Pain In Your Hips? Chiropractic Hip Alignment Gives Relief

Patients often come into my office with complaints of hip and leg pain that make it difficult to walk, drive, sit at a desk to work, complete common tasks or even participate in their favorite recreational activities. With all the stay at home this past year there is a rise in complaints of muscle and joint paint in the hips and back brought on by the extreme changes to our normal routines. Many patients are experiencing shifted hip alignment for the first time, which can be caused by both a too sedentary lifestyle and overuse due to an increase in physical activity.

High impact exercise like running or sitting with the legs crossed constantly are common causes of hip misalignment. Even changes to less supportive footwear or poorly designed furniture can be the culprit. Anterior pelvic shifts can also be caused by underlying conditions such as osteoporosis, arthritis, or pinched nerves. A Chiropractor can provide a proper diagnosis of hip misalignment and identify its cause through trained observation and measurement techniques. 

What is hip misalignment?

A hip misalignment simply put is “uneven or tilted hips”. One hip sitting higher than the other or the hips tilting backwards or forwards. Proper hip alignment is when the hips are on the same level horizontally and the pelvis is parallel to the shoulders and the floor. Chiropractors specialize in restoring the body’s proper alignment.

How does hip misalignment cause pain?

Like the spine, the hips support a significant amount of the body’s weight and are involved in most of the body’s everyday movement. When the hips are not in alignment the body’s mobility is hampered and the lower back and legs must compensate for the imbalance incurring added stress.

Shifted hips limit the body’s range of motion and alter the gait, adding strain to the surrounding muscles and ligaments leading to pain in the hips, legs, and lower back. Untreated, improper hip alignment can lead to symptoms of Sciatica, a very painful condition.

Chiropractic Care for hip pain

In my practice, I utilize the Thompson Drop Technique which in my experience is the best option for Chiropractic treatment of the hip. It increases my ability to treat not only the hip but the sacrum and pelvis as well as improving overall pain relief for my patients.

The hip joints, pelvic bones, muscles, and ligaments must all be considered and carefully treated to bring the hips back into proper alignment. A chiropractor will use specialized chiropractic adjustments, manual manipulations, massage therapy, and a review of an individual’s lifestyle to treat hip pain. Chiropractic care for hip pain caused by misalignment will also include recommended stretching and exercises for the patient to perform at home to promote healing and provide relief from pain.

Chiropractic care is a successful and non-invasive treatment to relieve the painful symptoms of hip misalignment. We highly recommend exploring Chiropractic treatment before committing to any higher risk and costly surgical options that may be unnecessary. Chiropractic techniques work to eliminate muscle tension, reduce inflammation, improve flexibility and strength, restore range of motion, and relieve pain through balancing the body’s musculoskeletal structure. Once the hips are back in proper alignment and a patient is able to move around freely without pain, the problem is resolved and without surgical intervention.

At McKenna Family Chiropractic, we believe in helping the body to heal naturally whenever possible to avoid possible complications that can occur from invasive and riskier procedures.