Why Hip Pain Is So Common And How to Address It

Check out this popular article I wrote for the American Council on Exercise’s Professional Education Blog.

August 26, 2016

Hip pain is a common problem for sedentary and non-sedentary individuals, and many health and fitness pros want to know how they can help their clients who are struggling with this issue.

Chronic pain is a sign that there is irritation or injury at a site. There are a multitude of conditions that can cause hip pain, from trochanteric bursitis to osteoarthritis. The great news is that movement is the panacea for many of these conditions.

In injury assessment, we talk first about the mechanism of injury. This is very simply a description of the condition(s) that led to the injury. By understanding the mechanism of injury, we better understand the injury itself and how to use exercise to heal, not harm.

When in Doubt, Refer Out

Though chronic hip pain is frequently improved through movement training, other causes of hip pain can be caused by serious injury or unassociated with musculoskeletal tissue. Make sure you suggest a doctor’s visit to any client complaining of ongoing pain to rule out conditions that require medical intervention. Even if the diagnosis is musculoskeletal injury, you and your client will proceed with more clarity and confidence after a medical diagnosis.

Here are three common causes of hip pain:

Chronic Sitting
The average American sits 13 hours a day. This staggering amount of inactivity causes an imbalance of the hip musculature. The hip flexors remain in a shortened position, while the glutes and deep hip rotators remain elongated. Add to that chronic dehydration and the result is tissue that more closely resembles beef jerky than healthy muscle tissue.

…Read More on the ACE Blog

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