The validity of the prone leg check as an estimate of standing leg length inequality measured by X-ray.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if prone leg length measurements for inequality are valid to estimate standing X-ray measured differences.


METHODS
Leg length inequality (LLI) was measured, in millimeters, with each patient prone and with a standing X-ray, by an experienced chiropractor. Correlation between the two was calculated, and dependent t test performed.


METHODS
Private chiropractic practice.


METHODS
The first 50 new patients with low back pain (LBP) who were X-rayed were included in the study.


RESULTS
Correlation between the two variables was 0.71. Standard error of estimation was 5.4 mm. In 54% of subjects, the prone measurement was within 3 mm of the X-ray LLI; in 12%, however, opposite legs were identified as being "shorter" between the two methods. In 76% of patients, prone measurements were within 6 mm of X-ray, but there was 12-mm difference between the two measurement methods in 8% of the comparisons.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite positive correlation, prone leg length measurements for inequality are not entirely valid estimates of standing X-ray differences. Large differences between prone and X-ray measurements in some cases indicate that one should be cautious when using the prone method alone to estimate leg length discrepancy. Additional research is needed to determine the causes of measurement differences between the two methods. Other methods for estimating standing leg length differential must be developed and evaluated for validity.
Rhodes
D W
DW
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, USA.
Mansfield
E R
ER
Bishop
P A
PA
Smith
J F
JF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D015982:Bias; D002684:Chiropractic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D007870:Leg Length Inequality / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016684:Prone Position; D011859:Radiography; D015203:Reproducibility of Results