The hip joint is a ball and socket joint like the shoulder. It allows movement in multiple directions.  But because it is a weight bearing joint it requires more stability than the shoulder. The socket part of the joint is deeper. It is surrounded by a rim of tough, thick ligamentous tissue that adds support. It also has several very strong ligaments (attaching from one bone to another). 

DID YOU KNOW  

Not all pain in the butt is coming from the butt? 

Piriformis syndrome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piriformis_syndrome is a common diagnosis for people with pain in the buttock (gluteal) area.  A tight piriformis muscle is often looked at as the cause of sciatic pain (pain, tingling, and/or numbness down the back of the leg). This is because the sciatic nerve (which is comprised of the L5, S1, S2 nerves from the back) travels closely to the piriformis muscle (actually through it in 10 per cent of the population according to a study that I read when I was in school). 

THE QUADRICEPS CULPRIT  

One of the clinical findings that I have discovered since using IMS to release tight faciliated (overactive) muscles is the significance of the quadriceps muscles (front of the thighs) in contributing to hip pain and buttock pain.  The quadriceps is a group of four muscles at the front of the thigh.  The Rectus Femoris attaches to the front of the pelvic bone and also has an attachment to the hip bone.  My thinking is that when the quadriceps are overly tight and tense it can pull the pelvis forwards which then ends up putting tension on the other muscles attaching to the pelvis.  Also it may pull the ball of the hip forwards, creating an impingement (pinching) at the front of the hip.  

ARE YOU TIGHT? 

Stop reading and lie down on the floor. Okay finish reading this part first so you know what to do and then lie down to do this.  Bring your knee up towards your chest and then inwards towards your opposite shoulder (right knee to left shoulder).  Where do you feel the tightness?  Is it in the butt or in the groin?  If it is in the groin, that would mean there is an impingement happening.  

So you don’t have any pain but you do get the groin pinching with the above test. Why do anything about it now if it does not hurt?  If it is not broke don’t fix it right?  

WRONG!!!  

ARTHRITIS or just muscle tightness?  

“Artho” means joint and “itis” means inflammation.  If you watched some of the videos, this is where I have you put your hands together and press them against each other and rub.  Then I ask “What do you feel?”  Friction and heat. If you kept doing it then they would get red and sore because they would be getting inflammed from the rubbing.  

When a joint is not resting in the proper position or not moving properly because of muscle imbalances, it may cause abnormal rubbing of the two joint surfaces, which would contribute to rubbing, wear and tear and inflammation.  It might not start to hurt until it gets to the inflamed stage.  

ARE YOU MOTIVATED? 

People are motivated to get things looked at when there is pain. They are not motivated to seek preventative treatment.  But if you are reading this I would recommend that you consider having a Preventative Assessment done to look at where your muscle imbalances lie.  Get someone to look at those areas where you are just having a bit of discomfort when you do certain activities.   

If you want someone who does IMS then go to www.istop.org to find a practitioner in your area.  You can also look for physiotherapists who have there advanced manual therapy (FCAMT), although there are good practioners out there who have not done this training.  Ask around. 

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