Causes of lopsided hips
This uneven positioning is also known as lateral pelvic tilt, as the pelvis is lifted when the hips are off level. There is a range of different issues that can cause this problem, including:
Scoliosis
Many people suffer from scoliosis, and most of them get by without treatment. However, over time, the hips may start to shift, and people with mild scoliosis in childhood can often develop lateral pelvic tilt in adult life.
Poor posture
Often, posture and general muscular health can throw the body off-kilter. Knots and tension in the muscles, as well as stiffness and shortened muscles, can all cause an imbalance.
Structural length discrepancy
This occurs when there is a physical difference in the length of the legs. While many children grow out of this during adolescence, some adults suffer from this disparity in length, which throws off the posture of the whole body.
Spinal Misalignments
Even minor alignment issues can throw off your hip level if not treated. These can include osteoporosis, arthritis, and a slipped or bulging disc. The main risk with these conditions is that they can aggravate the hips and vice versa, creating a vicious cycle.
Any misalignment in the hips not only causes posture issues but can have a heavily detrimental effect on your back, leading to pain that ranges from a mild ache to recurring nerve pain that can be excruciating.
If your hips are uneven, it is important to work on getting them level to protect yourself from pain, injury and long-term problems.
How to treat lopsided hips and reduce back pain
There are a few different ways to help balance your hips properly, depending on what the primary cause is. Below are some of the ways to address it:
Therapy
Seeing a physiotherapist or chiropractor is a great way to manage chronic hip misalignment.
If you’ve got a history of spinal misalignment, scoliosis, or other conditions or injuries, this is the best place to start.
Massage therapy can also often help alleviate the muscular cause. Seeing a remedial massage therapist will loosen up the muscles in your hips and back and can be a great solution for milder cases.
Wearing insoles
Insoles are a fantastic way to restore balance to your whole body, starting from the ground up.
It is important to get the right pair for your foot and hip needs so it is advised to speak with a podiatrist, physiotherapist or insole specialist retailer.
Exercises and stretches
There is a wide range of exercises and stretches you can do to help strengthen the muscles supporting the hips. These exercises will ease the tension and knots in the affected area while improving flexibility.
Here is a list of some of them to try at home:
- The 90/90 Stretch
- Child’s pose with hand reach
- Leg split with quadratus lumborum stretch
- Side plank
- Plank hip extension
- Reverse leg raises (Standing and prone)
- Clamshell
- Hip abduction
- Standing rows
SacroLoc Back Brace
Bracing and supports
Wearing a back brace or support can help treat a wide range of alignment issues, especially when combined with therapy and stretches. Back braces give you the best chance at restoring balance in your hips and preventing back pain.
The SacroLoc provides great support for milder alignment problems, while the LumboLoc Forte is ideal for almost any alignment problem.
