An article published by Aniruddha Nazre in the journal Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation [October 1995; Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 76(11):1074.
Minor limb length discrepancies and gait abnormalities: Bio-mechanical simulation: Amitabh Goel, Janice Louden, Aniruddha Nazre, Robert D. Rondinelli, KhatabHassanein; October 1995; Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 76(11):1074.
Minor limb length anomalies of as much as half an inch are common in the general population. These have been ostensibly linked to back pain and osteoarthritis of the hip and knee; however, clinical studies have failed to validate causal association between these conditions. In this study a biomechanical simulation was performed to determine if a minor limb length discrepancy alters joint mechanics significantly and in a manner that could contribute to the development of joint pathologies. Ten healthy subjects with equal limb lengths were recruited for this study Gait analysis was performed for both left and right sides. A limb length discrepancy (LLD) was simulated by adding a shoe lift of half an inch to the left leg. Following a period of acclimation, gait was reanalyzed. Differences were nonsignificant (p > .05). Consequently, this study did not find a link between biomechanical differences in gait and simulated limb length discrepancies of half an inch.
