You may have seen adjustments in our videos on social media and noticed that before, during and after the adjustment, I go to the end of the table and check even your leg lengths are. (If you’re already a patient, you’ve already experienced this!) Are you confused about why I do this? Read on and I’ll explain why this is so important and what it means for your health!

A leg length check is one tool in my arsenal to identify neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction confidently and consistently even when you present without symptoms! 

When I bring your heels together and bend your knees, I check for a leg length discrepancy and determine if it is structural and functional. A structural difference occurs when the bones of your body are anatomically different lengths. A functional difference occurs when a subluxation in your spine (even as high up as your neck) or an uneven or tilted pelvis prevents your legs from being the same length. 

People of all ages can have leg length discrepancies, so seniors, adults, and even toddlers can all be given this quick check along with palpation to assess their spinal health and alignment.

Checking the length of your legs informs and guides the adjustment to help me accurately adjust your spine. This simple method allows me to… 

  • Find the segment where the subluxation is
  • Determine how the segment is misaligned
  • Determine the direction that the adjustment needs to go
  • Confirm after the adjustment that the correct segment is now moving well

What if I only have neck pain? Do you need to check my leg length?

Short answer: Yes! All the segments of the spine rely on each other to work properly. Each vertebra moves in relation to the segment above and below. They all work together like a beautiful chain that keeps your spinal cord protected and your nervous system healthy.

When you have neck pain, it could be from your cervical spine having to compensate for an original problem further down the line. I’m dedicated to being thorough, checking the spine for subluxations, and getting to the root cause of issues. That doesn’t mean that every segment gets adjusted, but it does get evaluated. 

How an adjustment corrects leg length differences

Your brain is constantly sending the body instructions on how to function and heal. The peripheral nerves are constantly telling the brain what’s going on in the organs, glands, muscles and tissues.

However, misaligned vertebrae can cause or contribute to pressure, inflammation, and nerve irritation, creating a roadblock in your nervous system’s communication. Poor posture is an indication of this.

Adjustments work by introducing movement to joints of the spine that are “stuck” or not moving properly. When the spine can move properly and all vertebra are in alignment, it creates a ripple effect of wellness and ease in the surrounding muscles, the other bones, the spinal cord, and nerve roots that exit the spine between the vertebrae. 

This is why after an adjustment of a patient’s neck, I may see that their sacrum is now aligned and their legs are once more the same length!

What our patients say:

“As an experienced Chiro patient, I thought I had seen it all. But today, I’m in awe. Dr. Josh, our session yesterday was one of many for you, but it was a revelation for me. I hadn’t come in weeks, and had hurt myself somehow. 

“Yes I’m recovering from serious injuries, but this step back was really frightening. Now, I’m a different person from the one who walked into Annex Family Chiro yesterday. My faith in my future health is greatly restored. Can’t thank you enough. I will be back much more frequently, what was I thinking!” Liam W.

Interested in learning more? Check out, “Wellness Care Versus Short-Term Relief“!

Ready to have your nervous system function checked? Call 416-967-4466 for an appointment at our midtown Toronto office, or schedule online here: https://annexfamilychiropractic.com/online-booking-page/ 

 

References:

 

  • Fuhr A. The Activator Method. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby Elsevier; 2008.