In the last blog we talked about the lower extremity as a whole and in today's we will discuss the hip joint itself and some of the reasons why we experience hip joint pain. Below is a picture of the hip joint. Sometimes we or our clients say I have hip pain but oftentimes it is because it is in the vicinity and not the actual hip joint. That pain will also be discussed as we go through this area of the anatomy.

Hip Joint consisting of the Femur and Pelvic bone

This joint has the capability of moving in 8 different directions and because of inappropriate use often gives us an area of pain that is unnecessary. The many methodologies used in PT, MT, and most forms of physical medicine address the pain but rarely the cause. How I like to explain this joint to my clients is that it is meant to pivot around an axis. By that I mean the hip joint is not meant to be the primary joint of walking, standing and/or running. It is meant to be the transitional joint when moving to a standing position or bending forward, it really is not made for any significant amount of torsion.

In this picture of a student on the Reformer, an apparatus that we use in our Fundamental Movement Therapy(SM), (for more info on Pilates go to our website www.chagrinvalleywellness.com) the feet are placed on the bar and there is minimal spring tension for resistance. The normal inclination for the student is to generate the force down through the hip joint and use the larger bone to create the impetus. What this does is engage the low back in such a way that a dynamic thrust is used to raise the Femur, by the Psoas or hip flexor, and eventually creates a stress point in the lower back. This will explain why people have back pain after they walk for awhile. This is because many people walk, powering down from the hip through the knee into the ankle and foot. Instead of the hip joint pivoting  and the head of the Femur staying centered it is forced up and down in the socket. This constant compression of the cartilage will eventually wear the padding down. As this wearing takes place the compression against the sensory nerve endings will create the pain symptoms. Once we are able to balance the joint, the client is informed to shorten the stride and focus on one joint, the knee. This will force the individual to bio-mechanically move correctly.

The hip is a delicate joint that is often overworked and because of the musculature that surrounds it can create many problems. The Piriformis muscle  attaches to the Femur and when that muscle is involved the Sciatic nerve can be involved. The Psoas Major muscle if compromised by an imbalance to the hip joint can also encumber the Lumbar spine. The Gluteal muscles also connect here and with the interconnection of the Lattismus Dorsi with the Gluteus Maximus shoulder issues could be possible. Once again we strengthen muscles that create an unnatural tensegral pull on the skeleton that eventually creates a stress point that will contribute to pain. As you can see there are many areas that come into play if the hip joint is wrongly used.

So if you are treating someone with hip discomfort, or are someone who is suffering from long term hip pain, remember you have altered movement patterns that have created compensation. It is important that we prevent chronic hip pain by maintaining a positive tension on the skeletal structures and we are cautious with our movement patterns. On our web site we have archived You Tube videos of our Movement of the Month (www.chagrinvalleywellness.com) that shows how we reprogram the neurological system to educate the body into properly moving. Many times the pain will continue to reappear until we change the movement pattern, that is what our Fundamental Movement Therapy(SM) accomplishes.

I encourage individuals who suffer from chronic hip pain or therapists that struggle treating this painful condition to contact us at [email protected]. If you know someone who suffers from this and would benefit from a consultation session, either at our office or on the phone, forward this blog to them. In the next few blogs I will be including videos that further show how to determine the proper Q angle and how to help recreate it. We will also be continuing on with the knee, ankle and foot and some tips on how to prevent these painful happenings. Thank you and please enjoy the holiday season.

A Reason and Season of HOPE!

Dennis

On any given day at least one of our clients will come to us seeking relief from low back pain.  Usually, the lower lumbar region is the site of the discomfort.  However, as more people spend more time at their computers the low back is under constant attack from tight hamstrings and rigid shoulder joints.
The Hamstrings correlate to the spinal muscles that run along each side of the vertebral column. As an individual sits and works at the computer the Hamstrings will shorten. This will cause corresponding lengthening of the spinal muscles. The stiffness most individuals experience upon standing is due to this phenonema where the hamstring muscles are shortened and the back muscles are lengthened therefore not allowing the joints of the low back to properly move. 
How does the body counteract this dilemma? It uses the large back muscle or the Lattismus Dorsi to help pick up the Pelvic Girdle to allow the hip joint to properly function. When this recruitment is present in movement it exposes the low back's vulnerablity to strain. When someone is using the computer mouse they need to be able to extend their arm to not only reach but move the mouse. When performing this action the Lattismus Dorsi muscles upper end needs to elongate while the lower half shortens to protect the integrity of the lumbar region. When this lower end is being used to aide in standing and walking the lower half is in an elongated posture. This confused muscle is now the culprit for low back pain. 
Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® addresses this issue by balancing the tension to all of the skeletal structures so the proper neurological processes can and will take place. Fundamental Movement Pilates(SM) addresses these imbalances by reinforcing proper movement patterns and strengthening the postural muscles to accomodate the proper tension necessary.

Call 216.364.0152, comment or email to see how we can help ease your pain.