Hips

Your hips are complex and essential joints which are essential for supporting the body’s weight and permitting movement. 

In fact, much of the power we drive comes from the hips. If you lift a heavy box and are taught to lift with your legs and not your back, that’s because your hips generate the movement force necessary to clear the ground. It’s why weightlifters are so concerned with ergonomics, because it’s necessary for them to reduce the friction between the power of their hips and the control of their limbs.

Your hips are complex anatomical systems. They are comprised of the bones and joints that provide the structural base, such as the pelvis and femur.  From there, muscle tissue keeps everything in place, including your hip flexors (responsible for flexing the hip joint), extensors, abductors, and rotators. This system gives us the bipedal ability to crawl, walk, run, jump and swim.

Of course, the hips also include essential nerves and branches of the lumbar and sacral plexus, such as the formal, obturator, and sciatic nerves. While the hip joints are an essential part of our daily living, our reliance on them also opens them up tp potential injuries or conditions that develop over time.

Common Hip Injuries and Conditions

Improper form when lifting weight

Poor form can lead you to stretch incorrectly, to move weight without ergonomic thinking, or to cause tears or damage based on improper movement. This can create injuries such as a hip labral tear, which affects your cartilage, or even a hip fracture. These injuries can take a while to heal.

Diseases

The hip can be susceptible to various degenerative diseases. For example, osteoarthritis is a joint disease that occurs when the cartilage on the ends of bones wears down. Another of the most common conditions, Trochanteric bursitis, is caused by inflammation of the bursa, which is a fluid-filled sac that cushions the outer part of your hip joint.

Anterior Hip Replacement

At Summit Orthopaedics, we offer the latest in minimally invasive hip replacement procedures, including the anterior approach. This method to hip replacement requires less muscle damage and allows for quicker recovery time so you can get back to doing what you love. Dr. Logan Cooper is our in-house surgeon who specializes in Anterior Approach Total Hip Replacement. 

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How To Manage Hip Pain

Hip pain can be pervasive and difficult to deal with, as our hips are involved in many of our movements throughout the day. Here are some methods of addressing that pain:

  • Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medication:

Over-the-counter medications can help target the symptoms of pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen can help alleviate discomfort and swelling; however, it’s always important to speak to your doctor about the medicines you’re taking.

  • Physical therapy:

Physical therapy is a valuable tool for managing hip pain, but it must be a prolonged or repeated treatment. A qualified physical therapist can design a personalized exercise program to strengthen the muscles and improve flexibility. In addition, applying hot or cold temperatures to the affected hip can offer relief by reducing inflammation and soothing discomfort. Heat therapy, such as by using a warmer or heat pad, can help soothe muscles and enhance the flow of blood to the affected region. Your physical therapist may or may not use these methods to assist you.

  • Essential Rest

Adequate rest is crucial in managing hip pain, especially when it is related to overuse or injury. There’s a reason why athletes with hip injuries can be out of the game for months at a time. Avoiding activities that stress the pain and allowing the hip joint to rest can promote healing. You might be given walking mobility aids, or even prescribed very gentle exercise like swimming or light walking to help build strength.

When Is Hip Surgery Required?

This will differ for every individual, but hip surgery is mostly recommended to those whose injuries or conditions are critical enough to need immediate treatment. If no other remedies, physical therapies or restorative exercises help to heal the unresolved pain, a surgical solution may be necessary. These interventions sit on a spectrum from light surgical care all the way up to full hip replacements. 

Looking for hip surgery options and talking through those options with a reliable orthopedics provider will ensure you can take a proactive stance toward your treatment.

Call Summit Orthopaedics Today

If you’ve been dealing with unresolved hip pain, you deserve the best hip surgery in Idaho Falls. Our friendly team is trained in all manner of hip surgeries and will be happy to reassure you on your path to corrective treatment.

Why not contact Summit Orthopaedics today? You can use our contact form to get started, or call us at 208-227-1100 and one of our friendly team members will be sure to respond.