Abstract
Fifty-two trained athletes (15 short-distance runners, 20 long-distance runners, and 17 jumpers) and 5 controls were examined for leg length discrepancy, pelvic obliquity, scoliosis, leg strength discrepancy, and leg injury. Forty-seven subjects (90%) in the trained group and 4 subjects (80%) in the control group had leg length discrepancies. Differences of the femur lengths and tibia lengths, not of the joint space or soft tissue, were main factors of leg length discrepancies. There were no significant differences in leg length discrepancy and in pelvic obliquity between the trained and control groups. The trained group had twice as many leg length discrepancies and pelvic obliquities as the control group in average. A positive correlation between leg length discrepancy and pelvic obliquity was noted (p<0.001) . Among the jumpers, those who had suffered from hamstring muscle strain showed significantly more discrepancies in the right and left knee flexion strengths than the jumpers who had never experienced such muscle strain (p<0.41) . The rate of knee flexion strength against extension strength was significantly lower in the jumpers who had experienced knee joint injuries (p<0.01) .
The results indicate that leg length discrepancy affects on the pelvic obliquity and scoliosis. Differences of the femur lengths and tibia lengths were main factors of length discrepancy. It is possible that an inequality of load on the right and left legs may cause leg length discrepancy.
