Hip pain and dysfunction is a real hot topic these days. I've had so many inquiries by email, new clients, phone, my hard headed grandpa included, that has dealt with some sort of hip dysfunction.
As we become better at diagnosing hip issues, it seems as though more people are jumping under the knife for hip surgery rather than exploring more conservative therapies first. Which is crazy in my mind because surgery should be the LAST option. Now that pro athletes like A- Rod, Carlos Delgado and Kurt Warner have undergone hip arthroscopies within the past year, all of a sudden it's the topic discussed in the "hot seat".
Hip dysfunction can be misdiagnosed due to where the actual pain is noted. For instance, hip dysfunction can obviously lead to hip pain, but lack of control and strength from the hips can also lead to lower back and knee pain as well. In poorly designed interventions, the focus is put on the site of the pain, versus the site of the underlying problem - the root. What caused this issue is the key....
Key terms like hip mobility, strength and motor control are a necessity because of our centerpiece and therefore, a process should take place to restore function.
Personally, I believe restoring hip function is a two-step process:
1 – Restore motor control to the dysfunctional muscle group(s)
2 – Regaining strength, both in isolated and integrated movement patterns
When discussing hip motor control/strength dysfunction, we’re generally discussing the psoas, glute max, and/or posterior gluteus medius. When a client or athlete lacks the necessary strength or motor control, this often leads to synergistic dominance (the wrong muscle performing the desired movement), increased likelihood of injury, decreased strength and performance, and increased wear and tear to the joint.
I will be discussing more on this topic in the near future…
Til then think of proper alignment, muscle balance for a pain free range of motion.
