Pain in the waist radiating down the leg is a problem that many people have to face, but many times the cause may not come from the spine as many people understand. One of the causes met often is inflamed hip muscles, a state that affects movement and the living of daily life, which, if it does not receive correct care and treatment, may lead to serious health problems following. In this article, PYONG Rehabilitation Clinic invites everyone to come and understand the state of inflamed hip muscles better, for prevention and treatment in the correct way.
Getting to know the symptoms of inflamed hip muscles
Inflamed hip muscles (Hip Tendonitis) is a state in which inflammation of the tendons and the muscles in the area of the hip arises, particularly the iliopsoas tendon, which is an important muscle that helps in the movement of the hip and the leg. These symptoms can affect the living of daily life, since the hip is a joint that bears weight and has an important duty in the movement of the body.
How are the hip muscles important to the body?
The hip muscles are a group of muscles important to the movement and the balance of the body. When the state of inflamed hip muscles arises, it affects the doing of many routines of daily life, whether walking, sitting, standing, or even lying down, because the hip muscles act like a bridge connecting the upper and the lower parts of the body, helping keep the balance and distribute the weight of the body.
What parts do the hip muscles have?
The hip muscles can be divided into 2 large groups, namely 1. the group of hip extensor muscles, and 2. the group of hip abductor muscles, which both parts of muscle have different working, as follows.
1. The group of hip extensor muscles
Inflamed hip muscles usually arise in the group of hip extensor muscles, particularly the Gluteus Maximus muscle, which is the largest muscle in the body, having the duty of extending the hip and helping in keeping balance while standing and walking.
2. The group of hip abductor muscles
The group of hip abductor muscles consists of the Gluteus Medius and the Gluteus Minimus, which have the duty of abducting the leg and controlling the movement of the hip. Besides this they also have the important duty of keeping the centre of the trunk and the balance stable. When inflamed hip muscles arise in this group, it results in abnormal walking; and if there is fascia in the muscle layer as well (Trigger point, Taut band), it can make the patient have pain radiating along the leg similar to pain from the nerve (Pseudo Sciatica).
3. The group of hip flexor muscles
The hip flexor muscle (iliopsoas muscle) is a muscle important for movement and balance. The group of hip flexor muscles consists of two main muscles, namely the psoas major and the iliacus, which work together in order to help in the movement connected with flexing the hip and moving the lower spine.
The causes that give rise to the problem of inflamed hip muscles
- Moving the body in the wrong posture suddenly: unsuitable movement, such as turning the body or lifting the leg in an abnormal posture, can make the hip muscles receive stress and become inflamed
- The cartilage of the hip joint tearing: using the hip heavily or in the wrong way, such as running or jumping, may make the cartilage in the area of the hip joint tear and become inflamed
- An accident in the area of the hip: falling, falling from a height, or being struck directly at the hip can cause injury and inflammation of the hip muscles
- Overuse: inflamed hip muscles usually arise from using the muscles repeatedly for a long time, particularly in athletes or those who have to stand at work for long periods
- The muscles having no balance: having some muscles that are too strong or too weak causes compression and inflammation
- Too much body weight: being overweight makes the joint and the hip muscles have to bear more weight, resulting in inflamed hip muscles
What are the symptoms of inflamed hip muscles?
The symptoms of inflamed hip muscles usually begin with a feeling of slight discomfort in the area of the hip, which many people usually overlook in the early stage, but the symptoms will gradually become more painful, particularly when there is movement or exertion. Patients may feel pain and tightness in the area of the hip in the morning after waking, or after sitting in the same posture for a long time.
When the symptoms of inflamed hip muscles become more severe, pain will radiate down along the thigh; sometimes there may be a feeling of numbness or a sharp tingling, resulting in walking becoming more difficult. If it is left without treatment, in the long term it may have a bearing on balance and increase the risk of falling.
Besides the pain in the area of the hip arising from inflamed hip muscles, there is also hip pain called piriformis syndrome, which is a state arising from using the Piriformis muscle too much until tightness or spasm arises, so that the hip muscle called the Piriformis compresses the sciatic nerve, which is the longest nerve in the body, resulting in pain in the hip, the buttock, and radiating down to the leg.
That said, the symptoms of piriformis syndrome usually arise as a feeling of deep pain in the area of the buttock, the hip, or the waist, and there may be numbness radiating down the leg. The pain usually becomes more severe when the hip muscle contracts in spasm from being used too much, such as sitting for a long time or stretching the hip in some postures. Inflamed hip muscles, on the other hand, usually hurt when there is violent movement or the hip muscles are used for a long period, and one will feel pain while the hip is used or when sitting still for too long.
Who is at risk of inflamed hip muscles?
- Athletes, particularly those who play sports that have to involve running, jumping, or changing direction suddenly, such as basketball players, footballers, and runners
- Those whose work requires standing for a long time, such as sales staff, factory workers, or medical personnel
- Older people: when one is older, the flexibility of the muscles and the tendons decreases with age, making inflamed hip muscles arise easily
- Those who are overweight: having too much weight makes the hip muscles have to bear a heavier burden
- Those who exercise too heavily, particularly those who have just begun exercising and overdo it
The approach to treating inflamed hip muscles
The approach to treating inflamed hip muscles depends on the severity of the symptoms. The doctor will consider the severity of the symptoms first, then choose the method of treating inflamed hip muscles that is most suited to the patient. The main approaches to treatment are as follows.
Taking painkillers, injecting painkillers
Treating inflamed hip muscles in the early stage usually begins with the use of medicines that relieve pain and reduce inflammation, both of the kind that is taken and of the kind that is applied. In a case where the symptoms are severe, the doctor may consider injecting steroid at the particular place in order to reduce the inflammation.
Physiotherapy
Doing physiotherapy is an important part in treating inflamed hip muscles. The doctor will design a suitable programme of treatment specific to the individual, which may include stretching the muscles, massage, and the use of physiotherapy instruments, such as Western needling (Dry Needling), stimulating the working of the muscles and the nerves with electromagnetic waves (PMS), and or the use of high-power laser light (High Power Laser), in order to help relieve the symptoms and hasten the restoration and repair of the tissue that has been damaged.
Surgery
Surgery will be considered only in a case where the symptoms are severe and treatment by physiotherapy and taking medicine has not given a result, particularly when there is severe tearing of a tendon or a muscle.
In summary
Inflamed hip muscles is a state that can greatly affect the quality of life, but it can be prevented by caring for oneself suitably, exercising in the correct way, and keeping correct posture in daily life. If there are abnormal symptoms, a doctor should be consulted promptly in order to receive correct diagnosis and treatment, so as to prevent the symptoms from spreading until they become chronic and difficult to treat.