Chiropractor for Hip pain:
Hip pain is an issue that we encounter very frequently and with great success at our clinic. We’ve had success because we understand that the pelvis, knee, ankle, and foot can all affect the hip. As a result, our analysis of the hip includes examining all of these joints as well.
Your ‘Hip’ may not be where you think it is
In order to understand what is causing hip pain, it’s helpful to know where your hip really is.
Hip pain can have many causes! Even the location of your hip can be confusing
As the image above shows, your hip is actually the place where your large leg bone (your femur) inserts into your pelvis. In other words, it’s easier to identify where your hip is by pointing at it from the FRONT of your leg. People commonly refer to the S.I. joint (the sacroiliac joint) the hip, but they are two different joints. The S.I. joint is the bony bumps to the lower left and lower right of the lowest part of the spine. The S.I. joint can often become problematic for people also, and it is an issue we often help people with as well.
How can chiropractic help when hip pain is being caused by the pelvis?
With that said, issues with the S.I. joints can affect the hip by causing a pelvic imbalance. A physical chiropractic exam for proper alignment and movement of the pelvis and hips is performed to see if this is the case. We also use xrays of the pelvis girdle to determine precisely how the pelvis might be misaligned and to identify pathology like arthritis. If an issue is identified, we can help re balance the hips and pelvis. Full movement to the hips and S.I. joints is also restored through chiropractic care. Consequently, the end result is balanced and symmetrical forces distributed through the hips and pelvis resulting in improved function. Rebalancing the pelvis in this way often completely solves hip issues.
How the foot and ankle can cause hip pain:
With every step a person takes, an impact called ‘ground reaction force’ is transferred up your leg into the hip. Normally, the arch of the foot and the flexibility of the ankle helps to ‘cushion’ this force. With injury, overuse, or neglect, the ankle can become stiff and inflexible and the arch of the foot flattens. As a result, the foot and ankle are dysfunctional and rigid and can’t absorb this impact properly. As a consequence, the hip is forced to absorb the extra impact and eventually problems develop in the hip.
What if my hip pain IS being caused by the hip itself?
Oftentimes, pain in the hip is simply caused by the hip itself. In other words, the area that hurts is exactly the area that the issue is coming from. An xray determines whether arthritis or some abnormality is contributing to it. Even if this is the case though, we can typically work on the hip safely in most cases. Most commonly, the hip becomes ‘jammed’ upwards into the socket over time or through injury. This creates lack of normal motion and a buildup of scar tissue in the joint. Consequently, inflammation and pain can result, even nerve irritation and pain downward into the thigh. The solution is to release the hip through chiropractic adjustment, which breaks up scar tissue and restores motion to the joint.
What else might be causing my hip pain?
Hip pain is occasionally caused by things that chiropractic cannot help. These include things like:
- Severely degenerated hip joint beyond our ability to treat
- Congenital hip abnormalities that a person is born with
- Severe muscular spasm, weaknesses, and imbalances in and around the hip. (This is common and are a good thing to consult a physiotherapist or massage therapist for.)
- Past soft tissue injury hip or knee (which can affect the hip)
- Cartilage damage within the joint
- Overweight/obesity
- Repetitive stress
- Pathology like cysts or tumors (however these are especially uncommon)
Chiropractic is not a sure-fire cure for hip issues. An in-depth chiropractic history and exam gives the doctor and the patient a better idea of what the problem is. Afterwards, we can come to a plan to see how we can help get you back to living more fully!