Short Leg

Short leg syndrome (SLS) is better known in the medical community as Leg Length Discrepancy. In the simplest terms, one who suffers from SLS will have one leg that is shorter than the other. The length difference does not have to be large to make a difference in your body. We are not symmetric. Leg length discrepancy up to 1.5 cm is usually tolerated well into middle age, but by around age 40 the mechanisms the body employs to compensate for this discrepancy begin to fail.

SLS can be caused by congenitally different bone lengths and sizes or by acquired deficits between legs that are otherwise structurally intact. An injury or other outside influence to any area from the foot to the back will create an imbalance of forces, leading to over compensation of the legs, hips, and spine. Gravity plays a harsh role on our biomechanics, leading to ankle, knee, or pelvic misalignment, sacral unleveling, scoliosis of the lumbar, thoracic, or even cervical spine. This chain of events will give way to unequal burden on joints and overuse of certain muscles, possibly leading to early osteoarthritis and muscular compensation in the spine, hip joint, knees, or ankles. This is when we see the symptoms of SLS.

Today, back pain plagues the American society. Approximately 26 million Americans between the ages 20-64 suffer from low back pain. While back pain can have many causes, SLS represents a largely overlooked source for those suffering from back pain. Even if the SLS is not the root cause of the low back pain, it can result in a SLS and further a patient’s suffering. Our musculoskeletal system can temporarily adapt to adverse situations such as short leg syndrome.  For this reason many patients with SLS are pain free.  It is not until our musculoskeletal system is unable to adapt or there is tissue property failure (degeneration) that patients experience pain.

Symptoms include:

  • Neck or Back Pain, Hip, Knee, or Ankle Pain on one or both sides

  • Asymmetric tightness in the Psoas, Glutes, Piriformis, Hamstrings

  • Sciatica (Neuropathic pain radiating the back of the leg)