THE SOMATIC DYSFUNCTIONS CORRELATED WITH WEIGHT BEARING AND LEG LENGTH INEQUALITIES

Atrium

Objective. To investigate whether somatic dysfunctions (SDs) of the pelvis, sacrum and lumbar spine are correlated with weight bearing (WB) and leg length discrepancies (LLD) between the lower extremities (LEs). Background. LLD and WB asymmetry may contribute to the development of SDs in the pelvis, sacrum and lumbar spine. There is minimal literature to identify the specific SDs that can lead to a LLD or WB discrepancies. Methods. 98 participants were enrolled in the study. The participants' leg lengths were measured with a measuring 57 tape and WB was assessed through each LE using a specialized quadruped scale. Results. The most common pelvic dysfunction is a superior shear (25%) where the most common sacral dysfunction was a left on left sacral torsion (34%). There was a significant association between right anterior innominate rotation dysfunctions and WB (p = 0.02). A higher percentage of patients with a right anterior innominate dysfunction WB more on their left (45%) than on their right (27%) or neither (27%). Participants with right anterior innominate dysfunctions, exhibited a shorter leg when measured in supine on the left. Furthermore the participants with a left superior shear exhibited a left shorter leg in supine, p=0.05. For sacral SDs, participants with a left on left sacral torsion tended to exhibit a shorter left leg in standing, p=0.02. Conclusion. Osteopathic physicians performing an osteopathic structural examination on health individuals can expect that specific pelvic and sacral SDs may exist with expected minor leg length discrepancies. Furthermore, certain SDs may exist with specific WB differences through the LEs. Grants. none