Debilitating hip pain can negatively impact your daily life and overall well-being. Whether from injuries, musculoskeletal imbalances, or age-related issues, hip pain can affect everything from simple activities like walking or sitting to more complex movements like exercising or even sleeping. This pain and discomfort can cause people to look for various treatment options, like seeing a chiropractor for hip pain. By focusing on the alignment of the spine and joints to address underlying issues, chiropractors offer a holistic approach to alleviating hip pain. Chiropractic care can not only relieve your immediate discomfort but also help restore healthy functioning to the area.
What Hip Conditions Chiropractors Treat
When you think of a chiropractor, you might associate chiropractic care with treating back and neck issues. Chiropractors specialize in treating the spine and a wide range of other musculoskeletal issues, including the causes of hip pain. Here are some examples of common causes of hip pain that chiropractors can treat:
Osteoarthritis
This degenerative joint disease occurs when the protective cartilage surrounding the hip joint wears down over time. This can result in bone rubbing against bone, causing hip pain and other symptoms.
Hip Bursitis
One part of the hip joint is called the bursa, a fluid-filled sac providing cushion to the hip joint. If the bursa becomes inflamed, it is known as hip bursitis and can cause hip pain and discomfort.
Tendinitis
Inflammation of the tendons around the hip joint, often caused by too much strain or overuse of the hip joint. Certain hip and surrounding soft tissue injuries may also result in tendinitis.
Muscle or Tendon Strain
Overexertion or sudden movements can lead to strains in the muscles or tendons surrounding the hip. If these soft tissues become overstretched, it can cause pain with everyday movements and restrict mobility.
Hip Fracture
A break in the hip bone, often associated with sudden trauma or slip and fall injuries. A hip fracture can result in extreme pain and discomfort and the inability to bear weight on the affected side.
Sciatica
Compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve can cause pain radiating from the lower back to the hip and the leg. While sciatica is often considered a spinal condition, it can cause symptoms like hip pain and make movements uncomfortable.
How Chiropractic Care Helps Hip Pain
Hip pain can make walking difficult and uncomfortable. Simple activities like climbing stairs or getting up from a seated position may become challenging. Overall, hip pain can majorly impact a person’s quality of life. Chiropractic care for hip pain takes a holistic approach to addressing the source of your pain and providing you with an all-natural treatment option. Non-invasive treatment options can be just as effective in managing and alleviating hip pain. A chiropractor for hip pain will aim to address the underlying causes of pain and improve overall hip function without the need for surgery.
Non-Invasive Treatment Options for Hip Pain
Heat and Cold Therapy
Applying heat or cold packs to the affected hip can help reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Heat therapy can improve blood circulation and relax tense muscles, while cold therapy can numb the area and reduce swelling.
Chiropractic Adjustments
Manual adjustments by chiropractors can improve alignment in the lower back and hips to help alleviate hip pain caused by musculoskeletal imbalances.
Soft Tissue Techniques
Therapeutic massage can help promote healthy blood flow to the affected area and loosen stiff muscles. Additionally, your Conyers chiropractor may recommend stretches to help improve flexibility in muscles and other soft tissues.
Lifestyle Modifications
Adopting a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, a balanced diet, and getting enough rest, can contribute to overall joint health and reduce the impact of hip pain.
Assistive Devices
Assistive devices like canes or crutches can help reduce weight-bearing on the affected hip and offer greater support and stability during movement.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapists can design specific exercises and stretches to strengthen muscles around the hip joint, improve flexibility, and enhance overall joint stability.
What to Expect When Seeing a Chiropractor for Hip Pain
Chiropractic care aims to optimize the function of the nervous system, and adjustments to the spine can indirectly influence other parts of the body, including the hips. Your chiropractor will first want to discuss your medical history and when you first started noticing the hip pain. Let your Conyers chiropractor know if you have recently been injured in a car accident or can pinpoint an underlying cause of your hip pain. In addition, your chiropractor will perform a thorough physical examination of the area. They may also ask you to perform certain movements to see how the hip pain impacts you. Your chiropractor may also request diagnostic imaging tools like X-rays or CT scans of the affected area to better understand what’s going on with your hip joint. Adjustments to the spine and pelvis, as well as posture correction, are just some of the ways your chiropractor may address your specific experience with hip pain.
Trust AICA Conyers for Hip Pain Treatment
In many cases, chiropractic care for hip pain can be part of a multidisciplinary approach. At AICA Orthopedics, our Conyers chiropractors collaborate with physical therapists, neurologists, and orthopedic surgeons to provide each person with comprehensive treatment and care. Visit AICA Orthopedics in Conyers to get started with our team of specialists and experience lasting relief from hip pain. When you visit our office, you can meet with your Conyers chiropractor and get any necessary imaging tests done all in one convenient location. Our team of healthcare professionals is dedicated to providing individualized treatment plans that address your specific symptoms and the source of your hip pain.