Does A Leg Length Difference Cause Back Pain?

Have you ever considered physiotherapy for your back pain? Has a physician ever told you that one of your legs is actually a bit longer than the other? If the answer to both of these questions is yes, then your back pain might be caused by your leg length difference.

The majority of the population has at least some small difference in length from one leg to the next. While the difference is negligible to some and does not cause them to experience any sort of back pain, the greater the discrepancy, the more likely you are to experience back pain as a result.

If the difference in leg lengths is less than 5 millimeters (a quarter inch), then the person typically feels no pain as a result and does not require physiotherapy Cambridge. A leg length difference that is greater than 9 millimeters creates a far greater likelihood that you will experience back pain at some point during your life.

So What Causes Differences In Leg Length?

While one leg might simply be longer than the other from a structural standpoint, a difference in leg length can also be caused by poor pelvic alignment, which is an area that can be covered during a physiotherapy treatment session.

The human body craves a symmetrical existence and will attempt to compensate for any differences. When the body’s attempts to compensate for the difference no longer work, symptoms begin to take place. The severity of these symptoms depends on the size of the difference.

Which Diagnoses Coincide With These Differences?

Physiotherapy patients who are experiencing back pain as a result of a difference in leg length go through a variety of ailments, including herniated disks, scoliosis, bursitis and arthritis.

What Are Some Other Potential Causes?

There are a variety of other causes for a leg length difference that a person should remain aware of. If a person experiences a bone fracture, this can cause a difference. Bone diseases can also lead to erosion that causes a leg length difference. Congenital problems that are usually present during birth can also cause the legs to grow at different lengths.

How To Classify

Leg length differences can be classified in two different manners, both of which contribute to back pain. A leg length discrepancy that is structural in nature is caused when the legs naturally grow at different lengths, while a leg length discrepancy that is functional is often caused by torsion related issues.

Joint dysfunction can also cause one leg to act if it is shorter than the other, which is a problem that can be corrected in physiotherapy. Physiotherapy also focuses on functional leg length discrepancy by treating the underlying conditions. If the pelvis is returned to its rightful place symmetrically and the pain still persists, then this means the person has a leg length discrepancy that is structual.

Treatment Options

Whether you are struggling with a structural discrepancy or one that is functional, physiotherapy Cambridge can provide help. A structural discrepancy can be corrected by wearing a heel life inside of one shoe. A physiotherapy session is needed, so that the size and usage of the heel lift is able to be determined.

Physiotherapy is also recommended to patients who are experiencing back pain as a result of a leg length difference, so that they can obtain maximum muscle flexibility and stretch the muscles to induce the healing process.

If you are experiencing back pain on a consistent basis and your legs are of two different lengths, there may be a correlation between the two. Start off with a physiotherapy evaluation, so that you can learn more about your condition, as well as your treatment options.

For more information visit http://www.physio-cambridge.co.uk or call today on 01223 581 200 or find us at 2 Ely Road, Milton, Cambridge, CB24 6DD