Dr. Bart,
I’ve noticed that when I cross and uncross my legs, I get a sharp pain in my left hip. I also sense some discomfort in this area when I’m walking or running. What could be causing this pain?
Sincerely,
Jan
Jan, great question! First, let’s talk about the hip joint:
The hip is a ball and socket joint where the femur (thighbone) connects with the pelvis (hipbone). Cartilage separates the two bones and acts as a cushion to prevent the bones from rubbing against each other. Because your hips and legs support the entire body and give you strength, stability, flexibility, and mobility, there is a high amount of stress put on these body parts. Hip pain can sometimes be confused with back ache because of where the spine connects with the pelvis.
While leg and hip pain can have many causes, the most common is segmental joint dysfunction. Segmental Joint Dysfunction is a term used to describe what happens when one of the vertebrae in your spine is not moving correctly or is malpositioned. When this happens, the misaligned vertebra creates pressure and stress on the spinal nerves, blood vessels, and surrounding muscles. This pressure and stress can cause an imbalance in the body’s normal processes as the nerves in the spinal column extend to the entire body and its organs. As time goes on and the uncorrected segmental dysfunction settles, the damage to the nerve gets progressively worse different stages of segmental dysfunction degeneration set in.
If you have hip pain due to a misalignment in your spine, an adjustment can help to restore the normal motion to the area which helps the healing process. The aim of ongoing adjustments is to:
- Reduce inflammation
- Improve movement of the joint
- Relax painful muscle spasm
In addition to a treatment plan with River Ridge Chiropractic, there are a few things you can do on your own. Sitting for extended periods or poor posture can result in a (slipped or ruptured disc) causing pain in the legs and hips, so making sure you’re active throughout the day is important. Even basic exercises that focus on improving range of motion are helpful. Also, good nutrition is a very important part of the puzzle.
In the next blog, I’ll tell you about another cause of hip pain: anatomic and functional leg-length inequality.
– Dr. Bart
