OFTEN times a patient comes in with a complaint of back pain I usually discover an imbalance of hip strength on either one or both sides of the body. In a previous blog, we briefly discussed how a deficit in hip strength can cause the pelvis to lose stability with standing and walking and therefore create a compensatory tightening in the low back leading to spasm and stress to the spine itself.
IN combination with this strength deficit are tight hip and lower back musculature that need to be stretched so that strengthening efforts either in the gym or at home are more effective.
BEFORE the problem is corrected, we can see a relative hip hike occur due to the lack of strength in the gluteus medius muscle located in the outer hip during walking. If weakness is present on the right, the left side of the pelvis or hip will drop or sag during standing and walking, causing the person to hike the the left side of the low back to maintain as level of a posture as possible. As you can see or probably have felt, back tightening and pain can ensue.
YOU might also feel pain in the outside of your hip. There is a tissue commonly affected here called the trochanteric bursa. A fluid-filled sac designed to create a pressure buffer between the muscle and and bone of the upper / outer thigh. When the hip muscles get tight and weak, the bursa comes under a constant state of tension, which creates inflammation and pain.
A comprehensive examination, looking at the whole musculosketal system and not just the painful region, allows Dr. Mike to identify problem areas (or tissue specific origins) and create a thorough treatment plan to get you out of pain and prevent further injuries stemming from one or more areas.
DON'T wait for pain to either start or linger long enough to take you out of your fitness routine or hobby. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Mike, Manual Therapy Certified Physical Therapist today!