This week's article is a basic discussion about how the hip movements can be an indicator of pain symptoms in the back, buttocks, knee, and foot/ankle.  A healthy hip joint will move smoothly through its full range of motion without pain.  The skilled physical therapists at Alliance Physical Therapy can help identify faulty hip movements, strength, and motions that may be an indicator of pain symptoms elsewhere in the body.

Checking your available hip rotation is easy.  Sit in a chair with the feet resting on the floor and lift one foot up and out to the side keeping your buttocks on the chair and not raising your  knee towards the ceiling.  Repeat this with the other leg.  Normal hip rotation in this direction should be 40-45 degrees.  To check the other direction, also while sitting in a chair, simply rotate your foot to the inside and up as far as you can also keeping your knee down and not letting your thigh shift away from your body.  This motion should also be 40-45 degrees.

It is not uncommon for one hip to rotate in or out easier than the other, but a large discrepancy in motion may be an indicator of potential hip, back, or leg problems that could be addressed through physical therapy services at Alliance Physical Therapy.

Yours in health,

Matt