HIP PAIN
or - The Thigh Bone’s Connected to the Back Bone…
The hip is the joint formed by the head of the femur (thigh bone) and the concave part of the ilium (hip bone) called the acetabulum.
Actually it’s more complicated than that. The ilium is 1 of 4 bones that make up the pelvis. When we are born we each have 2 ilium, 2 ischium, 2 pubis, 5 sacral vertebra, and 4 coccygeal vertebrae. But, somewhere between late puberty and mid to late 20’s, the Ilium, Ischium and Pubis fuse to form the pelvic bones, one on each side. The 5 sacral segments fuse to form one sacrum, and the 4 coccygeal bones fuse to form one coccyx.
Additionally, the muscles of the hip are innervated by nerves from the lumbar spine and sacrum. Consequently, a misalignment in any of the following could be the cause of one’s hip pain and/or dysfunction…
Hip joint
Sacroiliac joint
Lumbosacral joint
Lumbar vertebrae
The problem could also stem from…
Knee injury or dysfunction
Ankle injury or dysfunction
Foot injury or dysfunction
If any of the above are not functioning properly it’s natural to compensate by walking and moving differently, but this can lead to strain, and ultimately pain, in the joints listed above.
Other potential causes of hip pain are...
Intervertebral Disc Herniation
Arthritis (inflammation of a joint)
Congenital malformation
Inflammation caused by poor diet and lifestyle
Infection
Reproductive problems
The reproductive organs are seated in the pelvis. In Applied Kinesiology we find that the muscles of the hip have a relationship to the reproductive organs and glands. Therefore, if there is dysfunction in the reproductive organs (endometriosis, or fibroids, for example) one could develop low back pain, sacroiliac pain and/or hip pain.
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
As with any pain or problem, when a person comes to my office with hip pain, s/he completes a full case history form, and undergoes an examination to determine cause. Additionally, radiographic studies such as x-rays or MRI are requisitioned as needed.
TREATMENT
Aligning the misaligned joint, balancing muscles to restore optimal function, deep tissue work such as fascial manipulation to restore ease and coordination of movement.
Other possible treatment recommendations...
Nutritional support if needed
Rehabilitative and strengthening exercises
If hip pain comes on suddenly and is from a known cause, like overuse at the gym, or a fall, for example, the problem is usually localized. In these cases and with the right treatment recovery often occurs quickly. Frequently enough, however, the problem is multifactorial, in which case it may take several treatments and a variety of interventions to achieve recovery.
The main thing is to not simply accept living with pain and limitation, or to mask the pain with medications such as analgesics, muscle relaxers, and/or steroids. These medications can be dangerous, as it can trick your body into thinking it’s OK to move a certain way when it really is not; this can lead to greater injury and lengthen the time of true resolution.
In short, if you have a hip problem, or for that matter any musculoskeletal problem, and it does not resolve on its own within a few days, be sure to seek professional help. The key to preventing a problem from becoming chronic is to take action; to identify the cause and correct it early on!