TRUE LEG-LENGTH

DISCREPANCY TEST

​• Test positioning

The client lies supine with hips and knees extended and parallel.

Each leg should be perpendicular to a straight line between both anterior superior iliac spines.

​• Action

With a tape measure, the therapist measures from the most distal point of the anterior superior iliac spines to the most distal point of the medial malleolus.

​• Positive finding

A difference of more than 1 cm is indicative of discrepancies in either the length of the femur or tibia, or in the angle of femoral neck inclination (ie, coxa vara or valga).

​• Special considerations & comments

Significant discrepancies should be verified via radiography, as this is the most accurate method of assessing true (structural) leg-length discrepancies.

The True Leg Length Discrepancy Test is based on principles from Dr. James Cyriax in orthopedic evaluation, with further insights from Dr. Vladimir Janda on postural alignment and leg length discrepancies in relation to hip and pelvic function.