There are many causes of back, hip and leg pain, and there is no single method to treat the problems. According to Anthony Carey of Function First Inc. in San Diego, California, poor posture and movement patterns are the primary causes of most of these pains. Different postures and movements cause different types of pain, whether they are sharp, numbing or throbbing. Once you have received treatment for this pain, you should take proactive steps to prevent the pain from recurring.
Causes
Aside from poor posture, many back, hip and leg pains are caused by acute incidents, such as a fall, blunt trauma or open wound; by disease, such as arthritis and degenerative disc disease; or by joint disorders, such as a herniated disc. Sciatica is one of the most common chronic causes of back, hip and leg pain because this nerve is a link between the nerve bundles in the lower spine to the lower extremities.
According to Dr. Stephen Hochschuler, an orthopedic surgeon with the Texas Back Institute in Plano, Texas, sciatica is the irritation or pinching of the sciatic nerve that runs in the same direction as the piriformis muscle, which is located beneath the gluteus maximus. The pain can manifest in the hip, leg or lower back.
Types of Posture
According to Carey, different types of posture cause slightly different variations of back, hip and leg pain. These poor postures all misalign your joints and cause stress upon your connective tissues, muscles and nerves.
The anterior pelvic tilt is where your pelvis tilts forward, causing your lower back hyper-extend and your belly to appear distended. This may cause your upper back to curve out too much and your shoulders to round forward.
The posterior tilt is where your pelvis tilts backward, flattening the lower spine. It also causes your shoulders to round forward and your buttocks to appear flat.
The elevation deviation is where one side of your pelvis is higher than the other, causing the shoulder of the same or opposite side to hike up. This often causes pain from one side of the hip and leg to the shoulder of the same or opposite side. It also causes one knee or hip joint to wear faster than the other, causing pain on one knee or leg.
The rotation deviation is where your spine and pelvis are turn excessively to one direction, causing one arm and shoulder to appear more forward than the other.
Treatment
For any pain, always seek treatment from a qualified medical professional, such as a chiropractor, orthopedic physician or a physical therapist. Depending on the cause and severity of pain, each professional has his or her way of addressing and treating your pain. Ideally, seek help from various professionals, not just from one.
Prevention
Once you have received treatment, seek help from an exercise professional who specializes in corrective exercise, which addresses your body's muscle and myofascia imbalances that cause the pain. According to Carey, corrective exercises usually address the source of the pain rather than the symptom itself. Corrective exercise "will always involve areas of the body far removed from the site of pain or past injury," he notes. You can do these exercises two to three times daily, unless your exercise professional suggests otherwise.
Expert Insight
The best method to prevent chronic back, hip and leg pain is to avoid excessive sitting or standing. Take a short walk or stretch for three to five minutes every 20 to 30 minutes of sitting. According to Justin Price, owner of The BioMechanics in San Diego, California, movement alleviates muscle, joint and connective tissue stiffness, stimulates your nervous system to awareness and improves fluid and blood circulation in your spine and joints.
References
- "PTontheNet"; Addressing Lower Back Pain; Justin Price; June 2010
- "Spine-Health"; What You Need to Know About Sciatica; Stephen H. Hochschuler
- "Pain-Free Program"; Anthony Carey; 2005
- "PTontheNet"; Corrective Exercise is Functional; Anthony Carey; February 2008
