5 Ways to Find Relief from Hip Pain

Hip pain is uncomfortable but can also get in the way of doing the activities you love the most. While there are several reasons that you may be experiencing pain (injury, over-use, or a chronic condition), there are options for relief. A chiropractor can work with you to identify which solution is right for you based on your lifestyle and other health factors. Here, we will discuss different ways for relieving hip pain so you can get back to a healthier, functioning lifestyle.

1. Chiropractic Adjustment

While most people think about their spine being adjusted as back pain relief, it can also be used to help reduce pain and realign other parts of the body including your hips. Chiropractic manipulation, or spinal adjustment, relieves pressure on the spine by repositioning joints and vertebrae to the right position. Your pelvis and hips are directly connected to the spine and can really benefit from being realigned. Chiropractic manipulation should only be done by a professional chiropractor, and you may have to have several adjustments before you start to feel that your hips aren’t hurting.

2. Spinal Decompression

Again, because your hips are impacted by how your spine is doing, treating the spine is often an area of focus for those with hip pain. Spinal decompression works to relieve pressure on the spinal discs. This treatment is done using our Back on Trac technology. You simply lay down on a special table that will carefully and slowly stretch your spine for 15-30 minutes per session. Once the spine starts to relieve pressure on the discs, the hips can realign correctly. This process is completed over several sessions and a few weeks based on your condition's severity.

3. Cold Laser Therapy

There are several ways to relieve hip pain, but sometimes those treatments don’t actually get to the root of the problem. Cold laser therapy is a different option in the way that it provides both pain relief and healing. The procedure is referred to as "cold" laser therapy because the low-intensity laser doesn't heat up the body. When the laser is applied to the intended area, the impacted areas absorb the light causing blood to rush to the treatment area and encourage cell repair.

4. Massage for Hip Pain

Relaxing your hip muscles can go a long way in providing pain relief. A professional massage therapist knows the appropriate techniques for massage and can customize the message for your comfort level. Our office provides a professional massage therapist on-site to provide their services in conjunction with our other chiropractic care treatments.

5. Hip Stretches and Exercises

One of the best things you can do to relieve hip pain and prevent it from starting is to spend some time every day (or as often as you can) to stretch your muscles and exercise. Stretching of course help you to keep the muscles relaxed and to keep your hips from tightening up because of the surrounding muscles being too tight. Regular exercise helps to keep your muscles active and moving so that you don’t start to experience stiffness. Our highly skilled chiropractors can work with you to create a customized exercise and stretch routine that improves the range of motion of your hips and strengthen those muscles. Not only will strengthening your hips help you heal, but it may also help you avoid future injury.

Examples of hip exercises and stretches may include:

Leg Raises: If you're feeling pain in the front part of your hip, known as the hip flexors, then leg raises may be a good solution for you. To do this exercise, start by lying on your back (a yoga mat is ideal for padded support). Next, bend the resting leg and place your foot flat on the ground. Raise your other extended leg while making sure to keep your toes pointed upward. Raise the leg until you reach a 45-degree angle. If you can't quite reach 45 degrees, go as far as you can and work on improving flexibility over time. Hold this position for a few seconds before lowering it. Complete 10-15 times per leg.

Hip Flexion: Hip flexion exercise improves the range of motion and reduces stiffness in the hips. Begin by lying on your back with your legs stretched out. Make sure your toes are pointing upward. Choose one leg to start with, and bend it at the knee. Pull the knee toward your chest as far as you can without feeling any pain. Hold for five seconds, and release. Repeat 10-15 times per leg.

Hip Rotation: Hip rotation is ideal if you want to improve the range of motion of your hips (on one or both sides). Lie on the ground with your arms resting at your sides. Start with one leg bent with your foot on the ground. The leg that you are not working on should be flat on the ground with your toes pointing upward. Move your bent knee slowly, rotating it away from your body. Try to stretch it out as far as possible, but don't overdo it. You shouldn't feel any pain. Once your knee is rotated out as far as it can, hold the stretch for five seconds. Complete 10-15 times per leg.

Hip Pain Relief in The Woodlands

Chronic hip pain is a condition that you should have checked out by your chiropractor. If you're suffering from hip pain, reach out to us at Village Chiropractic to schedule an appointment. We look forward to creating a customized treatment plan that works for you and your lifestyle.