Mar 08.qxd - Connection Magazine

What’s in a Short Leg?
&We offer ...
Chiropracticwith Cranio-Sacral Technique
and Hendrickson's Orthopedic Massage
Therapeutic Massage
with Hendrickson's Orthopedic
Massage, Swedish Massage, Biodynamic
Cranio-Sacral Therapy, and Rolfing
Dana Gorath, C.M.T., Sylvia Skefich, D.C., Kelly Stoll, Certified Rolfer.
Picture yourself in the best hands to uncover and release
the root of your muskulo-skeletal problems.
(831)475-1995
920 41st Av., Ste G, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 ● www.vital-you.com
The Office of Sylvia Skefich, D.C.
9 years of chiropractic experience/13 years of cranio-sacral experience
by Sylvia Skefi ch, D.C.
Many of you have been to
a chiropractor who finds
a “short leg,” and then
corrects it during the course of your
visit. The “functional short leg” is a
phenomena of muscle tension that
draws up one leg making it appear
short (by measure at the heels) with
the patient lying down.
What causes it? You might imagine
someone on a starting line getting
ready to take off; this is the fi ght-orfl
ight pose. We are in some state of
readiness due to our thoughts, emotions
and environment most of the
time. The chiropractor is trained to
identify the signs of this windup (the
functional short leg being one). There
are numerous styles and techniques
within chiropractic that bring the body
and the nervous system into a more
relaxed state of being.
There’s another kind of “short
leg,” called an “anatomical,” or “true”
by Dr. Dar Bertsch
Many people regard getting
older with memory loss
and deteriorating cognition.
Studies are predicting 1 in 10 will have
Alzheimer-like symptoms even sooner
than what our parents have been experiencing.
The wonderful news is that
this doesn’t need to happen. It does,
however, depend how we take care
of ourselves emotionally,spiritually
and physically.
Dorland’s Medical
dictionary defi nes
health as “ a state
of optimal physical,
mental and
social wellbeing,
and not merely the
absence of disease
Page 5
This method
of treatment involves
palpation of
the extremities, the
abdomen and other
key areas that determine
which organ
system is the
most defi cient. Relying
more on the
perception of body
signals eliminates
the often-mixed
messages in-depth
questioning can
lead to. Once a
deficient pattern
is identified, the
treatment is targeted
to strengthen
that organ system
▲
short leg. This refers to a boney difference
in the leg lengths. There are
orthopedic tests that give an indication
of this difference, however they are
not entirely accurate. A chiropractic
diagnostic of the anatomical short leg
should include these considerations:
orthopedic tests, pelvis and spine
evaluation, assessment of the feet, and
lumbo pelvic x-rays. Before a heel lift
is prescribed and utilized, you want
to be absolutely sure that you have a
true short leg.
The pelvic and spine evaluation
is useful in determining if there are
fi ndings that many people with a short
leg have in common. One of those
fi ndings is a scoliotic-“S” curvature
in the spine…. If the foundation of
the pelvis is off-level, then the spine
has to compensate to right itself. Other
fi ndings include: locked-up sacro-iliac
joint(s), and a pelvis that is misaligned
in a side-rotation which is far less common
than other pelvic rotations.
The feet also compensate when
there is an anatomical short leg.
Frequently one foot will be larger, or
will be noticeably supinated (cocked
inward at the ankle). The lumbo-pelvic
x-rays must be taken standing up. They
and weakness”
In Functional Medicine, the
approach is to evaluate the body’s
biological requirements and detect
insuffi ciencies and/or toxicity’s.
This is not the same as testing for
the traditional pathological fi ndings.
Practicing Natural medicine
through Chiropractic looks at the other
major system that runs the body – the
nervous system. This ‘hard wiring’ in
the body controls every cellular function:
organs, blood supply, muscle,
sensory, bones, proprioception and
can affect our emotional state.
Current studies on brain function
have produced some fascinating
results, especially when looking at
Alzheimer patients. Almost all diseases
have an infl ammatory process
occurring in the body. Infl ammation
to raise the level of its vital qi.
The treatment consists of using
a pure silver needle to contact the skin
at chosen points while using one’s
focused intention to support organ
vitality and its leading pathway. It is a
painless method since there is no insertion
of the acupuncture needle. Often
the points chosen are on the back and
not necessarily where the tenderness
had been elicited.
In my medical practice, I have
found if the vital qi or core vitality
is treated consistently, the rest of the
medical interventions are more effective
and maintain longer results. I like
to describe this technique as repolarizing
or realigning our cells and organs.
Likewise, if we were to refer to our
computers, it would be like the process
of defragmenting our fi les, which creates
more contiguous data, a smoother
Page 6 ▲ The Connection Magazine ▲ www.theConnect.com ▲ March — April 2, 2008
may reveal height difference at the
top of the ball-and-socket joints. The
x-rays may show a tilted sacrum bone.
Also, lumbar spine curvature is usually
visible. Like many conditions, a proper
diagnosis of the anatomical short leg
requires a consideration of many signs
that, as a whole, point toward the same
conclusion.
Why be concerned? Most people
to whom I prescribe a heel lift have a
chronic, recurring pain that never fully
responds to treatment as expected.
The pain is commonly at the front hip
crease, on the rear sacro-iliac joint,
or in the shoulder region, but can
be anywhere on the body. The pain
worsens with upright activities. The
pain frequently does not occur until the
person is in their thirties or forties, but
can be experienced at any age. People
who have the skeletal compensations
of an anatomical short leg are prone to
osteoarthritis as they age due to structural
strain. The heel lift can alleviate
the progression of degeneration.
Sylvia Skefich is a Doctor of
Chiropractic. She is located at 920 41 st
Ave. Ste. G, Santa Cruz 95062, (831)
475-1995, www.vital-you.com.
travelling to your heart
from an infl ammatory gut
produces cardiovascular
imbalances and diseases.
In the brain, we are
seeing infl ammatory processes creating
amyloid plaques that stop cellular
communication from occurring in the
synaptic pathways. Neuronal impairment
and oxidative stress are key factors
contributing to memory loss and
impaired cognition. New studies are
showing some remarkable promises
with proline-rich polypeptides that are
protecting brain cells and promoting
healthy brain aging.
Dr. Bertsch is a Chiropractor
and a Clinical Nutritionist who has
offi ces in Santa Cruz and San Jose.
She can be reached at (831) 251-1625.
Find out about her 28 day program
for cleansing and detoxifying. Tell
her you saw her Ad and read her
Article in The Connection Magazine.
Thank you!!
running system, and is considered
good preventive maintenance.
In these winter months we don’t
have to resort to a common belief
that getting a few colds each season
is normal and acceptable. Supporting
the immune system throughout the
year with targeted nutrition, and paying
closer attention to the level of our
core vitality can be the key to keeping
us productive and prosperous during
rain or shine.
Dr Cindy Quattro is a Physician
Assistant and a Doctor of Acupuncture
and Oriental Medicine. She
specializes in Traditional Japanese
Acupuncture, Nutritional Consulting
and Mind Body Wellness. She has been
an associate with Dr. Randy Baker
for 13 years at the Pacifi c Center for
Integral Health. She blends the best of
eastern and western medicine treating
chronic diseases, women’s health and
children at 2955 Park Ave, Soquel,
CA 95073, (831) 427-5311 Email:
quattrodoc@gmail.com.