Why Does My Back Still Hurt? Part 3: Anatomical Short Leg

Identify Anatomical Short Leg
Take x-rays (for numerous reasons) at the time of the examination. Having proper x-rays brings life to your patient's intake and history.

X-rays can provide a fantastic correlation to the current symptom and how past injuries have caused degeneration, previously missed pars fractures, spondylosis, structural misalignments, etc. And the #1 reason I take the below standing pelvic x-ray on 100% of all new patients (pain or not, I still take my standard FIT X-ray series) is to identify and correct an anatomical short leg.

The anatomical short leg identified in the two examples above is common, but the severity and compensatory changes vary greatly. If the difference is relatively slight (3/8" or less), an internal lift works well. I do not like using a heel lift to correct femur head height in ideal neutral only. I apply a full-length lift, so the entire foot is elevated in a standard position when walking, running, etc. A greater than 3/8" difference from right to left is worth changing the shoe's sole. A cobbler or pedorthist (not a pediatrist) is my preferred local choice.

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The more athletic the person's needs are, the more significant the art of shoe correction. The patient education using the above x-rays is invaluable. It amazes me how prevalent the anatomical short leg is (day-to-day real life and research) and how many patients have never had it identified, explained, let alone a method of correction in a care program. The anatomical short leg should be identified on the first visit, and you become an instant difference-maker. You become a doctor hero of sorts through the patient's eyes is no small exaggeration when these commonly missed priorities are corrected.

It is quick and fast to improve additional healing benefits to the chiropractic patient by implementing the X-ray analysis to identify "IF" the patient has an anatomical short leg. This combined examination of identifying an anatomical short leg and testing for the need for a sacral belt (discussed in the near future) provide significant changes to the great work you are already providing.  

Suppose you purchase the Fitness Integration Technique (F.I.T.)® Level 1 System. In that case, we teach you how to evaluate the stand 4 FIT® X-rays and make a 2-dimensional x-ray a three dimensional Brain/Body Map® for patient education and priority correction.

Why Does My Back Still Hurt? Part 4