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Leg length discrepancy (LLD) is a condition in which a person's legs are not of the same length. That is, one is shorter than the other. This can be a slight, hardly noticeable difference or many inches off.
Whichever it may be, this condition results in varying levels of imbalance and instability which can in turn result pains in different parts of the body, including the lower back, knees, and hips. It may interest you to learn that about 75% of people have some level of discrepancy.
For the majority of people with LLD, the difference in length is less than 2cm, and so not really noticeable. We only begin to notice a slight limp when the difference has exceeded 2cm. While there are cases where the difference can be as high as 5cm, our focus in this article are the mild to moderate cases that can be fixed with insoles.
How Do Insoles Help with LLD?
One solution that has helped many people suffering from mild to moderate LLD is insoles. The insoles we are referring to here are the kind of quality custom insoles offered by Stride Soles.
In this section, we shall take some time to explain how Stride Soles’ custom insoles can help with LLD. But first, we need to understand how LLD affects the biomechanics of the body so we can have a better appreciation of how these insoles can help.
Even a slight discrepancy in leg length can cause the pelvis to tilt when you stand, walk, or run. Every time the legs have to carry the weight of the body, there will be a tilt in the pelvis which will put a strain on the muscles and joints as they try to compensate for this tilt. This is what eventually leads to pain and discomfort.
Given this, Stride Soles’ custom insoles (also known as inserts or orthotics), will offer the following:
Correction of Length Discrepancy
Being the root cause of the problem, this is the first thing that these insoles will address. By gently lifting the floor of the shoes on the shorter feet, the length is increased to match the other leg, removing the discrepancy. This automatically stops the tilting of the pelvis and the attendant compensatory movements of the joints and muscles.
Stability Enhancement
To ensure proper stability, Stride Soles’ custom insoles will also provide adequate arch support and heel stabilization. This will reduce the risk of falls caused by a feeling of imbalance. It will also reduce pressure on the joints.
Body Alignment
Having addressed the two issues above, proper body alignment will have been achieved. This will result in an even distribution of the body weight, reducing the compensatory pain that would have been associated with the previous uneven distribution of the weight of the body.
Features of Stride Soles’ Insoles that Make them the Best for LLD
Correcting LLD requires insoles that possess a bouquet of features created with precision. This is exactly what Stride Soles offers. The following is a quick description of the features that make these insoles the best for LLD.
Exact Heel Lift
While some brands offer what they call customizable heel lifts aimed at being adjustable to meet the heel lift needs of any user who gets them, Stride Soles offers insoles with heel lifts precisely designed to fit the particular patient without the need for any adjustments.
You get the best results when treating LLD if the measurements are perfect. With adjustable insoles, there is room for errors which is not the case with Stride Soles’ insoles because they are made to exact measurements to ensure they fit the patient perfectly.
Precise Arch Support
Some experts recommend medium to high arch support to properly stabilize the foot and ankle. While this may suffice for other brands, it’s not enough for Stride Soles. Insoles designed by Stride Soles for patients are not based on a range of possibilities but on precision. They offer the exact amount of support required for that particular patient.
Heel Stabilization
Using a firm TPU shell, Stride Soles’ insoles provide optimum heel stabilization. This ensures stability, promoting healthy foot mechanics.
Shock Absorption
With increased activity, people with LLD can be exposed to increased impact-related stress. To minimize this, Stride Soles uses high-rebound foam to cushion and absorb the shock of the impact, reducing its transmission to the hips and spine.
Durability
The only way to ensure durability is to use top-quality materials. Insoles from Stride Soles feature a sweat-resistant vegan leather top, high-rebound foam core, and a firm TPU base. All of these are top-quality materials crafted into orthotic insoles guaranteed to last between 4 to 6 years.
Final Thoughts
The precision that Stride Soles achieves with its product is the result of a two-part system. First, the patient goes through a thorough process of examination to determine their exact needs.
This process includes answering a set of questions, scanning an image of the foot/feet, and recording a video for proper gait analysis. You do all these from the comfort of your home.
In the second part of the system, top podiatrists analyze the result of the examination to design and produce insoles with the exact specifications required to fix the issue(s). This is all possible thanks to technology.
You do not have to book an appointment or wait for ages. You can get started right away and before you know it, you will have your very own custom-made orthotic insoles from Stride Soles to fix that LLD.
