Hip conditions can cause debilitating pain, resulting in mobility issues and hindering the performance of everyday tasks. While chronic hip pain issues cannot be treated overnight, chiropractic care can certainly help with long-term recovery. So what are some conditions that fit into this category?
Arthritis
Arthritis is often grouped into two categories, the first being osteoarthritis. This is one of the most common hip conditions caused by inflammation. It affects the joints, causing stiffness, cartilage loss, and swelling. The second, rheumatoid arthritis, also causes joint pain, but unlike the former, this is primarily hereditary and is an autoimmune disorder that causes the body to attack its own tissues. Practitioners such as Brad Kern may opt for exercises and alignment therapies to help with pain management.
Femoroacetabular Impingement
This condition occurs when the hip socket or thigh bone develops abnormalities that result in abnormal contact during movement. Since these are improperly positioned, they will often cause pain. Chiropractors can help relieve pain associated with this condition by utilizing manipulative therapies and exercise to ease long-term pain.
Bursitis
Bursitis is another hip condition caused by inflammation due to injury or illness. Swelling in the hip can result in limited blood and fluid flow, causing pain in the hip region. Alternatively, inflammation in the spine or bowel area could also cause referred pain in the hip region. Massage and stimulation therapies will be ideal for minimizing pain and swelling in the affected areas.
Injury Recovery
Not all hip pain will be caused by inflammation, with issues such as soft tissue injuries and bone fractures likely to cause pain in the hip. These could be from sprains, bruising, and ligament tears caused by slips and falls or overuse by professionals in the athletics and dancing industry. Chiropractors can utilize various techniques to help relax and strengthen weak injury points for pain relief. This will reduce wear and tear, allowing for stronger hips for active patients and improving mobility for everyday activity.
Sciatica
Sciatica is caused by inflammation or injury of the sciatic nerve that unites the lower back of the hip to the feet. Issues such as herniated discs, spinal degeneration, and osteoarthritis along the sciatic nerve can cause chronic pain in the hip, legs, and lower back. Chiropractic care eases these symptoms, providing improved mobility for patients and helping them avoid invasive treatments often used to treat sciatica.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a congenital condition where the hip socket has not fully developed, increasing the risk of joint dislocation. This could result in pain and stiffness, requiring physical therapy to strengthen the joints and muscles around the hips.
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is another condition that can be treated by a chiropractor, with trauma caused by various factors. These could be severe somatic symptoms linked to psychological distress that is referred to the hip region, with some diagnoses also not having any clear causes of origin. Whichever the case, chiropractors can help diagnose the pain while also providing a treatment plan suited to the matter at hand.
Chiropractors utilize an evidence-based treatment plan to help patients get relief from the above conditions, allowing people to manage symptoms that could lead to chronic hip pain. If you need help managing sciatica, hip dysplasia, or arthritis, make it a point to enroll in chiropractic therapies and pain management care plans.
