Do you often have pain in your groin, have a popping in your hip while transitioning from a seated to a standing position, or feel clicking and popping in your hip when going from walking to running? If so, it’s possible you may have strained your hip flexor. Athletes are the most likely candidates for a strained hip flexor as it tends to be the result of over-exertion that is involved with kicking or sprinting, but anyone can experience a hip flexor strain.
Chiropractic care can help the pain you may be experiencing from a hip flexor strain. But first, let’s dive into what hip flexors are.
What is a Hip Flexor?
Now you may be wondering, what exactly is a hip flexor? Your hip flexor is a muscle that is attached to the front of your hip and works to bring your knee up towards your chest. This group of muscles works while you are active – specifically while you are kicking or sprinting. However, this can also happen while you are sitting for long periods of time.
Hip Flexor Strain Symptoms
When you strain your hip flexor, you have either overextended or torn your hip flexor muscles which can lead to many different symptoms. A few of the most common symptoms are:
- Pain
- Inflammation
- Tenderness
- Swelling
- Weakness around the affected area
What are the Causes of a Hip Flexor Strain?
There are many different things that can cause a hip flexor strain, and some of them might come as a surprise. Being sedentary can increase your chance of damaging your hip flexors, not just being active. The most common causes of a hip flexor strain are:
- Overexertion in athletic training
- Sitting for long periods of time
- Bad posture
- Joint Stiffness
- And more!
How Can Chiropractic Care Help?
There are effective chiropractic treatments for a hip flexor strain. The first thing to take into consideration with a hip flexor strain is the need for a period of rest in order to reduce any inflammation and avoid further damage. Manual manipulation of the hip and a form of soft tissue therapy or kinesiology taping are also used. Continuing to actively stretch the area is important and will help with any continuing pain due to a strain.
In Closing
Hip flexor strains can be painful, but thankfully chiropractic care can help. If you are currently experiencing hip pain, consider giving us a call at Fletcher Chiropractic today to schedule an appointment!
Give us a call at 402-261-5766.