Your hip muscles are used to support your pelvis and your core to form a strong foundation for your arms and legs. Healthy hips are critical for sitting, standing, walking, running, bending and just about every other motion. As our hips are such an important foundation in our bodies it’s easy to see why they can become easily injured.
When your hips, or the surrounding areas like your groin and thigh, hurt, the rest of your body starts to try and overcompensate for this pain, which will not only lead to further injuries, but it can seriously impact your ability to perform everyday activities.
Causes of hip pain:
- Sprain or strain
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Fractures
- Bursitis
- Tendonitis
How can you manage your hip pain?
Regular exercise
No matter what your fitness level might be, it is highly advisable to make exercise a non-negotiable in your life. Frequently exercising will strengthen the muscles in and around your hip, improve your posture and help you to lose weight, all of which can help ease your pain. It can also alleviate any other symptoms that might be related to your pain.
Incorporating a strength training plan into your workout schedule at least two times a week, and staying consistent with your practice, is a fantastic way to decrease the issues your hips may be causing you. It will take patience and effort, but, over time, you will see how much stronger your hips and the surrounding areas become. It is also important that you’re taking the time out to stretch and perform mobility exercises. Knee lifts, hip rotations, and lower back stretches can really help to soothe your discomfort.
Even if your hip pain starts to subside, you should still continue with regularly exercising and stretching. Stopping or reducing the amount of exercise you do could cause your symptoms to come back again. Try to start off slowly and gradually increase how much you do. Exercising little and often is definitely a good place to start.
Weight management
When you’re overweight, the strain on your joints, especially your hips and knees, increases. Obesity can lead to you developing osteoarthritis.
Though there isn’t a specific diet plan you should follow that’ll take away your hip pain, ensuring you’re following a well-balanced one that’s rich in protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates will help to keep you in control of weight, which will ultimately lessen the strain on your hips.
Osteopathy
Your osteopath practitioner will not only assess your hips during your treatment, but they will assess your entire body. This is what sets osteopathy apart from conventional medical treatment. Your osteopath will take the time to understand how your body moves, and then they will work with you to get your hips into the strongest shape possible. Through gentle massages, your practitioner will strengthen and stretch your muscles and your hip joints to reduce tension and improve mobility. Your osteopath will also work on any linked discomforts in your body, such as back or groin pain.
You will be given exercises and stretches that you can continue practising in the comfort of your own home.
If you’re ready to eliminate hip pain from your life, the Enfield Osteopathic team would love to hear from you. We will work together to get you in the best shape possible so you’re able to lead a pain-free and comfortable life.
