Hip Pain

• Causes of Hip Pain

  The most likely cause of your hip pain will vary depending primarily on your age and your lifestyle. For instance, among older adults, the most common diagnosis for hip pain is osteoarthritis. Over the years, your hips can lose their integrity, just like any other joint. Adults over the age of 60 can suffer from pain and inflammation in their hip regions because the joints and soft tissues have become stressed and stiff , with less joint space, fluid and cartilage to aid motion and shock absorption.

  Older adults are not the only ones who can experience cartilage loss in the hips. Athletes or individuals who spend most of the day on their feet suffer degeneration in the function and structure of their hips faster than usual due to overuse or repetitive injury. This overuse can lead to inflammation and pain that can gradually worsen over time.

  Hip pain can also be caused by trauma, including dislocations, fractures or misalignments of the hips or pelvic bones. Babies, children and teenagers suffering hip pain and mobility issues need to be promptly assessed for bone and joint complications. Referred pain is another issue that might explain your hip pain. For instance, if you have a herniated disc or misalignment in your spine or pelvis, it could cause pain in your lower back, pelvis, hips or down your legs. Muscle injury can also cause hip pain.

• Does Chiropractic Care help Hip Pain?

  Obviously, more serious hip injuries—such as fractures— and disorders will need medical attention and perhaps even surgery. However, many types of hip pain can benefit from  chiropractic management.

  For example, if your hip and leg pain is due to sciatica, chiropractic adjustments can assist in the effective recovery and repair of a herniated disc or reduce irritation of the sciatic nerve. By correcting the alignment and function of your spine and musculoskeletal system, a chiropractor can assist you to feel better and move better.

• Risk factors

  Risk factors related to hip joint pain and degeneration:

  • Weight gain and obesity
  • Poor mobility/sedentary lifestyle
  • Unrecovered injuries to the hip joint
  • Significant and repetitive stresses to the joints from heavy use
  • Compensatory stress affecting the hip joint from other injuries to the back, knee or lower limb
  • Variations or abnormalities in the structure of the hip or pelvis
  • Secondary effects from other illness or lack of good health
  • Age

• Benefit of chiropractic treatments

  Patients struggling from osteoarthritis of the hip can also benefit from chiropractic treatments. While no treatment—chiropractic included—can reverse cartilage loss, chiropractic treatments can help to reduce inflammation in the hip joint and minimise pain by assisting to restore some function. These treatment techniques may include adjustments, remedial massage, therapeutic exercises, help with posture and more. The goal of  restoring function to the hip joint is to contribute to reducing the rate of degenerative change, and reduce the need for more invasive intervention. Treatment included, this will also require exercise and lifestyle advice.