Leg Length Checks

Question 1

What is the leg length check?

Answer 1

A test to get information about the amount and type of stresses in the system. In prone position the ‘leg length’ is an indicator of soft tissue/meningeal stress throughout the system

Question 2

How do you do a leg length check?

Answer 2

Traction – just enough to take the slack, connect up through the meninges into the cranium
Dorsiflexion – flex to the easy motion barrier (where you just start to feel a resistance)
Eversion – do not butterfly the feet outwards
Adduction – only to the easy motion barrier

Compare the leg length at the heels (not the malleoli). Name the short side