Hip Pain & Imaging Findings
- Dr. Melissa Adams
- Jul 18, 2024
- 2 min read
Hip pain ... many of us have experienced it and many of us will experience it as we age.
One of the first steps when someone begins to have hip pain is to have imaging, usually an x-ray, to see if there is a particular reason (especially a fracture) for the pain.
Something we have noticed in our office though is that there are some people who have considerable pain ... but their x-rays show no specific cause, and there are some people who have no pain ... but their x-rays show extensive arthritis.
We have also seen people told they have extensive arthritis and they are a candidate for hip replacement surgery ... but they become pain free with care in our office. Their x-rays have not changed and they still have extensive arthritis, but their pain has decreased and their functioning has improved.
Roughly 75-80% of people with radiographic hip arthritis have NO pain!
Only about 15% of people with hip pain have radiographic hip arthritis, leaving about 85% of people without arthritis.
Another study found that those who are having pain and do have arthritis, often have "...severe psoas atrophy." The psoas muscle is a powerful muscle that starts at your lower lumbar (low back) region, it goes kind of in front of your pelvis, in front of your hips, and then wraps under your hip and connects on the back of your femur (thigh bone).
Although not a great drawing by Dr. Adams, it gives you an idea of how large this muscle is, its importance, and how it helps to support your hip, making it so a weak psoas muscle can be the cause of hip pain.
The psoas muscle helps with sitting, standing, walking ... basically any movement involving your lower extremities and trunk likely involves some level of use of your psoas muscle.
When they are weak or painful, you can present as having low back pain and/or pain at the front of your hips, or sometimes just general "hip pain" completely on its own and on the side where your hip joint is.
There are many ways to stretch a tight psoas muscle as well as strengthen a weak psoas muscle, it is best to consult with a personal trainer, physical therapist, chiropractor, or similar healthcare professional for advice and help specific to you and your case!
**This is not medical advice, always ask a chiropractor if chiropractic care is appropriate for you, and your preferred healthcare provider before making dietary, supplement, or lifestyle changes**
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