In the journals: Unequal leg length may be a risk for osteoarthritis of the knee
As part of the nationwide Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study, researchers collected data on 3,026 adults ages 50 to 79 who had knee pain or were at risk for knee osteoarthritis. X-rays were taken to measure leg length and evaluate knee osteoarthritis at the start of the study and after 30 months. People whose legs differed in length by at least 1 centimeter (almost a half-inch) were more likely than people with equal-length legs to have osteoarthritis at the start of the study and more likely to develop the symptoms during the study. Any symptoms they had at the start were also more likely to get worse. The shorter leg was most often affected.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School.
- Research health conditions
- Check your symptoms
- Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
I'd like to receive access to Harvard Health Online for only $4.99 a month.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
