How To Identify If You Have Leg Length Discrepancy?
It’s common for people to brush off pains and aches in their body, thinking they might have overused the muscles or slept in the wrong position. But that’s not always the case. The chances of having an underlying cause are never low. Take leg length discrepancy, for example. As much as 40% of people who experience pain in the lower back, hip, or knee pain have leg length discrepancy. Since the difference in the leg lengths is unnoticeable to the naked eye, they stay unaware of the root cause.
Fortunately, several methods, such as shoe lift inserts, are available to correct the leg length discrepancy and say goodbye to chronic pain and discomfort. To know whether you have a leg length difference, take a look at a few signs that we have shared with you:
Incorrect posture
Whether you are born with leg length discrepancy or acquired it later after an injury, the difference in leg length affects the whole body. If you notice a difference in your posture or experience pain in the spine, the pelvis, or the lower limb joints, there is a possibility that the length of your leg is different from the other. Sometimes, individuals cannot point out the difference while looking at the mirror. In such a case, it’s best to meet a chiropractor to understand the root cause.
Manner of walking
The way you walk can help you recognize the difference in leg lengths. If your body often goes off-balance when you walk or you tilt your head to one side, it could mean that two different leg lengths are interfering with your walking manner. Other signs of leg length discrepancy include slow walks, small steps, dragging feet, and waggling.
Incorrect rib cage
If you notice your one rib or hip sticking out more than the other when you lie on your back, it could indicate pelvic tilt because of different leg lengths. Though people don’t feel pain, when not treated or corrected on time, it may cause discomfort.
Severe pain
As one side of the body works harder than the other side, the person with leg length discrepancy experiences pain and stiffness only on one side, particularly in the ankle, knee, hip, and lower back. The muscles also appear to be more toned than another side as they work harder to compensate for the deficiency.
Do not ignore chronic pain in the lower back, hip, and knees, as it may be due to an underlying condition that may hamper your everyday activities. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s best to get in touch with your physical therapist or chiropractor. Whether you need shoe lift inserts for leg length discrepancy or Achilles tendonitis, you can buy them online from a reputed specialty footwear retailer.
