Hip pain is one of the leading orthopedic issues affecting our population today. The hip is a complex joint and there are many different considerations one must make if he or she hopes to reduce his or her hip pain or decrease the chances of developing hip pain.
Luckily, there are a few key ways that people can improve their hip health, one of those ways being chiropractic care.
All About the Hip
The hip is the junction between the bulbous head or the femur bone and the concave acetabulum of the pelvis.
Within this ball-and-socket joint, we find tons of muscles, ligaments, and other key structures.
Much like the shoulder, the hip joint can move in multiple planes. Specifically, these planes are known as the frontal, sagittal, and transverse planes. Each of these planes allows for side-to-side movement, front and back movement, and rotational movement respectively.
But even though the hip joint has the capacity for a high level of mobility, this area often becomes very stiff as a result of our lifestyles which involve a lot of sitting and very little activity.
Hip Pain and Stiffness
Generally, hip pain is accompanied and preceded by stiffness.
There are many reasons for the stiffness that often goes along with hip pain.
First and foremost, our largely sedentary lives involve long periods of sitting every day. Maintaining a seated posture for long periods puts stress on the hips as this position simultaneously elongates the hip muscles in the back and shortens the hip muscles in the front. Also, the seated position doesn’t help the muscles on the inside or outside of the hips either!
Luckily, there are some easy ways to alleviate the stiffness and discomfort found in patients with hip pain.
Treatments for Hip Pain
Hip pain symptoms require a detailed diagnosis and an effective treatment plan.
Once the exact nature of your hip pain has been determined, you have a number of options afforded to you in terms of treatment.
The traditional medical model will often resort to medications and/or surgeries in order to address your hip pain symptoms. Specifically, many physicians will prescribe certain types of painkillers or they may even recommend a hip replacement surgery.
Sadly, both of these options come with serious risks.
Medications can often lead to dependency and side effects. Surgery, as you might imagine, comes with the risk of infection, failed union of the prosthesis and the joint, and many other potential problems.
Fortunately, there are some great alternative options for those who want to avoid taking the traditional medical route for treating their hip pain.
Alternative Treatment Options for Hip Pain
One method that works well for patients with hip pain is structured exercise.
Both flexibility and resistance training exercise (along with cardiovascular activity) go a long way toward loosening up and strengthening the hips. As a result of regular exercise, the hips are better able to withstand the stress of your daily life. In this way, you can usually sit, stand, and move with less pain and dysfunction as you navigate your world.
Beyond exercise, chiropractic care is an excellent option for many people with hip pain.
Chiropractors perform specialized treatments, known as adjustments, to the spine. In doing so, they can often improve range of motion and decrease pain in various areas of the body, such as the hips.
Are you experiencing severe, debilitating hip pain? Have you tried medications, exercise plans, and other treatment options to no avail? If so, you should consider chiropractic care. Our Parker chiropractors at Awaken Chiropractic are here to help! Book your appointment today.
