Hip Pain / Injury

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Hip pain can arise from various musculoskeletal conditions, and some common causes include:

 

Osteoarthritis of the Hip

Hip arthritis occurs when the protective coating of your hip wears down due to aging or genetic factors. Factors like repetitive injury, prolonged standing, or heavy physical exertion may increase its prevalence. Symptoms include stiffness and pain in the groin, thigh, and buttocks, affecting daily tasks like putting on socks or climbing stairs.

 

While arthritis has no cure, symptom relief is possible. Staying active is crucial, avoiding activities causing significant pain, and maintaining a healthy weight. Water-based programs like water aerobics are beneficial, along with home stretching and strengthening exercises. In severe cases, using a cane or consulting an orthopedic hip specialist for joint replacement may be necessary.

 

Hip Labral Tears

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A labral hip tear refers to damage or injury to the labrum, which is a ring of cartilage that surrounds the hip socket. The labrum provides stability to the hip joint and helps in maintaining the proper alignment of the femoral head within the acetabulum (hip socket). Labral tears can occur due to trauma, structural abnormalities, repetitive movements, or degenerative changes.

 

Conservative treatment for a labral hip tear typically focuses on managing symptoms and improving hip function without resorting to surgical intervention. Targeted exercises and stretches can help strengthen the muscles around the hip, improve joint stability, and address any muscle imbalances contributing to the tear. Temporary avoidance or modification of activities that exacerbate symptoms is often recommended. This may involve adjusting exercise routines, avoiding certain movements, or using adaptive techniques to reduce stress on the hip joint.

 

Trochanteric Bursitis

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Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) encompasses issues affecting the muscles, tendons, and bursa on the outside of the hip, causing discomfort during activities like prolonged standing, stair climbing, running, sitting with crossed legs, and sleeping on the affected hip.

 

Conservative treatment, like that of chiropractic, is generally successful. Essential measures include strengthening the hip muscles, especially the gluteus medius. For acute pain, temporarily limit or discontinue aggravating activities. Avoid sleeping with a weighted blanket and consider applying sports creams for temporary relief. Athletes should adjust running surfaces, reverse directions on circular tracks, avoid wet or icy surfaces, and runners with a narrow gait should widen their steps. Cyclists must ensure an appropriate seat height.

 

Adductor (Groin) Strain

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The inner thigh muscles, also known as the groin, consist of six muscles that stabilize the pelvis and bring the legs together during movement. A strain occurs when these muscles or tendons are stressed beyond their limits, common in sports involving forceful thigh movements like kicking and sprinting, particularly in ice hockey and soccer. Symptoms include bleeding, bruising, swelling, pain, and loss of function, with severity varying based on tissue tear.

 

Most groin strains can be effectively managed with conservative care. However, it's crucial to limit activities such as running or jumping during recovery to prevent re-injury or permanent damage. Strengthening the inner thigh muscles through directed home rehab exercises is essential, as weaker groin muscles increase the risk of injury.

 

Snapping Hip

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The Psoas muscle (hip flexor), responsible for thigh flexion, originates from the lower spine and attaches to the top of the thigh bone through the pelvis. Tightness can irritate its tendon, particularly after activities involving repeated thigh flexion like jumping, running, soccer, gymnastics, dancing, or rowing. Symptoms include deep groin pain radiating to the front of the hip or thigh, with possible snapping sensations during hip flexion and extension. Long-standing issues may lead to weakness or limping.

 

Our clinic offers treatments for recovery, including home exercises to address muscle imbalances. Depending on severity, limiting specific activities, especially repetitive hip flexion, may be necessary. Prolonged seated positions can contribute to hip flexor shortening, so take frequent stretch breaks. Patients with fallen arches may find arch supports beneficial.

 

Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)

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Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) occurs when the cartilage rim of the hip is painfully pinched during specific movements due to a mismatch between the femur head and hip socket. This mismatch may result from an abnormally shaped hip bone (cam deformity), excessive cartilage on the hip socket rim (pincer deformity), or a combination of both (mixed deformity).

 

Symptoms include consistent dull pain worsened or intensified by activity, with aggravation during walking, pivoting, sitting, stair climbing, and high-impact activities.

 

Our clinic guides a rehab program to enhance recovery chances. Stay active but avoid symptom-aggravating activities, considering a temporary switch to low-impact exercises like stationary biking or water walking. Steer clear of motions combining flexion and internal rotation, such as getting out of a car one leg at a time, breaststroke swimming, or squats. Excessive stretching should be avoided, but strengthening exercises and our provided treatment may be beneficial for FAI patients.

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Remedial Massage targets the muscles surrounding the hip joint, helping to release tension, reduce inflammation, and improve blood flow to the affected area. By addressing muscular imbalances and tightness, massage therapy can alleviate pain and improve mobility in the hip.

 

Assisted Stretching therapy focuses on increasing flexibility and range of motion in the hip joint, promoting better movement patterns and reducing strain on the surrounding muscles and ligaments.