A functional leg length difference is one of the most under-recognised drivers of hip, low-back, and knee pain. Patients in Spokane are often told they have "one leg shorter than the other" and left with a heel lift and a shrug. At 100% Chiropractic Spokane, we look at whether the imbalance is anatomical or functional — and the distinction changes everything.

Anatomical vs functional leg length difference

• Anatomical: the femur or tibia is literally shorter on one side. This is rare and usually managed with a lift.
• Functional: the legs are the same length, but pelvic rotation, hip dysfunction, or spinal misalignment makes one appear shorter when the patient lies flat.

The majority of what gets labelled "leg length imbalance" is functional — and functional imbalance responds to structural correction.

The one-adjustment case

One of our verified Spokane outcomes involves a patient presenting with hip dysfunction and a visible leg length imbalance who reported measurable functional change after a single adjustment. The pelvis re-levelled, the hip moved more freely, and the "short" leg matched the other when measured post-adjustment.

One visit isn't a treatment plan — it's a diagnostic. It tells us the imbalance was functional, that the pelvis is responsive, and that a structured course of care can hold the correction.

What this means for you

If you have been told you have a leg length difference and you are experiencing:

• One-sided hip or knee pain
• Low back pain that shifts side to side
• A gait that feels uneven
• Shoes wearing unevenly

…there is a strong chance the imbalance is functional. A Spokane chiropractic assessment can tell you within a single visit whether that is the case, and what a full care plan would look like from there.

Book an assessment at 100% Chiropractic Spokane.