Is Hip Pain Stopping You? Read This!

 If hip pain is slowing you down or stopping you from the activities that you would normally like to do there is hope. You don't, necessarily have to succumb to living with pain and having hip discomfort keep you from having a life.

Many people realize that hip pain can be affecting daily living activity. For some people just trying to get a good night's sleep is difficult. They may note that lying on either side causes them to sleep poorly. Others may find that simply walking up and down the stairs at home is so difficult that they may limit the number of trips they take. Those who enjoy walking for exercise and recreation may find it impossible to walk as long or as often as they would prefer.

The hip joint is the largest joint in the human body. It is called a "ball and socket" joint and moves in all directions. Since it is a weight-bearing joint it is susceptible to wear and tear. It can be injured in a sudden accident or it can become a painful condition by long-term stress. If the hip joint space becomes narrowed it can be classified as "bone on bone" degenerative joint disease. Another term for this is osteoarthritis of the hip.

A related area of the body that is associated with the hip joint is an area called the sacroiliac joint. The sacroiliac joint is found on both sides of the pelvis. It is in the buttock region where the hip or back pocket area of our pants or trousers is located. The sacroiliac joint's movement is a gliding/sliding type of motion.

If the sacroiliac joint is misaligned or moving improperly it can affect the weight-bearing motion of the hip joint. It is not uncommon for both the sacroiliac and hip joints to be irritated. Fortunately there is an effective, conservative healthcare approach to dealing with these affected areas of the body.

Chiropractic treatment, performed by a doctor of chiropractic, may help hip pain. A chiropractor can evaluate a person for possible treatment. The chiropractic doctor will evaluate a patient's hip and sacroiliac joints to determine if there is improper alignment and movement of the joints. Many times it is helpful to take x-rays of the pelvis and hip joints to assess the degree of degeneration or osteoarthritis that may be present.

A chiropractor has training in performing manipulations or adjustments to the affected hip joint and sacroiliac joint to decrease the stress on the area and allow the abnormal conditions to heal. One study published in the research journal Osteoarthritis Cartilage October 2013 found that 118 patients diagnosed with hip arthritis had effective benefit from care performed by a chiropractor.

If hip pain has made you or someone you know alter the way you would normally like to live your life don't hesitate to visit a chiropractor. If the chiropractor can help you he will let you know. If he can't he will let you know that too. For many people the effort in exploring the alternative healthcare of chiropractic has paid great dividends.