Better Body Mechanics to Avoid Hip Pain

Our hips, back, and knees bear the brunt of our weight, which makes them some of the first joints to break down with age. Once the degeneration begins, there’s no way to reverse it. However, body mechanics can help you learn how to bear your weight better, taking stress off your hips and preventing unnecessary pain. 

At Progressive Spine and Sports Medicine in Ramsey, New Jersey, our team of experienced pain medicine doctors can help evaluate your hip pain and find ways to reduce progression of damage and mitigate discomfort.

Common causes of hip pain 

Hip pain can have many different causes. Arthritis is possibly the most common cause of hip pain, as age-related wear-and-tear can slowly cause degeneration of the joint or aggravate an old injury. 

Other causes of chronic or acute hip pain can originate from different parts of the hip joint. 

• The entire hip joint can be compromised because of dysplasia or impingement
• Lost cartilage can allow bones to rub together, or labral cartilage ring can suffer a tear
• A tendon can be inflamed (tendonitis) as well as the fluid-filled sacs around the joint (bursitis)
• A ligament attached to the hip joint can tear, or fluid inside the joint can disappear (synovitis) 

Finally, referred pain from your spine can cause your hip to hurt, which requires the spine to be treated for relief. 

An overview of body mechanics

Body mechanics is the process of using your body in such a way that you can maximize its functionality and reduce risk of injury. When you practice good body mechanics, you adjust your:

• Posture - how you sit, stand, and lie down
• Movement - how you crouch, stretch, walk, and run
• Work - how you push, pull, lift, and carry  

Body mechanics means being mindful of how you are using your body at all times.

How body mechanics can help you 

You can minimize the wear-and-tear of everyday life, work, or sports on your body by following body mechanics best practices. For example:

• Try to keep your spine straight, not slumped or curved in either direction. Invest in a good work chair and a body pillow to help you maintain a straight spine. This can help reduce your risk of spine problems causing hip pain.
• Always lift with your knees, not your back. Concentrate on pushing up from the floor, not pulling up with your arms. This can help prevent lower back and hip injuries.
• Change position often if you work a job that requires that you sit or stand for long periods. Locking your hips or knees can cause joint problems, and slouching can cause spine issues.
• Sleep as flat as possible with support for your neck and a pillow between your legs to take pressure off your knees and hips and straighten your spine.

Want to identify what’s causing your hip pain and find a solution that works? Call our office at 201-201-0443, fill out our web-based contact form, or book an appointment using our online scheduling system today.