When hip pain strikes it can be debilitating, affecting not just your hip joints but also surrounding structures such as the Sacroiliac or SI Joint, the Pubic Symphysis, and the Pelvic and Lumbar Spine joints. So – can a chiropractor help with hip pain?
Yes, a chiropractor absolutely can help with hip pain! In this post, we look at exactly what hip pain is, how it happens, and importantly, how a chiropractor can help.
Hip pain can happen because of many things – from acute injuries to chronic conditions. However, the most common causes of hip pain include:
Understanding the underlying cause of hip pain is important for determining the most effective treatment approach.
Chiropractors can diagnose and manage a range of musculoskeletal issues that affect the hip, and cause hip pain. More specifically, chiropractors can help with:
Chronic hip pain has many contributing causes. The ones chiropractors typically address though are associated with factors like long-term poor posture, repetitive movements, or underlying conditions like tendinitis or bursitis.
In humans, our legs are attached to our upper body by ball and socket joints (the acetabulofemoral joint) at the acetabulum on either side of the pelvis.
When there is abnormal contact in this joint between the ‘ball’ at the top of the thigh bone (femur) and the acetabulum socket on the pelvis, it can result in a painful condition called femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).
The acetabulofemoral joints are important because they allow us to move our legs in all directions. They also support our body weight and provide stability and flexibility. As such, they are subject to a lot of wear, tear, and stress.
If they deteriorate badly enough, hip replacement surgery is often recommended!
Hip dysplasia is a (usually congenital) condition where one or both acetabulum sockets don’t develop properly. As a result, the socket can’t enclose the ball at the top of the femur correctly, causing abnormal (painful) wear and tear, and even dislocation of the femur.
Spinal problems, like herniated and bulging discs, or joint misalignments, can present as hip pain, particularly if they are located in the lower back.
This is because these conditions often compress or irritate the nerves that travel from the spine to the hips, resulting in pain that seems to come from the hips.
Sciatica, for example, can cause hip pain. The irritation and inflammation caused by the pinching of the sciatic nerve roots in the lower back radiate through the hips and down into the legs.
Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal) can also put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, and cause hip pain.
For older adults, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are very common contributors to hip pain as they cause degenerative changes in the hip joint.
Osteoarthritis causes wear and tear damage to the cushioning cartilage in the acetabulofemoral joint. As the cartilage wears away, the body starts making compensatory repairs to the joint.
This often creates abnormal bony growth that interferes further with movement within and around the joint, resulting in more joint pain, stiffness, and restricted mobility. Unfortunately, OA usually gets worse with age.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a painful autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation of the joint lining. It results in pain and swelling in affected joints, and eventually disfigures the joint.
Both types of arthritis can have a significantly adverse impact on your quality of life and daily activities if you happen to have either of them.
Acute trauma and overuse can overstretch or tear ligaments and muscles in and around the pelvis, resulting in hip pain. These types of sprains and strains typically cause pain, and swelling, and will restrict the range of motion.
Chiropractic treatment for hip pain generally requires a comprehensive approach adapted to suit each individual patient’s specific circumstances and treatment requirements. However, common chiropractic techniques for treating hip pain include:
Yes, a chiropractor can help with hip pain! They can use a combination of spinal adjustments, manual therapies, exercise, and lifestyle advice to help effectively manage and ease various types of hip pain and discomfort.
It is a holistic approach that aims to tackle or ease the underlying causes of hip pain to help provide long-term relief and prevent further damage from occurring.
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