The hip joint can withstand repeated motion and plenty of wear and tear. This ball-and-socket joint fits together in a way that allows for fluid movement.
Whenever you use the hip (walking and running) a cushion of cartilage helps prevent friction as the hip bone moves in its socket.
With age and use, the cartilage can wear down or become damaged. Muscles and tendons in the hip can get overused. Bones in the hip can break during a fall or other injury. Any of these conditions can lead to hip pain.
Causes of Hip Pain
These are some of the conditions that commonly cause hip pain:
Arthritis: Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are among the most common causes of hip pain, especially in older adults. Arthritis leads to inflammation of the hip joint and the breakdown of the cartilage that cushions your hip bones. The pain gradually gets worse. People with arthritis also feel stiffness and have reduced range of motion in the hip.
Hip fractures: With age, the bones can become weak and brittle. Weakened bones are more likely to break during a fall.
Bursitis: Bursae are sacs of liquid found between tissues such as bone, muscles, and tendons. They ease the friction from these tissues rubbing together. When bursae get inflamed, they can cause pain. Inflammation of bursae is usually due to repetitive activities that overwork or irritate the hip joint.
Tendinitis: Tendons are the thick bands of tissue that attach bones to muscles. Tendinitis is inflammation or irritation of the tendons. It’s usually caused by repetitive stress from overuse.
Muscle or tendon strain: Repeated activities can put strain on the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that support the hips. When they become inflamed due to overuse, they can cause pain and prevent the hip from working normally.
Chiropractic Treatment for Hip Pain
Due to the complexity of the joints and the vast number of possible causes of hip pain, it is important to have a professional evaluation to determine the source. Using a combination of a thorough review of your medical history, a physical examination, and MRI imaging, a chiropractor can get a comprehensive picture that will lead to the root cause of your pain.
Using non-invasive and carefully applied adjustments, chiropractors assist the body in gently re-positioning the joint which can provide both instant and long term relief.