Chiropractors understand the delicate balance between the location of where a pain occurs and other contributing factors that may have led to the pain, which can explain how some hip pain may be connected to the foot. It is common for individuals experiencing hip pain to assume that they have done something to the hip itself, but in reality, that pain may be the result of issues with the foot. People experiencing hip pain can often find the root of the problem by seeing a chiropractic professional who can examine them and assess any potential underlying causes of pain.
How Some Hip Pain May Be Connected to the Foot
The hip joint is chiefly used when a person runs, walks, and even sits each day. However, when there becomes a separate issue involving human movement such as plantar fasciitis in the foot, it can cause a person to compensate for that pain by moving with abnormal motion which also affects the hip. This additional stress and wear and tear on the hip can cause hip pain and inflammation. Despite the hip not being the original source of pain, it may feel as though it is.
Plantar fasciitis is a fairly common condition that affects millions of people every year. It typically manifests itself as a stabbing pain in the heel of the foot. While age can play a role in developing it, other contributing factors may be obesity, exceeding low or high foot arches, being on the feet all day, or even sports such as dancing or running.
Foot pronation, or flat feet, can be a contributing factor to hip pain as well. Via the arch, the foot is designed to absorb the shock of walking or running. However, individuals with flat feet or little arch can stretch the plantar fascia. Too much stretching in this area can cause tears and inflammation to develop in the fascia. This causes pain when weight is put on the feet and in turn can negatively impact an individual’s hip due to an abnormal gait.
An individual who experiences foot pronation or plantar fasciitis may be at an elevated risk of developing hip pain. If hip pain does occur, it can be wise to visit a chiropractor so they can evaluate the hip joint itself and other potentially contributing conditions of the foot.
Why See a Kingwood Chiropractor for Hip Pain
People experiencing hip pain should consider making an appointment with a reputable Kingwood chiropractor. These professionals tend to shun the use of medication and instead incorporate the use of alternative therapies to help ease hip pain that originates in the foot, such as:
Stretching
Many patients have found stretching exercises to help with easing hip pain. The stretches are typically designed to help stretch the calf muscles.
Manual Therapies
These types of therapies may include using specially designed implements to assist with stimulating blood flow.
Orthotics
Some chiropractors may recommend prescription orthotics for the foot to help correct foot pronation.
While the connection between nutrition and pain in the hip may seem an unlikely one, there is some evidence that eating highly processed foods can increase inflammation in the body. For this reason, a chiropractor may suggest that a patient adhere to a more natural and anti-inflammatory diet such as a Mediterranean diet.
Avoid prolonged standing or intense exercise
Because problems with foot pronation and plantar fasciitis can become more aggravated with prolonged periods of standing or heavy exercise, a patient may temporarily benefit from spending less time standing on their feet. A chiropractor may also recommend changing the patient’s exercise routine to something considered to be lower impact.
A knowledgeable chiropractor will examine each individual patient to assess the source of their hip pain and then after taking a thorough patient history will form a customized plan designed to meet that patient’s specific needs. This plan generally involves one or more of the above strategies.
Fortunately, this chiropractic-based approach to care for hip pain that may be connected to the foot often results in the more successful reduction or elimination of said pain. This allows a patient to live a more regular lifestyle without restrictions.
What to Look for in a Kingwood Chiropractor
Although it is estimated that nationally, chiropractors treat more than twenty to thirty million people annually, there are many individuals that have never been to this type of professional before and are unsure what to look for.
When searching for a chiropractor to meet your specific needs, some considerations that are recommended for you to keep in mind include:
- Training. A chiropractor should generally have a degree that also includes years of professional training. Look for specific information regarding the provider’s educational and training background on their website or call to personally verify. A chiropractor’s official membership in industry associations and organizations can also be a good sign.
- Experience. Look for a chiropractic professional that has already been practicing for more than a few years. The more experience a provider has, the more likely they are to have a better understanding of the situation at hand.
- Success. This may be best verified by hearing from former or current patients via the chiropractor’s website or by separate online reviews. Hearing or reading about others’ experiences and recommendations can help shed light on the character and success of a provider.
Once visiting a chiropractor, before any treatment begins, pay special attention to their approach to treatment. Do not feel pressured into accepting a treatment method that does not feel right for you. It can also be a good idea to verify what other services the provider offers to ensure they can meet your needs going forward.
If you are wondering how hip pain may be connected to the foot and believe that you may be experiencing that phenomenon, consider making an appointment with a reputable chiropractor sooner rather than later, before the problem intensifies and recovery becomes a longer process.
