Hip pain is a common problem as we age. It can affect not only athletes, but the average Joe/Jane. The hip is one of the most stable joints in the body, but also one of the most complex. It is designed to move through a large range of motion and handle heavy loads. The hip joint is also very susceptible to wear and tear over time due to what we do during our lifetime. Hip pain will not only keep you from doing the activities you love, it prevents you from doing your daily movements - like walking up stairs, running and walking. When the hip joint is not moving properly pain from the affected hip can also cause problems to other areas of the body like the lower back and knee. 

A couple of the biggest reasons for hip pain are:

1) Bad tissue surrounding the joint: This one is very common as we overuse our muscles surrounding the hip joint, especially the adductor muscles. When this happens you develop a lot of fibrous adhesion (scar tissue) in the muscles, which makes them weaker and less flexible. Over time the muscles can't support the hip and the hip cartilage gets really beat up.

2) The capsular cartilage surrounding the hip, more commonly just called the posterior joint capsule. This structure is one that tends to get really beat up with what is called fibrous adhesion when the hip doesn't get proper support from the surrounding muscles.

The fibrous adhesion forms from overuse, this makes the capsule less flexible and weaker to be able to withstand the forces that the hip encounters every day. This can eventually lead to hip degeneration and wearing of the cartilage surrounding the hip joint.

Degeneration is a big deal because it is progressive and doesn't go away. 

Hip replacements are on the rise, you don’t have to live with hip pain!

• Tenderness, pain and/or stiffness in the hip
• Pinching in the crease of the groin area with hip flexion
• Weakness or instability.
• Popping or crunching noises.
• Inability to fully flex the hip.

• Strains/Sprains
• Sciatica
• Piriformis Syndrome
• IT Band Syndrome
• Tendinitis / Tendinosis
• Hip Bursitis
• Arthritis
• Hip Impingement

Hip problems are not always easy to fix! Most cases have developed over time and require more than just a “quick fix.” Through complete functional movement screens, we can narrow down the exact problem and the exact tissue(s) that need to be fixed. We utilize manual soft tissue treatments, joint manipulation,  exercises and stretches to work on relieving pain and correcting complications associated hip pain and dysfunction. Better diagnosis in our office, means better treatment and faster results for you!

Can hip pain cause back pain?

Certain hip conditions such as bursitis (inflammation of the bursa sac), can cause pain that radiates both downward and upward into the lower back. A health care professional can help you identify the source of your pain.

What causes hip pain at night?

It can be hard to pinpoint the exact cause of hip pain at night, but common conditions that lead to night pains can include bursitis, tendinopathy, osteoarthritis, or overexertion. 

What causes hip pain that radiates down the leg?

The most common source of this type of pain is sciatica, pain stemming from issues with the sciatic nerve. When pressure is applied to the nerve it can cause pain that spreads from the hip to surrounding areas like the legs and buttocks.

If you're experiencing any of the following pain, learn more about our treatment options.

• Neck pain
• Shoulder pain
• Low back pain
• Sciatica 
• Knee pain

If you think you have or are struggling with hip pain in the Grand Rapids area, call our office at 616-956-1112 or click here to schedule an appointment!