The hip consists of a pair of ball-and-socket joints on either side of the pelvic bone. This type of joint is capable of a wide range of motion in multiple directions. It is also subject to significant forces during activities such as sitting, standing and crouching. Large muscle groups are connected to the bones of the hip. These factors contribute to a high potential for various types of pain.
Hip pain refers to pain associated with the bones, tendons, muscles and joints in the area around the hip. Hip pain can have many causes. Some of the most common causes are:
Osteoarthritis – Some people may experience loss of cartilage and degeneration of joints. This is most common in older adults and is progressive in nature.
Other Inflammatory Diseases - such as rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis and inflammatory bowel disease can produce pain in the hip area.
Traumatic Injuries – Younger adults may have hip pain relating to a traumatic injury, but older adults are typically more susceptible to hip injuries associated with falls that can lead to chronic hip pain.
Overuse Injuries – Less dramatic than traumatic injuries, hip can occur through overuse of the hip joint, and general wear and tear that occurs over time. This may be related to repetitive motion or excessive stress to the joints and tendons in the hip.
Referred Pain – Sometimes, pain can be experienced in the hip area even if there is no specific injury or degeneration. This may be due to injury or damage to other areas, such as the lower back or groin, rather than the hip. Sciatic nerve damage and abdominal hernia are sometimes sources of referred hip pain.
Can Elkhart Chiropractors help with hip pain? Absolutely. Just stop by our office in Elkhart, IN and we can diagnose what is going on.
Traditional therapies often include anti-inflammatory medications, heating packs and ice packs, resting the painful area and joints, and muscle stimulation. Stretching and strengthening exercises have also been helpful to reduce pain symptoms. Surgery is a more invasive therapy for hip pain relief. However, most traditional therapies may provide little or no relief and may take a long time to have effect. They often do not address the root causes of the pain.
Dysfunction or restriction of damaged muscles can be addressed by other methods such as chiropractic and massage. Massage is often helpful to relax the surrounding muscles and can be especially effective in combination with chiropractic.
Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to be effective in reducing pain from many common hip pain sources including sciatica and osteoarthritis. Chiropractic treatment can also include recommendations for exercises and lifestyle changes to further reduce hip pain and prevent excessive wear on the hip joint, which may include prescribing orthopedic shoes or inserts. After examining the patient and working to determine the source of hip pain, a chiropractor will form a treatment plan. This plan will seek to make the joint more mobile while relaxing and strengthening the muscles and reducing any inflammation.
Natural treatments such as chiropractic can be an excellent alternative to invasive and expensive surgeries and drugs with potential harmful side effects. Hip pain sufferers can benefit by seeking chiropractic treatment before consideration of surgery.