The body's balance and symmetry are key to its stability. The pelvis and hips shape lower body movement, and a misaligned hip can cause lower back and hip pain, muscular imbalance, and a reduced range of motion.
A hip misalignment means the pelvis is tilted, rotates, and/or no longer maintains its natural and healthy position. Symptoms of hip misalignment include lower back pain, knee and leg pain, postural changes, and mobility changes; common causes include muscular imbalance, chronic poor posture, and/or scoliosis, and solutions are shaped around the underlying cause.
Proper alignment of the hips is critical for a number of reasons.
Hip alignment issues can be serious, particularly if left untreated. Hip alignment plays a crucial role in overall health as the hips act as the central anchor for the entire body; the pelvis connects the upper body to the lower body and shapes movement patterns and weight distribution.
When the hips are properly aligned, they are held in a straight and neutral position, not excessively tilted forward or backward.
The position of the hips shapes musculoskeletal system health and prevents strain, pain, injury, and the development of unhealthy movement patterns.
If the hips are misaligned, upper body weight isn't evenly distributed over the lower body, and the transfer of mechanical stress during movement isn't directly down the center of the pelvis and lower body, straining the hips and knee joints; this increases the risk of injury and the development of osteoarthritis.
Unhealthy movement patterns can cause uneven wear and tear on the spine, joints, muscles, and body in general, and the onset of degenerative changes in the spine can further impact nerve health.
A misaligned hip can also involve pelvic rotation, and changes to the position of the pelvis can impact lower back health and alignment.
Uneven hips can cause a number of symptoms felt throughout the body including hip pain, lower back pain, groin pain, leg and knee pain, muscle imbalances, and changes to gait and balance.
Pain is a primary symptom of misaligned hips; chronic pain in the lower back and hips, knees, legs, and feet is common; correcting the misalignment reduces uneven pressure on the nerves and muscles.
Sciatica is a common complication of misaligned hips and/or a misaligned lower back; the sciatic nerve starts in the lumbar spine and extends down the back of the lower body, and if it's compressed due to the uneven forces of misaligned hips, nerve pain and discomfort can develop.
The alignment of the hips shapes the spine's alignment and healthy curves. Improper hip alignment puts extra pressure on the spine to counteract the uneven forces occurring below, potentially contributing to poor posture and the development of unhealthy spinal curves.
Unbalanced hips cause a reduced range of motion due to stiffness and limited motion affecting daily movement.
Muscle imbalances are also common as the muscles that help support and maintain alignment of the pelvis and hips are strained to counteract the uneven forces of the shift; muscles on one side of the pelvis are tightened and stiff from overuse, while muscles on the opposite side weaken due to lack of use.
When muscles aren't working efficiently, the body's overcompensation can initiate a damaging cycle of imbalance, uneven forces causing uneven wear and tear, and the onset of degeneration in bones and joints.
Proper hip alignment supports balanced muscles, posture, and healthy movement patterns, and when it comes to restoring hip balance, the first step is determining the underlying cause of the misalignment.
Common hip misalignment causes include muscular imbalance, excessively-tight muscles, leg length discrepancy, chronic poor posture and lifestyle habits, and an underlying structural condition like scoliosis.
If the muscles that surround the pelvis are weak and/or unbalanced, there is a lack of support and stability capable of contributing to a shift in pelvic position and the dropping of one hip.
In addition, if the muscles that support the lower back and/or hips are excessively tight, they can pull on the pelvis, causing it to become misaligned.
A difference in leg length that involves one leg being structurally shorter than the other can also contribute to uneven hips.
Chronic poor posture can contribute to pelvic tilt through straining the hip flexors and muscles that surround the lower back, and carrying excess weight can strain the hip and lower back joints, while a lack of activity can further contribute to a lack of muscular endurance and support.
Scoliosis causes the spine to develop an unnatural spinal curve that also rotates, and a primary scoliosis symptom is asymmetrical posture due to the condition's uneven forces disrupting the body's overall symmetry.
Particularly common in cases of lumbar scoliosis that develop in the lower back, pelvic obliquity is a common effect, and uneven shoulders and uneven hips are often the earliest indicators of scoliosis in children; in adults, pain is the most common symptom that leads to assessment and diagnosis.
The first step to effectively treating misaligned hips is a comprehensive assessment to determine the underlying cause of the misalignment, and an X-ray may be needed to see what's happening in and around the hips, pelvis, and lower back.
Chiropractic care can help with improving the spine's alignment, which shapes hip alignment, through a series of techniques and manual adjustments. Correcting vertebral subluxations also takes pressure off compressed nerves for pain relief.
Shoe lifts can help address a structural leg length discrepancy to equalize hip height, and when scoliosis is the cause, a combination of scoliosis-specific physical therapy, chiropractic care, and corrective bracing work towards improving the spine's surrounding muscle balance and strength, structural alignment, and body posture.
Recommended lifestyle modifications can involve weight loss, cultivating a healthy activity level, and improving posture for less pressure on the spine and hips.
When the hips are misaligned, the body's central structural anchor becomes unstable, and the instability can be felt throughout the body.
Common symptoms of misaligned hips are postural changes such as uneven shoulders and hips, an uneven waist line, a slouching appearance, chronic lower back pain, hip, leg, and foot pain, stiff and tight glutes, muscular imbalance, and unhealthy movement patterns.
Misaligned hips need to be addressed so the uneven forces of the misalignment don't cause increasing symptoms and damage.
The more healthy movement patterns are disrupted, the more uneven wear and tear occurs, and the early onset of degenerative changes in the body's hip joints and spinal structures can initiate a cycle that can be difficult to stop.
Here at the CLEAR Scoliosis Institute, a hip misalignment caused by scoliosis is treated by improving the underlying cause: the scoliosis itself.
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