Orthotics and their Use to Help Hip Problems
Patients suffering from hip problems may have a way of alleviating some of their hip pain by using orthotics. Orthotics are shoe inserts that are typically prescribed by doctors and chiropractors, but are also sometimes sold over the counter. Custom orthotics can be molded by an Austin chiropractor, or other professionals, to ensure maximum comfort and fit.
Orthotics can be the best bet to assisting with recovery of a current hip injury, or helping to prevent hip injuries in the future. Orthotics aren’t used solely for helping with hip problems, but can also help with other medical problems that athletes and avid runners suffer from. These problems include knee pain, foot pain, and shin splints.
Chiropractic Austin patients with sports-related injuries often have the best chance of successfully using orthotics to help with their pain. There are many muscles and ligaments that surround the hip bones, which correspondingly, cause the hip area to be an area prone to sports-related injury.
Because hip injuries can be severe and extremely painful, hip problems can significantly impede an athlete’s career if not corrected. Some hip problems are more severe than others, and orthotics are known in the medical community to help solve quite a few of these problems.
Much of the pain from hip injuries is caused by bad shock absorption by the body. This shock travels through the feet, and on through the body, and winds up affecting the hips, and even the lower back. Orthotics are specifically designed to absorb much of the shock that occurs when your foot is planted firmly on the ground.
Additionally, Orthotics can be used to even out deficiencies in the length of your legs. If one leg is even slightly longer than the other, an orthotic insert can even this length issue out. With the orthotic insert your feet hit the ground evenly which would in turn eliminate some of the awkward landings (and pain) experienced by your hips.
One of the major causes of sports-related hip problems is over pronation. In a number of medical research studies, the greater a certain athlete’s pronation, the more often they will suffer a hip (or other) injury due to overuse.
Orthotics can help to solve the problem of over pronation. If you have a slight foot or ankle problem, a difference in the length of your legs, or an improper gait, or stride, you are much more likely to become injured while running.
Orthotics can balance out many of these problems by causing you to walk or run properly, evening out the length of your legs, or causing your stride to become more appropriate. Although orthotics can not solve all of the problems that may contribute to hip or other sorts of pain or injury, they are an inexpensive alternative that may help to correct some of the problems that are causing the injury.
Besides orthotics, chiropractors will also advise that it is very important for athletes to wear properly fitting footwear with the ability to absorb a large amount of shock when you foot hits the ground. When your shoes wear down, there is virtually no ability for the shock absorption to take place, so it is important to regularly replace your running shoes. If your shoes do not fit properly, your foot will be shifting while you exercise which is dangerous and can also cause injury.
Athletes are encouraged to warm up prior to exercise, and to make sure they cool down for an appropriate amount of time after a work out.
Lastly, all athletes should regularly consult a physician to make sure they are training within their means and doing the best they can to ensure their entire body is operating like a well-oiled machine. All of these items, and incorporating the use of custom made orthotics into your workout regimen, can help you avoid painful hip related injuries.
