- Do you have trouble standing up straight after sitting at your desk or after driving?
- Does your stiff back or hip prevent you from bending to put on your socks and shoes?
- Does your back or hip limit the time you can stand or walk?
- Does your back or hip prevent you from working, exercising, or gardening?
- Are you afraid to lift anything because it will "throw your back out?"
Back pain is common, but NOT normal!
Everyone who has an episode of back pain has a unique experience. Some might have trouble sitting, while others might be limited in walking. The pain might limit one person from exercising, while the next person might feel better when exercising.
Hip pain can also cause the same limitations as back pain. Oftentimes a limitation in hip mobility will cause the back to do more work, giving the back even more stress.
The back can also “refer” pain into the hip/buttocks or even further down the leg. “Referred pain” is when the back makes it “feel like you have pain in your leg,” even though there is nothing wrong with your leg. The back can cause tingling, numbness, and weakness in the leg.
Common causes/ diagnoses for the lower back are:
- muscle strains
- bulging discs
- arthritis
- instability
- stenosis
- sciatica
- stress fractures
All of the listed conditions present with common complaints of lower back stiffness and pain.
Hip pain is often related to your back
Hip pain can have its own set of diagnoses, such as:
- arthritis
- trochanteric bursitis
- iliotibial band syndrome
- guteal tendinopathy
- piriformis syndrome
- labrum tear
- femoro-acetabular impingement (FAI)
Those are long and daunting lists. It can seem overwhelming.
Understanding the relationship
Because the hip and back are so intimately related, and have such a direct effect on one another, they need to be evaluated together. In fact, surgeons are now encouraging this “new direction” of evaluation.
At Lifestrength Physical Therapy, we understand the complex relationship between the back and hip, which is paramount to designing the right treatment plan for you to be able to reach your goals in the most efficient way.
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Let’s face the facts…most people do not like change of any kind. Change can be daunting, especially when making drastic changes for our health.
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