Limb Length Differences / Scoliosis

Looking at the diagram below, you can see that figure 2 has unequal leg lengths. The body will reposition its parts to keep the centre of mass (the middle of the body as a whole) exactly in between the feet, both in a front-to-back plane and a side-to-side plane. If this didn t happen, you would simply fall over a lot. The changes that are visable are:

• Shoulders are off line horizontally (often best seen when relaxed in aphotograph rather than studying yourself in the mirror)
• Hips are off line horizontally
• Hands hang at different heights
• The long leg rotates inwards (towards knock knee) often causing the pelvis to tip forward on that side
• The short leg rotates outwards (toe out) often causing the pelvis to tip back on that side
• The long leg s foot pronates (rolls in)
• The short leg s foot supinates (rolls out)
• The spine curves, usually in an S shape called scoliosis

Limb Length Difference.

This diagram only shows the side-toside plane changes. Similar effects are found in the front-to-back plane as well, i.e. looking at the body in profile. Pain is usually located in the back, shoulders and neck. It is common to have foot and knee symptoms on one side and hip symptoms on the other.

The right way to fix this problem depends a lot on the age of the patient. If young (under 10) a simple raise in the shoe to make the legs the same length may be all that is required. If the person is over 70, it is unlikely that any raise will be tolerated as the body will be too set into the bad position. Between 10 and 70 years of age, a greater or lesser amount of raise will be tolerated. After adolescence and through adulthood, it is likely that anyone with a limb length difference will need to wear shoe inserts to stop the leg and pelvis rotations. See a podiatrist to be properly assessed and treated.