An Anatomical Comparative Study of Lower Limb Discrepancy between Inuit and Urban Population Groups

• Published in: The FASEB Journal
• Main Authors: Ormond, Natalie B., Marquez, Samuel, Russo, Christen M, Caceres, Noel
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2008
• Subjects: inuit
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.770.9

Lower limb (LL) discrepancy (LLD), frequently found within the general population (P), afflicts a wide spectrum of polytypic individuals. This condition has been linked to biomechanical abnormalities that alter posture causing kinematic changes in gait. This study compares bones of LL in two different Ps with distinct biomechanical behaviors: Inuit (I) and an Urban population (UP). Donor (n=23) & I (n=28) specimens were used from the College of Health Related Professions at SUNY Downstate anatomy program & from Museum collections. Femora & tibia were disarticulated and measured. Paired t‐test on UP revealed differences of femora with a dominance of right (46.6 cm +/− 0.4) over left (45.9 cm +/− 0.5) LL lengths from the mixed‐sex sample (n=23, p<0.05). Paired t‐test revealed femoral differences (p<0.05) with a dominance of male (48.4 cm +/− 0.7) over female (44.1 cm +/− 0.8). A mixed linear model tested for the interaction of sex on side showed males (p<0.05) having a more significant effect over females (p=0.05) but not the reverse. Femur and tibial measures were different for the I P scoring p< 0.05 for both bones. The rehabilitation perspective of PTs require a thorough knowledge of the effects of LLD that set off the different types of compensatory mechanisms employed by the patient. The appropriate therapeutic strategies can be strengthened with a more thorough knowledge of the underlying bony anatomy.