Our hips are an impressive joint and service numerous functions for our bodies. Hips help keep us upright, walk smoothly, run and allow us to bear weight. Unfortunately, since the hips are engaged in nearly every way we move, pain in this area can have frustrating consequences for patients.
While hip pain is often the result of osteoarthritis or injury, it can also be a sign of other health conditions. A doctor of chiropractic can help you find the source of your hip pain and establish a specific treatment plan for your symptoms.
Common Symptoms Associated With Hip Pain
Symptoms may vary in intensity from mild to severe.
- Limping.
- Joint pain.
- Groin pain.
- Loss of range of motion in the hip.
- Warmth or heat.
- Swelling.
- Tenderness or discomfort in the hip.
- Difficulty sleeping on the hip.
6 Common Causes Of Hip Pain
- Bursitis. Bursa are sacs of liquid that are found between tissues such as bone, muscles, and tendons. They reduce the friction created when these tissues rub together as it can be painful when bursa get inflamed. Inflammation of bursa can often be due to repetitive activities that overwork or irritate the hip joint.
- Arthritis. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are big players in the most common causes of hip pain, especially in older adults. Arthritis can cause inflammation of the hip joint and lead to the breakdown of the cartilage that cushions your hip bones. The pain gradually becomes worse causing people with arthritis to feel stiffness and have a reduced range of motion in the hip.
- Overuse/Muscle Strain. If you are physically active or athletic, this is a common problem. Putting your body through the same repetitive movements for prolonged periods can cause muscles in the hip to become bruised or torn.
- Tendonitis.
Tendons are a fibrous structure that joins muscles to the bone. Tendonitis can arise in any of the tendons that surround the hip joint. When the tendons in the hip become inflamed or irritated it can cause immense pain. The most frequently encountered tendonitis around the hip is the Iliotibial band (IT band) tendonitis. Tendinitis can commonly be caused either by injury, overuse of the tendons or with age as the tendon loses its elasticity.
- Hip Labrum Tears. The labrum is what is referred to as the ring of cartilage that surrounds the hip socket and ensures the ball of the thighbone stays in place. When it tears it causes pain in the hip or groin and limits movement, creating a sensation that the hip is locking, catching or clicking.
- Avascular Necrosis Or Osteonecrosis. This is a condition occurring when blood flow to the hip bone slows and the bone tissue dies. While it can affect other bones, avascular necrosis most often happens in the hip. The cause can be from a hip fracture or dislocation, or from the long-term use of high-dose steroids, among other causes.
Chiropractic And Hip Pain
If you are searching for a solution to your hip pain that doesn’t involve pain medication or surgeries,
chiropractic
is a great natural solution you should look in to. Chiropractic care does not include medications or invasive procedures, but rather offers a natural path to healing. While it is possible to not always receive a full resolution from your pain it can certainly help your symptoms to lessen as well as slow progression.
Chiropractors may incorporate these treatments and others:
- Spinal adjustments. The ultimate goal of spinal adjustments is to eliminate or reduce spinal misalignments that could be the origin of your hip pain or exacerbate it.
- Exercise and stretches.
Your chiropractor can offer you a personalized exercise and stretching program to help improve the range of motion of your hips as well as strengthen the muscles, both of which can help to speed healing.
- Lifestyle adjustments.
If you are engaging in movements that may be the cause of your hip pain, your chiropractor can help you to identify that source to offer real solutions to help you alter this behavior for better health.
- Nutrition.
Simply put, nutrition is an important part of your overall health and wellness and your chiropractor is trained to provide nutritional advice that can help you eat healthier. Improving your nutrition can help you to maintain a healthy weight and thus reduce the strain on your hips and help speed your recovery.
The Takeaway
The importance of your hips for daily motions can, unfortunately, become even more evident if your hips start to hurt or ache due to injury or a chronic condition. Chiropractors are not treating just the symptoms of your condition, but rather, cause of your hip pain. Once the cause is identified, they target their approach in a series of treatments personalized specifically for you.
Contact us
today!
Family Chiropractic Plus
is dedicated to your overall health and well-being. Which is why we offer regular chiropractic adjustments in order to restore your body’s natural state of optimal health, while also providing it with the support it needs to heal from any injury, big or small.