Balancing the Steps

What You Need to Know About Leg Length Discrepancy

Leg length discrepancy (LLD) is when one leg is shorter than the other. It can happen because of things like congenital disabilities, injuries to growth plates, problems with bones and muscles, or issues with how you stand and walk. Even though it might seem small, LLD can change how your body moves and make you uncomfortable. If not treated, it could cause more problems with how you walk and move.

Causes and Consequences

Leg length discrepancy (LLD) can occur in two ways: structural and functional. Structural LLD is caused by physical differences in the length of the bones in the lower limbs, like the femur, tibia, or fibula. Functional LLD, on the other hand, results from issues with alignment or posture, making it seem like one leg is longer than the other even though the bones are actually the same length.

LLD, or leg length discrepancy, can happen due to a few reasons:

1. Congenital Factors: Some people are born with conditions like hip dysplasia or missing limb parts that can make one leg shorter than the other.
2. Traumatic Injuries: Breaking a bone or hurting the growth plate during childhood can affect bone growth, making one leg shorter.