A Natural Leg Length Discrepancy Treatment Method

What is Leg Length Discrepancy?

Seeing a slight difference in the length of your legs is not uncommon and is completely normal. However, when there is a significant difference between the length of one leg from the other, it can lead to a range of issues along the spine, shoulders, and head.

Some individuals may have leg length discrepancy from birth, but this condition can also be seen in young teens and adults, particularly those who have suffered an injury to the upper cervical region of the spine.

Signs and Symptoms of Leg Length Discrepancy

Leg length discrepancy can have serious consequences on childhood development, leading to a range of skeletal and muscular issues if not addressed. Some common symptoms of leg length discrepancy include walking with a limp, a noticeable difference in the height of the hip bone on one side compared to the other, the appearance of a curved spine despite having no scoliosis diagnosis, back pain, and fatigue. 

How the Upper Cervical Spine Affects Leg Length Discrepancy

Leg length discrepancy that does not stem from conditions like scoliosis can often be difficult to diagnose. An often-overlooked cause of leg length discrepancy is a misalignment in the upper cervical spine. The atlas or the C1 vertebra (located at the junction of the neck and skull) is responsible for holding the weight of the head and supporting the head movement. 

Whether through injury or genetic factors, if the atlas vertebra is dislodged, the entire centerline of the body is pushed out of alignment. While the misalignment can be slight, the body will immediately begin to compensate to keep the head close to the centerline of the body. In turn, muscle tone on one side of the spine is increased and tightens, pulling the hip bone closer to the shoulder. It is this action that directly results in leg length discrepancy.

How Our Upper Cervical Treatment for Leg Length Discrepancy Works

Our leg length discrepancy specialist, Dr. Gordon Elder, is an expert practitioner of the Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractic Technique. This chiropractic technique focuses specifically on restoring the upper cervical spine, using gentle and precise spinal corrections. 

Dr. Elder employs a two-step approach to identifying and treating leg length discrepancy. Firstly, patients undergo a 25–30-minute consultation to determine if a vertebral misalignment is causing leg length discrepancy. Following your initial consultation, you’ll have the opportunity to ask Dr. Elder any questions about your condition and you’ll receive a comprehensive report. This process will likely involve the use of advanced 3-D imaging diagnostic techniques to determine the specific location of any misalignments.

For the treatment phase, Dr. Elder will use the Blair chiropractic low-force adjustment techniques to restore misaligned vertebrae back into their natural position, ensuring healthy musculoskeletal development and allowing the body’s natural healing mechanisms to resume.

Following the initial adjustments, patients generally need to return for regular check-ups (for at least 3-5 months) to ensure the adjustment has set. Most patients average between 10 and 15 appointments with Dr. Elder to achieve long-lasting results.  

If leg length discrepancy is limiting your physical abilities, get in touch today to speak with Dr. Elder about the health of your upper cervical spine. Located in Lubbock, Texas, Dr. Elder also services Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, El Paso in Texas, and Hobbs in New Mexico.

Published by Vic Belonogoff: A Blair Chiropractic doctor helped heal vertigo, among other conditions that Vic Belonogoff suffered from, and it gave him his life back. He continues to see an upper cervical chiropractor as a preventative measure. Vic Belonogoff is passionate about upper cervical chiropractic and how much it helps patients.