic Torsion:
Tight muscles or other soft tissues affecting leg alignment.
Studies suggest that up to 90% of people might have some degree of leg length discrepancy (LLD). However, in most adults, LLD doesn’t usually cause major problems unless there’s a lot of physical activity involved.
When you put extra stress on your body through physical activities, symptoms of LLD can become more noticeable. The longer leg often bears more of the load as your body tries to balance out the difference in leg lengths, which can lead to pain and tension in that leg. This is because the longer leg is used more during walking and may roll inward more, causing additional discomfort.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of leg length discrepancy?
Back pain
Hip pain/Inter-tibial band syndrome
Achilles tendon issues (tendinopathy)
One heel lifting off the ground earlier than the other during walking
Rolling inward (pronation) of the subtalar joint
Early-onset osteoarthritis
Uneven shoulders
Nerve-related pain
How is Leg Length Discrepancy Diagnosed?
Podiatrists, who specialize in foot and lower limb conditions, are skilled at determining whether a leg length discrepancy (LLD) is structural or functional. During the initial evaluation, they perform various clinical tests to measure leg length differences and identify related conditions. One common method involves measuring the length of each leg from specific bony landmarks and using a Galeazzi test to determine if the discrepancy is in the femur or tibia. If a difference of more than 1 cm is found, or if symptoms are causing discomfort, the podiatrist will discuss treatment options.
For children with noticeable leg length discrepancy, it’s crucial to consult a podiatrist right away, as LLD can impact their walking pattern over time.
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