“My knee hurts, why are you looking at my hip?”

We all understand that nerves leave our spine and carry messages to the entire body. That is how chiropractic works. However, we don’t all realize that hips do very similar things. At the base of the spine is the sacrum that acts like a keystone in the pelvis. The joints between the sacrum and the pelvis are called the sacroiliac joints. We have two, one on each side. There isn’t a large amount of motion in these joints but when one or both joints aren’t moving properly it can wreak havoc in the leg and low back.

When the sacroiliac (SI) joints aren’t moving properly the motion has to be shared with the low back. The excess motion in the low back will ultimately lead to joint dysfunction and low back pain.

The hip controls the movement of the entire lower extremity. Often pain in the leg is caused by improper movement in the sacroiliac joint.

So what causes the SI joint to move improperly?

The short answer is many things. Obviously trauma, car accidents, falls, or other injuries, but activities of daily living can also cause sacroiliac joint problems. As we sit throughout the day, at a desk, in a car or on the couch, ligaments stretch especially the ligaments in our lower back and sacroiliac joints. The longer we sit the longer it takes for those ligaments to return to their normal length upon standing. Over time improper posture and injury may occur.

Pregnancy also impacts these joints. Pregnant women produce a hormone that causes the joints to relax and become more movable. It allows the joints to open more which aids in the delivery of the baby. Chiropractic care is particularly helpful during and after pregnancy. It has been documented that women who receive chiropractic care during pregnancy have a more comfortable pregnancy, an easier delivery and post partum recovery.

Childhood is a very active time with many falls, accidents and bumps and bruises. It is important that children be checked regularly to ensure proper motion in the hips as well as other joints throughout the spine.

Low back, hip, and leg pain are often caused by improper movement in the sacroiliac joint. If you think you may have issues with your SI joints let us know, through proper adjusting and specific exercises we can improve motion in the SI joint and all the joints throughout your spine and body.

What’s New?

We want to introduce our Chiropractic intern. Craig Strickland is a senior student at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, IA. He will be in our office for the next 3 months as he completes his internship. Craig is from Latta, SC and will graduate from chiropractic school in October.