Hip pain is a problem that is a common occurrence and can leave a person confused as to its causes. It is essential to make a correct diagnosis of the cause of your symptom so the appropriate treatment can be aimed at the underling problem.
Hip Pain
The hip refers to an anatomical area of the human body that’s located lateral to the gluteal buttocks region, inferior to the iliac crest, and atop the thigh bone greater trochanter. The hip is complex area that is designed to be a connection between the upper and lower halves of the body and provide stability during movement.
The Main Components Of The Hip
* two bones (femur and pelvis)
* four muscle groups
* joints (acetabulofemoral joint between the femur and acetabulum)
* five ligaments
* tendons
* bursae
* nerves
Hip Pain Causes
Any of the structures within the hip may hurt if the hip or surrounding structure is involved injured. Pain may range from a dull ache or throbbing to severe or completely disabling pain; it all depends on the exact cause and location of the pain. Common causative factors can include trauma, overuse or stress injury, and disease process.
Trauma
Some of the most common reasons a hip may hurt is the direct result of a trauma. Examples of such include any of the following:
* falls
* direct blow to the hip
* work-related injury
* car accident
* sports injury
Any trauma can cause injury to one or more structures within the hip. Some common examples of trauma related injuries include:
* bone fracture - a break in the normal continuity of a hip or adjacent bone
* sprains - stretching or tearing of a hip ligament
* muscle strains - stretching or tearing of muscle fibers within the hip
* contusions - bruising of a hip structure
Overuse And Repetitive Stress Injuries
If the muscles, ligaments, or tendons in the hip become inflamed or otherwise damaged from overuse, misuse, or repetitive stress, it can cause hip pain. These are more apt to occur in addition to the normal wear and tear of age and in those that are very physically active, such as an athlete. One common overuse hip condition is hip bursitis, where the trochanteric bursa becomes inflamed.
Non-Traumatic Hip Pain
Any medical condition or disease process that causes inflammation, especially around the hip, can be a source of hip pain. Some common examples might include any of the following:
* synovitis
* arthritis
* a sickle cell crisis
* certain viral and bacterial infections
* Legg-Calvé-Perthes
* fibromyalgia
* meralgia paresthetica
* sciatica
Some common causes of hip pain include:
1. Arthritis is among one of the most common causes of hip pain. The most common type of hip arthritis is known as Osteoarthritis. This is also known as degenerative joint disease or wear-and-tear arthritis, and is characterized by a progressive wearing away of joint cartilage. Bare bone is exposed inside the joint as the protective cartilage is worn away as a result of hip arthritis. The most common symptoms include:
• Pain during activities
• Limited range of motion
• Stiffness in the hip area
• Walking with a limp
Where they Occur in the Hip Anatomy
Similar to other joints that carry weight, the hips can be at risk of wear and tear. The hip is affected by osteoarthritis when the glistening and smooth (articular cartilage) at the ends of your bones that aids the hip joint in gliding begins to wear thin.
2. Muscle Strains-Strains of muscles surrounding the pelvis and hip can cause spasm and pain. The most common strains are hamstring strains and groin pulls. A sprain is defined as an injury of a ligament. A ligament is a tough, thick, fibrous tissue whereby bones are connected together. A sprain is caused as a result of a ligament being stretched too far. Injuries happen when either the muscle is pulled too far or in one direction at the time the muscle is contracting. Sprains can also happen as a result of chronic activities that result in overstretching muscle fibers. Some common causes of these injuries occur during sports activities such as gymnastics, volleyball, basketball, football or slipping on ice. Some common symptoms include:
• Bruising of the affected joint
• Swelling
• Pain
Where they Occur in the Hip Anatomy
The big bones that make up the hip joint serves as an anchor for a variety of muscles. Some of these muscles move across the buttocks or abdomen, others move down the thigh towards the knee. When injury or overuse occurs, this tears or stretches the muscle fibers causing a strain in the muscle.
3. A Stress Fracture-Stress fracture of the hip happens frequently among athletes who perform high impact sports, long distance runners, and military recruits. There are three conditions that a stress fracture of the hip occurs; high-energy injuries, stress injuries, and pathologic injuries. In high-energy injuries, the bone is broken as a result of a strong force. These injuries include sports injuries, falls, and car accidents. Stress fractures occur as a result of micro trauma that has been repeated on the bone. A pathologic injury occurs when the bone experiences abnormal weakening by some type of problem. Some symptoms include:
• Aching groin pain that occurs when activity takes place
Where they Occur in the Hip Anatomy
Hip stress fractures commonly occur right below the ball of the ball and socket hip joint. The most common location is found in the femoral neck, although stress fractures can occur in other areas of the hip and pelvis.
Strengthening Exercises
These Hip Exercises are ideal to build strength and flexibility.
Massage Treatment
These Hip Massage Techniques are of great value in pain relief; circulation stimulation; dispersing blood and fluid accumulations; swelling reduction; and relaxing muscle spasms, especially when used alongside the Sinew Therapeutics liniments and soaks.
ACUTE STAGE SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT
This stage is characterized by swelling, redness, pain, and possibly a local sensation of heat, indicating inflammation. If coolness makes your pain feel better, then the Acute Stage Treatment is recommended.
ACUTE STAGE SYMPTOMS:
The acute stage starts the moment an injury occurs and lasts until the swelling and inflammation are gone. The swelling is the result of the blockage of blood, tissue fluids and circulation in the hip because their normal movement has been disrupted by the force of the injury. Just like cars back up behind a traffic jam, causing congestion, exhaust and overheating; blood and fluids back up behind the injured hip, causing pain, inflammation, lumps and swelling.
The sensation of heat is due to the warming action of the blood and fluids overheating in the injured hip as they back up and accumulate. Stiffness and decreased mobility are due to spasms in tendons and ligaments that have contracted reflexively beyond their normal range from the impact of the injury.
As ligaments and tendons stretch and tear, blood from ruptured blood vessels becomes trapped in the local tissues. As the trapped blood clots up, it sticks the tissues together creating adhesions. Adhesions cause pain, inflammation and restricted movement because the layers of tissue that used to slide smoothly across one another now adhere and snap which interferes with normal functioning. It is essential to break up clotted blood as quickly as possible to prevent adhesions and scar tissue from forming.
During the acute stage it is very important to restore normal circulation to the hip, break up clotted blood and stagnant fluids, reduce swelling, and reduce the redness and heat associated with inflammation. By restoring the flow of blood, fluids, and circulation in the hip, then pain is relieved, damaged tissues can regenerate with healthy functional tissue, and the hip can strengthen and regain it's mobility.
ACUTE STAGE TREATMENT:
1. Apply the Sinew Herbal Ice on your hip to reduce redness, swelling, and inflammation while dispersing accumulated blood and fluids to help restore normal circulation to the hip. This first-aid treatment is used in place of ice to significantly speed up the healing process. It reduces the swelling and inflammation more effectively than ice, allowing you to more quickly regain range of motion. Acute Sinew Liniment can be used in-between applications.
Ice is not recommended because it does not help repair damaged tissues and keeps everything in the injured area frozen, causing the stagnation of blood and fluids and the contraction of muscles, tendons and ligaments. In Chinese sports medicine ice is not used and is considered a culprit in injuries that don’t heal well.
2. Massage your hip with Acute Sinew Liniment to relieve pain, reduce swelling and inflammation, break up clotted blood and stagnant fluids, and stimulate circulation of blood and fluids to help cells quickly repair damaged tissues. Sinew Herbal Ice can be used in-between applications.
3. The Sinew Sports Massage Oil is recommended for use before and after exercise, sports and strenuous activity. It warms and stimulates your muscles, increases circulation and relieves tightness, hence improving your performance and helping to prevent injury.
CHRONIC STAGE SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT
This stage begins once the swelling and inflammation are gone, but you still feel pain, stiffness, weakness, and/or sensitivity in cold and damp weather. If heat makes your pain feel better, then the Chronic Stage Treatment is recommended.
CHRONIC STAGE SYMPTOMS:
The chronic stage begins once the swelling and inflammation are gone, but you still feel aching pain and stiffness. This is because there are still accumulations of stagnant blood and fluids in your hip that are blocking circulation and blood supply to damaged tissues, creating residual pain, stiffness and weakness. You may actually feel hard nodules like sand in the tissue, indicating accumulation, calcification, and adhesions, which all cause pain, stiffness, and joint instability.
Your hip may feel more sensitive to the cold and ache in cold and damp weather due to impaired circulation. These symptoms are often the result of failure to treat the injury properly from the outset and overicing.
Increasing circulation and blood supply to the damaged tissues is very important in treating chronic injuries because tendons and ligaments do not have an extensive direct supply of blood. That is why chronic injuries can be slow to heal. Increasing local circulation also prevents cold and dampness from penetrating the injured area, preventing pain and stiffness.
During the chronic stage it is very important to break up remaining accumulations of blood and fluids, and increase circulation and blood supply to the damaged tissues. By increasing circulation and blood flow in the hip, then pain and stiffness is relieved, and the damaged tissues can strengthen to restore stability.
CHRONIC STAGE TREATMENT:
1. Massage your hip with Chronic Sinew Liniment to relieve pain and stiffness, strongly stimulate circulation and blood flow to damaged tissues, and promote the healing of overstretched tendons and ligaments. The Sinew Relaxing Soak and/or the Sinew Warming Soak can be used in-between applications.
2. Soak your hip with the Sinew Relaxing Soak to relax muscles and tendons that are in spasm, ease joint pain and stiffness, and improve range of motion. The Sinew Relaxing Soak is particularly useful if you feel spasms in your hip. The soak can be used by saturating a towel in the liquid and applying it to your hip. Chronic Sinew Liniment and/or the Sinew Warming Soak can be used in-between applications.
3. Soak your hip with the Sinew Warming Soak to ease joint pain, increase range of motion, and strongly increase local circulation to drive coldness and dampness out of damaged tissues. The Sinew Warming Soak is particularly useful if your hip is more painful and sensitive to cold or hurts more in cold weather. The soak can be used by saturating a towel in the liquid and applying it to your hip. Chronic Sinew Liniment and/or the Sinew Relaxing Soak can be used in-between applications.
4. The Sinew Sports Massage Oil is recommended for use before and after exercise, sports and strenuous activity. It warms and stimulates your muscles, increases circulation and relieves tightness, hence improving your performance and helping to prevent injury.
