Understanding Hip Bursitis And Chiropractic

The term bursitis simply means inflammation of the bursa. A bursa is a fluid filled sac that provides a smooth motion for structures with uneven surfaces. There are a few different bursas found in the hip, the one that is injured the most often is the trochanteric bursa. This bursa is located between the bony structure on the outside of the hip or greater trochanter and the tendons that pass over this structure.

This bursa can become injured in various ways. It may be the result of direct trauma such as a fall or through repetitive friction from overuse or misaligned joints. Biomechanical problems such as a misaligned hip joint can result in abnormal tracking of the tendons over the bursa. If the foot is turned out, it can also affect the hip and result in bursitis.

Bursitis of the hip is often noticed when running, climbing up a hill or getting in and out of the car. The symptoms will frequently get worse over time. Pain is usually felt when pushing on the outside of the hip. The pain may also radiate down the outside of the thigh when the tendons and muscles of the leg become involved.

Poor posture, abnormal foot bio-mechanics, misaligned joints, tight muscles and nerve irritation may all play a role in bursitis of the hip. If treatment is not effective, one or more of these factors may need to be looked at more closely. If left untreated, scar tissue may develop over time which can complicate the problem.

The cause of hip bursitis may stem from a misaligned pelvis, hip or joint in the leg or foot which can alter the proper biomechanics of the hip. These can lead to functional changes of the hip resulting in inflammation of the bursa. Using cryotherapy or ice is important to help minimize the inflammation of the bursa. Rest is also important to allow healing and preventing more injury. Runners should avoid running on hard or uneven surfaces which may result in pressure on the bursa. Orthotics can help provide support for the feet and help to avoid abnormal bio-mechanics in the leg which leads to hip problems.

Chiropractors can provide a variety of effective treatment options to effectively manage the various root causes of hip bursitis. Chiropractic adjustments are effective to correct misaligned joints to help restore normal bio-mechanics in the leg and hip. This will help take abnormal pressure off the bursa and restore normal function.