Causes of Hip Pain & At-Home Relief

Hip pain is more common than many of us may have ever realized. While it is common in adults of all ages, it is most common in older adults, with nearly 1 in 5 adults self-reporting some kind of hip pain. Its causes vary but are often related to some sort of injury, physical condition, or degenerative condition. Thankfully, this pain is also very treatable – even at home.

Causes of Hip Pain

Injuries to your hip can come from many different sources, but the causes of hip pain can usually be broken down into one of two flavors:

• Disease or disorder: Many degenerative disorders or illnesses can cause hip pain. Depending on what you are suffering from, these issues may not be exclusive to your hip, either. For example, while arthritis often attacks your hip, that’s not to say that it will only attack your hip. Other examples of possible injuries include bursitis, tendinitis, or osteonecrosis. While these diseases may be “incurable,” that doesn’t mean that they aren’t treatable, and professional medical care can help you better treat these challenges.
• Injury: Injuries – such as sprains, strains, fractures, or broken bones – are very common in hips. Unfortunately, these can often lead to more serious complications, particularly in older adults.
  Lack of normal range of motion: The hip should be one of the most mobile joints in your body. If the hip doesn’t have a normal range of motion then it leads to dysfunction and injuries to the internal anatomy, i.e degenerative disorders and inflammatory conditions (itis’s).

It is important to remember that this pain can be caused by any number of factors, and if the pain is truly causing you discomfort or interfering with your activities of daily living, you should see a doctor or medical professional. Don’t try to diagnose yourself on the internet!
A doctor may prescribe you pain relief medications or suggest a variety of other remedies to help you deal with your pain. Thankfully, many of these forms of relief can be done at home.

Hip Pain Relief

If you are looking for hip pain relief, there are many ways that you can find it. This includes:

• Stretching and Mobility: Regular stretching and mobility exercises has been shown to relieve this pain, help improve your flexibility, and reduce your risk of injury. There are many specific stretches that you can try. If this is the route you take, it is important to first speak with a medical professional to confirm that you are in good enough shape to exercise.
  Check out our library of exercise videos you can do at home.
• Yoga: Yoga has a long history of helping to provide pain relief. Low-impact yoga can work for anyone – even those who have very limited mobility. Like stretching, practicing yoga on a regular basis can help strengthen your muscles, regain your balance, and reduce the chances of hurting yourself in the future.

You may also want to consider seeing a chiropractor. Our SF chiropractors can help identify the source of your pain and treat it – and your entire body – in a holistic, comprehensive manner.
A good chiropractor can also help you identify appropriate exercises and strength-building techniques that can help reduce your pain. Give us a call at (415) 521-3073 or book an appointment to see our specialists!