Leg Length Discrepancy Research
The following are research papers and studies about leg length discrepancies.
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The highlights section refers to conclusions found by the study.
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The biomagnetism notes section refers to inferences made by Yasu Seminars as well as a simplified explanation of the study.
PDF Link: https://www.archives-pmr.org/article/S0003-9993(05)00565-4/pdf
PubMed.Gov Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16271551
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Objective: To study whether the conservative correction in a leg-length discrepancy (LLD) of 10mm or less in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) can relieve pain.
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Publication Type: Randomized, controlled intervention study, with a mean follow-up duration of 10 weeks.
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Highlights:
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Shoe inserts significantly reduced both pain intensity and disability. A moderate positive correlation was found between LLD and the degree of pain relief after wearing shoe inserts.
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Shoe inserts appear to reduce CLBP and functional disability in patients with LLDs of 10 mm or less.
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It is possible that mild LLD is rarely treated because clinicians are not aware of the potential for its correction.
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Biomagnetism Notes:
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While shoe inserts significantly reduced both pain intensity and disability, the patient is limited to certain shoes and need to rely on only wearing those specific shoes. Due to these limitations, a patient will not be able to reduce the pain intensity and disability compared to if they could eliminate the leg length discrepancy completely. If the patient has a physiological leg length discrepancy, biomagnetism can help eliminate the leg length discrepancy.
PubMed.Gov Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14595166​
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Objective: To evaluate the effect of leg length discrepancy on the changes in the curvature of the normal spine during gait.
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Study Design: Article
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Highlights: ​​This study focused on the effects of leg length discrepancy on the motion of the normal spine during gait in healthy male volunteers who wore a heel-raising orthotic device on the right foot. Patients who have leg length discrepancy due to disorders in the lower extremities are at greater risk of developing disabling spinal disorders due to exaggerated degenerative change. Therefore, treatment for leg length discrepancy may be helpful in preventing degenerative spinal changes.
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Biomagnetism Notes:
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A biomagnetism treatment for someone with a leg length discrepancy may be helpful in preventing degenerative spinal changes since, after treatment, the individual may no longer have a leg length discrepancy.
Science Direct Link: ​https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0966636217310536
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Objective: To understand the effects of leg length discrepancy (LLD) on the biomechanics of gait and determining as to what extent of LLD alters gait is essential.
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Study Design: Article
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Highlights: ​​"This study demonstrates that simulated LLD, as low as 5 mm, causes biomechanical changes in the lower limbs during gait revealed in both kinematics and dynamic leg length, suggesting that LLD, as small as 5–10 mm, should not be ignored."
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Biomagnetism Notes:
If a difference as low as 5 mm can cause changes to how a person walks, then such a difference should not be ignored and should be treated with biomagnetism.
PubMed.Gov Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4872568/
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Objective: Inequality in leg length may lead to to abnormal transmission of load across the endplates and degeneration lumbar spine and the disc space. There has been no study focusing on lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and leg length discrepancy. This subject was investigated in this study.
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Study Design: Article
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Highlights: ​The results of this study showed a statistically significant association between leg length discrepancy and the occurrence of LDH. The changes of spine anatomy with leg length discrepancy in hip dysplastic patients are of importance in understanding the nature of LDH.
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Biomagnetism Notes:
Because biomagnetism can help treat a leg length discrepancy, it can be helpful in reducing the degeneration of the disc space in the lumbar spine.