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Hip and thigh pain is problem experienced by many. This condition comes on gradually and left unhandled, it can progress to degeneration of the hip.
People suffering from this complaint will typically have an apparent leg length imbalance, with one hip higher than the other. When walking, you will notice an uneven gait, with a “falling away” to the low-side hip.
The buttock (gluteal) muscles are usually weak, stiff and painful on the high-hip side. The hip joint then looses motion as both the muscles and the joint capsule (the fibrous “bag” which covers the hip joint) gradually tighten. This joint restriction then increases pressure on the cartilage, leading to wear and tear arthritis and the high number of hip replacements we see today.
These muscle, joint, and movement imbalances can be identified and treated, with self-care playing a large role. Like most things health-related, it is our lifestyle, our daily patterns of moving, sitting, eating, thinking and breathing that makes us “us”.
In practice, I find most of these patients have a high left hip. When asked, they will usually say that when they have to stand for some time, they find they shift their hips to the right, taking weight off the left leg and placing weight on the right. A great example of this stance is Michelangelo’s statue of David.
Did Michelangelo’s David have a high left hip?
As wild as it sounds, this very common pattern may result from the body’s attempt to compensate for the weight of the heart, which is placed left of center in the chest cavity.
If you find you commonly take weight off one hip, practice shifting weight back to that side. Next, you can progress to one-legged standing on that side. You can also activate the buttocks by standing at a counter, extending one foot behind you and tracing circles with that foot. Walking tall and squeezing the shoulder blades down and back will help support and stabilize the hips by tensioning muscle ‘trains’ that run from the shoulder to the opposite hip.
Although the above speaks to the physical weight of the heart, remember to keep proper rest and reflection in daily to help ensure our “heavy heart” does not include our emotional state, as this can hurt everything!
John Huntington is a local business owner in Oracle. He is a chiropractor with many years in the community. He writes a health related article in Pinal Nugget.
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