JOINT FUNCTIONS: FOCUS ON HIPS
When we talk about joints and their functions, the hip – specifically – is an articulation in our body that connects the lower limb to the trunk. It is also one of the joints subjected to greater wear, due to continuous stress. The hip, in fact, works both when the body is in motion and when it is still, resting only when we lie down.
HIP PAIN CAUSES
Hip pain – also known as coxalgia – is a fairly common symptom among individuals of all ages and genders. It is usually perceived in the groin or just below the side.
Identifying the specific origin of hip pain through a scrupulous diagnostic investigation is very important: in fact, the treatment varies according to the triggering cause.
There are two main causes of hip pain: degeneration and trauma. Specifically, there may be various pathologies at the basis of coxalgia, such as:
Tendonitis of the gluteus medius muscle;
Osteoarthritis;
Trochanteritis;
Fracture of the head/neck of the femur (hip fracture);
Hip dysplasia;
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis;
Osteoporosis.
In addition, various lifestyles can lead to pain in the long run, such as:
A sedentary lifestyle;
Injuries due to sport;
Stress and wear from sporting activities such as running, swimming or cycling without adequate preparation or warm-up.
HIP PAIN TREATMENTS
In the event of acute or persistent pain in the hip, it is important to contact experts to carry out a thorough investigation. Only after identifying the causes, in fact, it will be possible to subsequently intervene with adequate treatments.
But let's take a step back and talk about the prevention of coxalgia. Further to this point, there are two important things to consider: posture and musculature. The first is fundamental as it is the foot that ‘controls’ our posture. If the foot is not put correctly on the ground while moving, our gait will suffer releasing the weight of the body on the knees, hips and lower back. Musculature, on the other hand, is essential because it largely supports our body.
In addition to working on the two aspects just described, you can also decide to relax with thermal mud therapy. The latter is, in fact, an excellent preventive therapy that acts on the production of endorphins and lipopeptide materials, which can stimulate cartilage reconstitution.
Once the pain has appeared, however, various treatments can be taken, depending on the severity of the pain and, above all, the cause.
One type of intervention is the combined conservative therapeutic approach, such as:
Rest from all those activities that cause pain;
Physiotherapy based on joint mobility exercises, together with strengthening and stretching exercises of the hip muscles;
Pharmacological therapy with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to counteract pain and relieve inflammation;
The application of ice to the painful area to reduce possible recent symptoms.
Among the state-of-the-art therapies, Autologous Regenerative Medicine – with the use of Mesenchymal Stem Cells – can lead to the regeneration of cartilage. Its use must be evaluated by the orthopaedic doctor.
In the event of severe structural damage, however, surgery is essential for the grafting of prostheses to replace the cartilage.
As a conservative therapeutic approach and to significantly reduce painful symptoms, it is also advisable to go to specialized thermal centres with an appropriate medical team such as the one of Palazzo Fiuggi. Here, thermal waters have anti-inflammatory properties thanks to components such as sulphur and bicarbonate.
These have, in fact, an important action on joints, bones and cartilages. In addition, you should also consider Thalassotherapy – which takes place in tubs with high sapidity and it is characterized by naturally salty water – known since ancient times for its anti-inflammatory properties.
Find out more about the thermal services of Palazzo Fiuggi.