Hip Pain in Dulwich Hill
Millions of people suffer from hip pain every day. Indeed, roughly 25% of people aged 60 or over struggle in this way. [1] Of course, hip problems aren’t reserved for the elderly, though. There are all sorts of causes of pain in the hips and hip misalignments, which almost anyone can experience at any time.
Thankfully, seeing a chiropractor at My Back Relief Clinic may help in some cases. Want to know how?
Read on for three ways chiropractors may address hip problems, hip pain and hip misalignments.
Causes of Hip Pain
The following are common hip-related problems:
- Osteoarthritis (OA): OA is a common cause of hip pain in the elderly. It’s a process of cartilage degeneration in the joints. The ensuing inflammation leads to stiffness, swelling and, yes, a significant degree of pain.
- Hip Bursitis: The femoral head of your hip joint has a fluid-filled sack called a bursa around it. Ordinarily, this helps by cushioning and preventing friction in the joint. Bursitis is caused by excessive use over time. The bursa becomes irritated and inflamed, which leads to pain.
- Strained Muscles/Overuse: Hips can cause pain when they’re overused as part of an active lifestyle. For example, it isn’t uncommon for people who engage in regular sports to struggle with hip strains. The joints, muscles, and tendons become inflamed and irritated. This leads to discomfort and reduced mobility.
What Does It Mean When Your ‘Hips Are Out’?
You’ve probably heard the expression “my hips are out,” but what does that actually mean? There is much more to it than just the hips!
In terms of your biomechanics, when your hips are out of alignment, they are either rotated forward or back or favouring one side. Basically they move out of a centred position, and force the spine and lower limbs to compensate. Symptoms of this may include:
- Tight pelvic/thigh muscles
- Weak butt (gluteus maximus) muscles
- Poor posture with the lower spine curving in, and as a result, a protruding stomach
- Weak stomach muscles
- You may walk with a limp or look to be off balance
- Hip pain is also another obvious symptom
How Chiropractic May Help
With a few known causes covered, let’s turn to how a chiropractor may help. It’s well known that chiropractors can provide reduction of musculoskeletal pain, including in the hips.
- Adjustments: Chiropractors perform what’s called “adjustments” to help rectify physical problems in their patients. These techniques are generally high-velocity or low-force in nature. High-velocity adjustments involve a sudden and controlled force to a joint. This can often lead to a popping sound. Low-force options provide a gentler alternative if high-velocity would be inappropriate (e.g. if other health issues are present). Here, the same effect is experienced by applying consistent low-force to the area instead.
- Personalised Exercise Programs: A wide array of stretches and exercises can be used to help with hip pain, too. The right approach will vary depending on your particular needs. However, the chiropractor will know the most suitable way forward. They may put together an individualised regime for you to follow. Over time, this can lead to restored movement in the hips and stronger muscles to boot.
- Nutrition and Lifestyle Advice: Physical and mental health is usually a direct result of our actions. Our lifestyle and diet both have an effect that can be either positive or negative. Many times they may contribute to any joint pain experienced. The chiropractor will recommend a particular lifestyle and nutritional changes to protect your overall health. For example, weight loss helps reduce hip strain, which can lessen pain in the area.
Hip Pain FAQs
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[1] Louise B. Murphy, Charles G. Helmick, Todd A. Schwartz, Jordan B. Renner, Gail Tudor, Gary G. Koch, Anca D. Dragomir, William D. Kalsbeek, Gheorghe Luta, Joanne M. Jordan. (2010, August 14). One in four people may develop symptomatic hip osteoarthritis in his or her lifetime. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2998063/