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Many people have been told by their doctor that they have one leg shorter than the other. Some have leg differences that are large enough to be noticed because the length of the pants leg on one side is different than the other. How important is this leg length difference?

Differences in leg length are very common. These leg length differences may be due to unequal growth or a previous broken bone (fracture) to the leg. These are actual differences in leg length.

Different leg lengths may also occur because the spine or pelvis becomes misaligned (twisted). Some people have one foot that has less arch than the other which causes the leg to seem shorter on that side. These are not actual differences in the length of the legs, but can affect the body in similar ways.

If the length of the legs are not in balance, the longer side will often be supporting a greater amount of weight while walking or running. This imbalance can lead to pain and increased wear and tear on the long leg side. Some people can experience no symptoms at all. Leg length imbalances may also interfere with the progress of care for spinal or other problems.

Chiropractors often check the length of the legs as part of their examination. A combination of visual "leg checks" and x-ray may be used to determine if the legs are actually a different length or if it just appears that the lengths are different.

Leg length inequalities may be a sign of postural problems. Similar to correcting the alignment of the front wheels of a car to prevent the tires from wearing out too fast, correcting differences in leg length is important to prevent wear and tear on the feet, knees, hips, pelvis and spine. Pain in the leg or back or muscle fatigue and soreness are signs that an examination by your chiropractor is needed. Keep in mind, some people, may have spinal and leg length problems that do not immediately cause pain or stiffness, so regular chiropractic checkups are essential.