Table of Contents
Take a Load Off
Your weight isn’t just about the built-up fat in your body. Your hips also absorb the weight of everything you carry in your hands and upon your back. To lift this additional burden, utilize a handcart in supermarkets and also make use of luggage with wheels. Should you hold a purse, consider a backpack style so the weight is even all over your back.[1]
Move It to Lose It
It makes sense to rest your hip until the pain eases up. Once it does, prescribe yourself a daily dose of exercise to build stronger muscles and keep joint stiffness low. Ask your doctor if low-impact exercises such as walking, swimming, or yoga would help ease the hip or joint pain.
Stretch, Strengthen, and Stabilize
There are also specific workouts that can help with hip pain. They are able to work the parts of your body that support these joints, including your legs and core. To have the right routine and form, it’s best option to engage a professional, like a physical therapist. And don’t push yourself, if you have pain during a workout, stop.
Avoid High-Impact Exercise
Exercise could aid your hips, but downhill running or kickboxing will cause more harm. Start slowly on a stationary bike or elliptical, using a few minutes. As soreness gives way to strength, it is possible to bump up the length of your workouts.
Water Workouts
For the ultimate low-impact exercise, start using a pool or spa. Water supports your body and relief your joint stress. It also allows for a freer, smoother movements, and also aids better resistance to make your muscles stronger. Always seek the help of a physical therapist with some tips on workouts that can help your hips.
Don’t Wait: Lose Weight
For every 10 pounds of extra body weight you carry, there’s an added 50 lbs of pressure on your hips and knees. If your joints are feeling the strain, you need to have a weight that works best for you personally and consult your doctor regarding the right approaches to shed pounds. It’ll lessen your hip pain and make you comfortable moving around.
Use Heat and Cold
Have a bag of frozen veggies handy? Wrap it in a thin towel and press it directly onto your hips to help ease the pain. Use warmth such as a hot shower or compress, to relax your muscles right before you stretch.
Heal Without Heels
Sometimes the answer for hip pain is right under your toes. High heels shoes can create great discomfort and also put your feet at an unnatural angle and can throw off your body’s alignment, this may cause hip pain. Try flat shoes instead, and don’t stand for too long at a stretch.
Over-the-Counter Meds
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen and naproxen, certainly are a common way to take the edge off when your hip hurts. If you can’t take them due to stomach problems or allergies. Ask your doctor to recommend the best type and dosage that’s suitable for you, and to make sure these pain relievers are safe for you personally.
Consider Other Medicines
In some cases, hip pain may be a result of another health issue, such as arthritis, a pinched nerve, or an injury. With these conditions, you’ll need something stronger to relieve the pain. For instance, if you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), your doctor might recommend a steroid to ease inflammation or a biologic that works with the parts of your immune system that make your joints inflamed.
Try an Alternative Therapy
If traditional therapies don’t work, shift to a mind-body approach. You could have more success with acupuncture, massage, or a chiropractic adjustment, give it a try.
