Suffering From Hip Pain? Our Chiropractors Can Help You!
Hip pain, though normally associated with older people, can actually affect pretty much anyone under the sun. Even youngsters are at risk when it comes to hip pain. The hips are extremely important and highly complicated joints, so they are quite vulnerable to complications that may lead to hip pain and discomfort. No matter how old you are, if hip pain strikes you, you’ll want to know how it can be dealt with, whether you can make it better or just get rid of it entirely. You’re in luck, because we’ve put together a small guide to help you understand the causes of hip pain and just how a chiropractor can help alleviate the nagging pain!
What Are The Causes Of Hip Pain?
There are a plethora of things that can lead to hip pain, no matter what your age is. Hip pain can develop on one side, or on both sides of your hips. It can even occur on the front of your hip as well as the back of one or both hips. The area of the pain is an integral factor when it comes to identifying the underlying cause of the pain. When you go to a chiropractor, they will be able to easily identify the cause of your hip pain (through non-intrusive methods, of course) and will treat you accordingly.
Some of the leading causes of hip pain are listed below:
Osteoarthritis
As you grow older, the cartilage that surrounds your joints may begin to wear down. This can also happen through wear and tear with constant movement (when you don’t take good care of your body at a young age). This wearing down of the cartilage is known as “osteoarthritis” and is quite common an affliction amongst older adults. It usually occurs due to normal wear and tear, which is why it is associated with older folks, but in reality, it can even affect younger individuals too.
Transient Osteoarthritis
Transient osteoarthritis is a situation when the femoral head weakens and loses bone mass. This can lead to the risk of breaking of the bone, when the bone is in this weakened stage. It mostly occurs in the hip joint and is a common cause of hip pain, but it may also affect other joints in the leg like knees, ankles, and feet. This clinical syndrome is characterized by joint pain and reduced movement and the presence of bone marrow oedema on MRI scans.
Bursitis
Your joints contain sacs that are filled with fluid, and these sacs are called “Bursa”. Bursa are present in many of your joints, hips included. They are present in order to provide cushioning to your joints to lower the friction created by movement. These bursa can become inflamed, which can lead to pain when the joint is moved; if this occurs in your hip, you will suffer from hip pain.
Muscle Strain
As mentioned earlier, your hips are a complex part of your body. They hold all the weight of your upper body throughout your life and this obviously requires the help of many muscles. These muscles help your hips function correctly, but like all other muscles they can be subject to strain. If one or more of your hip muscles are strained, it can cause hip pain. This is a very common affliction among people who are very active.
Overuse tissues is very common, especially as you age. Pretty much any joint or soft tissue can be subject to overuse and when this happens with your hip joints, it can lead to hip pain. This is common among people who perform repetitive motions, i.e, when they have to move a certain way hundreds of times a day for a particular activity (like lifting heavy objects for work or overtraining and using incorrect posture as an athlete).
Okay, But How Can a Chiropractor Help Me With My Hip Pain?
Now that you know some of the most common causes that lead to hip pain, you’re probably wondering how a chiropractor can help you overcome this nagging pain. Amersham Chiropractic Center is here to answer just that! There are many ways chiropractic treatment can help alleviate your hip pain.
Chiropractors are highly trained individuals who are familiar with the musculoskeletal system and how to to manipulate it in order to alleviate pain and improve overall function. Studies have shown that chiropractic care is very efficient when it comes to lessening hip pain and improving mobility in the area. Chiropractic treatment is a big help when it comes to effectively treating many hip conditions, such as the ones listed above. The golden rule of chiropractic care is to be as non-invasive as possible, so you won’t be prescribed unnecessary medications or surgery. Chiropractors specialise in treating your ailments “topically”, so you know that the risk-factor is really low when it comes to chiropractic care and so it can be used regularly with minimal side effects. Even if the condition is not entirely eliminated, this complementary form of treatment (ie usually goes hand in hand with mainstream medical care) can help make your symptoms much more bearable and tolerable by reducing the hip pain and improving mobility.
Here are some of the most common chiropractic treatments that can be used for relieving hip pain:
Chiropractic Adjustments
Your whole, entire body is connected. Each part connects to another, which is why “referred pain” is a very common cause of most pains in your body. Chiropractors can adjust one part of your body to help treat the pain in another part of your body. When a chiropractor realigns your spine, this adjustment itself massively helps in reducing or discarding the strain placed on your hips. Getting regular adjustments can help you maintain the alignment, improve your posture (to prevent further damage and pain), and also helps you minimize the amount of excess strain that may be affecting your hips as well as other joints..
Exercises
One of the best long-term solutions to hip pain is to essentially strengthen the numerous muscles surrounding your hips. Think of your body as a biological machine; all machines need to be oiled well in order to run smoothly. This is precisely what exercise does for your body; it ensures that your muscles are well-used and in tune in order to avoid a breakdown of the machine. Your chiropractor will make a personalised list of exercises and teach you how to do them correctly, based on your body’s exact needs. This will help you get stronger so your body can support your hips and the strain on your hips will be reduced significantly.
Stretches
Movement is an integral part of healing! Your body can be worn out by excessive improper movement, but it heals well when you aim your movements with purpose. There are a number of stretches that your chiropractor will teach you in order to target your hip area and help reduce your hip pain and improve its mobility significantly.
Conclusion
You are now aware of the leading causes of hip pain and how a chiropractor can help you deal with it. If you want to know more, you can ask us all the questions you like by contacting us. If you suffer from hip pain or any other pains, book an appointment with Amersham Chiropractic Center, and our skilled chiropractors will help alleviate and treat your aches and pains!
