How to Take Care of Your Hips
Hips are one of the largest and most important structures of our body. This joint allows lower body movements to support and balance the upper body. A healthy hip let us carry out different essential day to day activities like walking, sitting, and even sleeping.
In terms of its anatomic structure, hips connect our upper body with our lower body through a ball and socket shape that joins the upper femur, known as the femoral head, with the pelvis through a socket shaped bone called acetabulum where the femoral head fits in.
Considering that the hip is such a core part of the body, it is important to prevent causing it any harm. However, many of its affections may be caused by chronic disorders, developmental conditions, or injuries. Some of the most common issues that affect the hip include arthritis, osteoarthritis, bursitis, hips fractures, among others. Some conditions are more commonly seen in children, some examples are Perthes condition, irritable hip syndrome, and developmental dysplasia.
There are two kinds of arthritis that are commonly known to affect the hip: Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis. The former consists of the damaging of the cartilage that protects the hip joint. It can wear it out to the point of leaving the connecting bones unprotected and rubbing against each other with every movement of this area. The latter is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation in some body parts affecting joints such as the hips.
Other affections include injuries such as fractures, tendinitis, back pain, and others. Most hip conditions present symptoms like pain and stiffness in the hip or in the hip region. Therefore, if these symptoms occur, it is advised to consult an orthopedic doctor to get an accurate diagnose and to help prevent worsening conditions. To discard any kind of injury or condition, some tests that the doctor could require include X-rays, MRI scan, bone scan, and others.
Even though the above-mentioned conditions are part of chronic or developmental disorders, there are also some preventive measures you can take to help your hips stay healthy. The best you can do in this regard is maintaining a healthy balanced lifestyle that includes a diet rich in vitamins. Vitamin C, D, Omega 3, are some examples of vitamins that can prove beneficial, since these will help absorb key nutrients such as calcium and collagen which are essential in the formation of body tissues.
Additionally, including a fair amount of exercise will greatly benefit your joints; simple activities like walking and stretching can help strengthen the muscles that surround the hip, therefore improving the hips functions. Wearing appropriate and comfortable shoes, holding a good posture, whether you are sitting or standing, balancing the weight in both your feet will help your hips in the long run.
Orthopedic Corner | Leon Mead MD Orthopedic Doctor | 730 Goodlette Road North, Suite 201 Naples Florida 34102 | Phone: (239) 262-1119