Hip pain is a common condition that affects a lot of people. There are many different reasons that cause hip pain and there are many different types of hip pain. Hip pain can range from a dull ache to sharp shooting pain. It can refer into the pelvis, groin and down the leg.

 

Some of the common causes of hip pain include:

• Sleeping in an awkward position

• Poor posture

• Poor ergonomics at work

• Sports injuries

• Weak core

• Injury/trauma

 

The above causes will generally lead to functional pain that is related to stress and strain being put on the hip and causing general musculoskeletal pain. This would be considered general hip pain. Most of the causes above are factors in people’s everyday lives, which over a period of time will lead to dysfunction and pain.

 

Some injuries and trauma including falls can cause more serious problems that may require an assessment by a doctor.

 

Symptoms of hip pain and hip related issues can vary. The most common symptom is pain in the hip, this pain could be an ache or a sharp shooting pain, it could be constant or intermittent. Symptoms of pain can refer into the pelvis, bottom, groin and down the leg. Numbness, tingling and pins and needles are all symptoms that can be caused by issues of the nerves in the back.

 

Osteopaths can assess your hip and the surrounding areas to diagnose the cause of your hip pain. This involves not only looking at the hip but also looking at the lower back and pelvis. An assessment will involve taking a case history to understand the nature of the problem. Your posture will be checked and you will be put through a range of motion test which involves moving your hip to see how it moves from one side compared to the other. An assessment will also involve palpating the area, which involves feeling the muscles and joints to work out which are tight and restricted.

 

General musculoskeletal hip pain is pain that relates to the muscles, joints and some nerve related issues. The most common types of musculoskeletal hip pain are:

• Greater trochanteric bursitis

• Osteoarthritis

• Muscles strains

• Tendinopathy

• Labral tears

 

All of the above problems can be treated by Osteopaths. Osteopathic treatment is a form of manual medicine, which involves hands on techniques to help relieve pain and symptoms. This is achieved by loosening the tight muscles, strengthening the weak muscles, and helping to get restricted joints moving better. This will restore function to the hip.

 

Hip pain treatment generally involves the following:

• Massage

• Stretching

• Mobilisation

• Manipulation

• Exercises

 

A common question when it comes to hip pain treatment is whether the treatment is painful. Generally, most of the techniques won’t cause pain, but treatment of a painful area will be sensitive for most people. You should always let your Osteopath know if the treatment is painful, but sometimes you may need to go through a small amount of pain to get better.

 

Other forms of treatment that can help with hip pain include:

• Pain medication

• Anti-inflammatories

• Heat pack

• Ice pack

• Massage

• Acupuncture

 

If you suffer from hip pain or any other symptoms that may relate to issues in the hip, you should get yourself assessed by an Osteopath.