Leg Length Discrepancy in College Students and Its Association with Low Back Pain: a Preliminary Study

Introduction Leg length discrepancy (LLD) is an inequality of the lower limb length. Th e LLD is commonly found in population and the prevalence is varied widely depending on the magnitude of the discrepancy. It is estimated that 23% of the general population having inequality of 1 cm or more (Gross, 1978). A study by Raczkowski, Daniszewska, & Zolynski (2010) measuring and classifying discrepancy reported that diff erences of 1 cm were more prevalent in children aged 5 to 17 years. Th e cutoff for LLD is usually determined based on the eff ect of diff erent leg length that results in signifi cant clinical symptoms. Previous studies used diff erent cutoff for leg length discrepancy (Liu, Fabry, Molenaers, Lammens, & Moens, 1998; Shailam, Jaramillo, & Kan, 2013). In one study (Shailam et al., 2013), LLD was assumed as 10 mm whereas another study (Liu et al., 1998) determined 20 mm of LLD that can cause clinical symptoms. Th e inequality of the leg length will aff ect posture and induce gait abnormality. Scoliosis, pelvic obliquity, and gait asymmetry are the most common consequences of LLD (Gross, 1978; Liu et al., 1998; Shailam et al., 2013). Th e prevalence of LBP is high worldwide. Low back pain is defi ned as pain on the posterior area between the lower margin of the lowest rib and gluteal folds. Low back pain aff ects all age group but mostly in young adult (Lunde, Koch, Hanvold, Waersted, & Veiersted, 2015). Many causes of LBP have been documented. Even with no mortality reported, LBP causes functional disturbance leading to disability, decreases proAbstract