Hip
As you learn more about the anatomy and physiology of your body and of each segment, you will begin to understand where the most common origins of pain are located. Within our sections detailing the common ailments we treat, we discuss pain focused in the vertebrae of the neck, head, upper and lower back, as well as the sacroiliac joint connecting the sacrum–which is the cap of the spinal column–and the ilium. We will walk you through an explanation of hip pain, it’s common causes, and how you can remedy this pain at home or through exercises detailed by our physical therapists. At In Motion O.C., we offer our clients useful information on these areas where pain occurs the most, but we also offer them advice on how they may reduce this pain until they come in for a physical therapy consultation.
Anatomical Composition of the Hip
The hip is made up of the top portion of the femur as it connects to the iliac bone, known as the hip bone. At the head of the femur is a layer of articular cartilage, which covers the head of the femur and socket within the ilium. Between these two is the bursa, which is full of synovial fluid that protects the two surfaces from rubbing against each other. As one of the most protected joints in the body, the hip joint at the iliofemoral connection is heavily covered by intricate layers of ligamentous tissue. These layers are on top of one another in a twisting formation to supplement the particular function of the hip when we walk, sit or stand; these ligaments are called the iliofemoral and ischiofemoral ligaments. All of this is surrounded by muscles that move the legs and lower trunk, such as the adductor muscles that pull the thigh inward.
Muscles Surrounding the Hip
- Adductor longus
- Adductor brevis
- Adductor magnus
- Piriformus
- Gracilis
- Pectineus
- Psoas major
- Iliacus
- Tensor fasciae latae
What is hip pain?
The hip joint plays a large part in the movement in the lower trunk of the body, which means it’s often under a lot of stress from weight-bearing, extension, and compression. Three types of hip pain are focused on opposite sides of the hip or just below, where patients will experience pain stimuli. Referred pain is the least common type of pain we see in our clients since the pain they feel may not be the hip, but another condition altogether. At the interior of the hip is where patients suffering from joint-related conditions will feel their pain begin. However, on the exterior of the hip is where muscle and ligament conditions will reveal themselves.
Depending on the level of damage you suffer from, discomfort is equivalent. The pain felt in the hip is similar to soreness after a long day at the gym as muscles and ligaments get overworked from hyperextension. When you’re affected by hip pain, these sensations can move upward of the buttocks and sometimes all the way down the leg into the toes at its most severe. People with this condition have difficulty moving the hip at all; the hip engages in sitting, standing, and walking, so any pain can make these movements almost impossible.
What are the common causes of hip pain?
Diagnosing hip pain is necessary so that any therapeutic movements or treatment can be applied and prove useful. Once we know that the pain you’re experiencing is coming from either soft tissues in the hip or the joint, we can narrow it down to what caused this pain to occur. The common causes of pain in the hip are:
<What can you do about hip pain?
Depending on the cause of your hip pain, there are some remedies you can try at home before you see a doctor or physical therapist. Some of the pain related to the hip can be reduced with a few simple steps or focused physical therapy exercises. Try out these tips to reduce hip pain:
If you continue to feel pain in your hip after following these exercises and tips, call In Motion O.C. at 949.861.8600 to schedule your physical therapy consultation. We also offer patients fall prevention sessions to reduce their chances of falling since the hip is often a complicated fracture point for many.
