Even when studying the human body\u2019s structure as a child, we learn that our entire body is interconnected. Such are the lyrics of the old song: \u201cThe hip bone is connected to the thigh bone; the thigh bone is connected to the knee bone\u2026\u201d When it comes to the right leg differing in length from the left, the issues that can arise clearly demonstrate this connectivity. Since massage therapists are well-schooled in the details of where and how different tissues join together, the back pain that results from a discrepancy between leg lengths comes as no surprise to most bodyworkers.<\/p>\n
Virtually all practitioners within physical medicine agree that the quadratus lumborum (QL) is a vitally important muscle for pelvic stability, structural alignment and functional efficiency. According to Doctors David Simons and Janet Travell, the QL \u201cmay be the most overlooked source of low back pain.\u201d As one of the most common reasons people seek massage therapy, low back pain can have an infinite number of causes. Therefore, a bodyworker must evaluate each client\u2019s history, symptoms and body mechanics to assess the QL for delivering a targeted and effective massage session.<\/p>\n
When it comes to low back pain, discovering a difference in leg length can help practitioners identify the root cause of a client\u2019s discomfort. However, a therapist must first distinguish between a structural leg length discrepancy and a functional leg length discrepancy. A bodyworker\u2019s ability to address their client\u2019s pain depends upon this distinction:<\/p>\n
Upon seeing someone with lower back pain<\/a> caused by a functional leg length discrepancy, postural evaluation can reveal if the QL requires release.<\/p>\n When muscles attempt to compensate for a weakness or tightening of one area, a muscular imbalance in another location typically results. Postural distortion is the body\u2019s mechanical method of protecting and compensating for an injury. Unfortunately, this distortion off the body\u2019s natural balancing point sets the individual up for further muscle strains, contractions and even more pain. Correcting a postural distortion that causes a functional leg length discrepancy can be a long-term solution for chronic lower back pain. Determining an imbalance between leg lengths is just one portion of evaluating posture.<\/p>\n Once a structural leg length problem is ruled out, massage therapists must rely on their palpatory and visual skills to assess a leg length discrepancy. By assessing the relative levels of a client\u2019s anterior superior iliac spines (ASIS) and medial malleoli, a practitioner can reveal a leg length discrepancy from a tight quadratus lumborum (QL) in these positions:<\/p>\n Once a tight QL is discovered to be behind a functional leg length discrepancy and subsequent low back pain, a massage therapist is well-equipped to free this muscle. Recognized by The American Academy of Pain Management as one of the most effective types of bodywork for relieving lower back pain, neuromuscular therapy<\/a> can release the QL and restore symmetry to a client\u2019s posture. To accomplish this goal, neuromuscular therapy involves the application of static pressure and applied stretching to specific myofascial points. By relying on neuromuscular therapy techniques<\/a> for releasing the QL, the chronic structural deviation that spawned a leg length discrepancy can be corrected. In addition, neuromuscular therapy relaxes the low back, which can stop the cycle of chronic pain<\/a>.<\/p>\n Identifying a difference between right and left leg lengths is only the first step in connecting this anomaly with a contracted low back muscle. Only after ruling out a structural short leg and isolating the QL as the muscle causing low back pain, can a bodyworker confidently attempt to deliver targeted relief to their client.<\/p>\n Chronic Pain Management<\/a> There can be many reasons for having one leg shorter than the other. Experienced as low back pain, one cause can be a tightened quadratus lumborum muscle. Luckily, this common pattern can be corrected with the appropriate application of neuromuscular therapy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":2967,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2959","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2959","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2959"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2959\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2964,"href":"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2959\/revisions\/2964"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2967"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2959"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2959"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2959"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Postural Evaluation: Leg Length<\/h3>\n
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Recommended Study:<\/h3>\n
\nLow Back Pain<\/a>
\nNeuromuscular Therapy & Advanced Deep Tissue<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"