Age is simply a part of life. There is no way to avoid it. Our hair will go gray, or skin will change its texture and begin to wrinkle and we will experience muscle atrophy if we don’t maintain an active lifestyle. One thing you can be sure to be proactive about and minimize is hip pain.
Most people as they age experience limited range of movement or tightness with their hips. Surprisingly, hip joint is truly one of the toughest and hardest in the body.
We live in a society today where the majority of people sit most the time and they are not getting much exercise. There is not much stretching or strengthening of the hip joint and surrounding musculature.
Even though we live in a fast-paced world today, the sedentary lifestyle tends to rule. More people are less active than ever before.
So back to the hip joint. When we are sitting for extended periods of time our hip flexors actually become shorter. These are the muscles that we use to move our legs up and down and help to keep the spine in alignment and stabilized. So what happens, as we get older, the hip flexors get shorter which can cause pain and other issues not just with your hips but also in your lower back, your knees, or even your feet.
These problems can be exacerbated by how we sleep and the lack of stretching or exercise we are getting. Further, our gluteus muscles, which are also playing a role in the mobility of our hips, also get weekend when we sit for extended period of time. Logically, it makes sense that more and more people are complaining of tight or painful hips as they get older.
Implementing an effective strength and conditioning program is going to play a role in alleviating any pain or instability. Further, utilizing a simple stretching program will also have amazing results.
It is important to work to maintain a way that is compatible with your body type. You should set a goal to commit to some sort of daily activity and exercise that keeps you moving that will help strengthen your hips. As for diet, is important to eat a healthy calcium inclusive diet.
If you are experiencing any hip pain or just comfort of any kind, it is important for you to have a professional evaluation to determine the root cause of your problems. If you are looking in Wyckoff for a physical therapy practice, look no further than Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation.
Schedule your free first evaluation with us today!