Hip pain frequently originates from problems in your lower back or pelvis, not the hip joint itself. At Hometown Family Wellness Center, I evaluate the entire kinetic chain because treating hip symptoms without checking the spine often means missing the actual problem.
Your Hip Doesn’t Work in Isolation
When patients come to me with hip pain, they usually expect me to focus entirely on their hip. And I do examine it thoroughly. But here’s what surprises many people: after 27 years and over 185,000 adjustments, I’ve found that a significant percentage of hip pain cases involve the lower back, pelvis, or sacroiliac joint.
Your body is a connected system. The hip joint sits directly below your lumbar spine and pelvis. Nerves from your lower back travel through your hip region and down your leg. The muscles that move your hip attach to your spine and pelvis. When something goes wrong in one area, it creates compensation patterns that show up as pain somewhere else.
This is exactly why I take a full-body approach at my Freehold practice. Treating the hip alone when the spine is the source just doesn’t produce lasting results.
Why Back Problems Create Hip Pain
The lumbar spine and hip share more than just proximity. Several mechanisms explain how spinal problems manifest as hip pain:
Referred pain from lumbar nerves is extremely common. The nerves exiting your lower spine (L1-L4 especially) supply sensation to the hip, groin, and upper thigh. When these nerve roots are irritated by a herniated disc or spinal misalignment, you feel pain in the hip—even though the hip itself is fine.
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction creates pain that patients often describe as “deep in the hip” or in the buttock. The SI joint connects your sacrum (base of spine) to your pelvis. When it’s not moving properly, the pain pattern mimics hip joint problems almost exactly.
Muscle imbalances from spinal issues force your hip to compensate. If your lower back isn’t moving well, your hip picks up the slack. Over time, this extra demand creates pain, tightness, and dysfunction in the hip—a secondary problem caused by a primary spinal issue.
Altered gait patterns develop when you unconsciously protect a painful back. You might shift your weight, shorten your stride, or rotate your pelvis differently. Your hip absorbs these changes with every step you take.
Signs Your Hip Pain Might Be Coming From Your Back
Certain patterns suggest a spinal origin for your hip symptoms:
- Pain that starts in your lower back and travels into your hip, buttock, or groin
- Hip pain accompanied by back pain, even if mild
- Symptoms that change when you bend, twist, or arch your back
- Numbness or tingling along with the hip pain
- Pain that wraps around from your back to your hip
- Morning stiffness in both your back and hip that improves with movement
- Hip pain that doesn’t respond to typical hip treatments
If any of these sound familiar, your hip might be the victim rather than the culprit.
When Hip Pain Actually Comes From the Hip
Of course, sometimes hip pain really does originate in the hip joint or surrounding structures. Conditions I commonly see include:
Hip osteoarthritis causes pain with weight-bearing, stiffness, and reduced range of motion. It typically develops gradually and worsens over time.
Bursitis involves inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs cushioning your hip. Trochanteric bursitis causes pain on the outside of your hip, especially when lying on that side.
Hip labral tears often produce catching, clicking, or locking sensations along with pain deep in the hip or groin.
Muscle strains around the hip—including the hip flexors, adductors, and gluteal muscles—cause localized pain that worsens with specific movements.
The key is proper evaluation to determine the actual source. That’s why I spend time with each patient rather than rushing through a quick exam.
How I Evaluate Hip Pain in My Freehold Practice
My examination process looks at the complete picture. I start with your history: when the pain started, what makes it better or worse, any injuries or accidents, and how it’s affecting your daily activities and sleep.
The physical examination includes orthopedic tests for both the hip joint and the lumbar spine. I assess your range of motion, muscle strength, and neurological function. I watch how you walk and stand. I check your pelvis for asymmetry and your sacroiliac joints for proper movement.
This comprehensive approach takes more time than a quick “where does it hurt” exam. But it’s the only way to identify whether you’re dealing with a true hip problem, a spinal problem referring to the hip, or some combination of both.
Treatment That Addresses the Real Problem
Once I understand the source of your hip pain, treatment becomes much more effective. At Hometown Family Wellness Center, my approach typically includes:
Chiropractic adjustments to restore proper alignment and movement. If your lumbar spine or SI joint is involved, I address those areas directly. For true hip joint restrictions, I use specific extremity adjustments to improve hip mobility.
Soft tissue work releases tight muscles contributing to the problem. The hip flexors, piriformis, and gluteal muscles often need attention alongside the joints.
Therapeutic stretching targets the specific muscle imbalances identified during your exam. I’ll teach you stretches to continue at home between visits.
Postural correction addresses standing and sitting habits that stress your lower back and hips. Small changes in how you hold yourself can make a significant difference.
Custom orthotics may be recommended if foot mechanics are contributing to your hip or back problems. Your feet are the foundation—when they’re not supporting you properly, the effects travel upward through your knees, hips, and spine. I use Foot Levelers to create custom support based on your specific needs.
My Own Experience With Hip and Back Pain
I understand hip and back pain from personal experience. During my 28 years playing competitive soccer, I dealt with a lower back injury that sidelined my career. The pain affected everything—my movement, my performance, my quality of life.
Chiropractic care brought me quick and lasting relief. That experience shapes how I treat my patients today. I know what it’s like to be unable to do the activities you love because of pain.
What Improvement Looks Like
Most patients begin noticing changes within the first few weeks of care. The timeline depends on what’s causing your pain and how long you’ve been dealing with it. A recent muscle strain responds faster than years of accumulated spinal dysfunction.
What I tell patients: the goal isn’t just eliminating your current pain. It’s restoring proper function so the problem doesn’t keep returning. That requires addressing the underlying cause, not just chasing symptoms.
FAQs About Hip Pain and Chiropractic Care
Can a chiropractor adjust my hip? Yes. Extremity care is part of my full-body approach. Hip adjustments can restore proper joint movement and reduce pain when the hip itself is restricted.
Should I see a chiropractor or orthopedist for hip pain? Starting with a chiropractor makes sense for most hip pain. I’ll evaluate whether your pain is mechanical (responding well to chiropractic) or if imaging and specialist referral are needed. If I determine you need orthopedic evaluation, I’ll tell you directly.
How can I tell if my hip pain is serious? Seek immediate evaluation if you have severe pain after a fall or injury, inability to bear weight, visible deformity, or fever along with hip pain. These could indicate fracture or infection requiring urgent care.
Stop Chasing the Wrong Problem
If you’ve been treating hip pain without lasting results, the source might not be where you think. Schedule an evaluation at Hometown Family Wellness Center and let’s find out what’s really going on. Call (732) 780-0044 or book online. Serving Freehold, Monmouth County, and surrounding communities with care that looks at the whole picture.
