Massage For Hip Pain Factors, Part 2
In part one of this two-part blog, we went over some of the sources of hip pain that may exist throughout various areas of the body. The hips are central foundations for support within the body, and this means they can be impacted by issues that take place in several distinct areas – even those that aren’t directly connected to the hips.
At Jenna Baker LMT, we’re in tune with this kind of whole-body coordination when it comes to offering deep tissue and injury massage services. We’re not just focused on the pain itself; we’re focused on getting to the root of this pain, eliminating both the causes and the symptoms. Here are two other primary areas that relate directly to hip pain, plus how massage can help with these sources of discomfort.
Abdomen Areas
The abdomen is located close to the hips, and can have a large impact on hip pain in several ways. The primary form here is through pulling – abdominal muscles may pull the hips forward and up when they’re too tight, and can pull them hips off balance in general based on posture or other bodily habits. Abdominal muscles are some of the most sensitive in the body when they’re tight, so these areas require high attention.
A couple specific areas of the abdomen that may relate to hip pain:
Hip flexors: Every time you lift your legs, you’re doing so with the help of your hip flexors. But for people who have to sit for long periods at work or for other reasons, the hip flexors can shorten and lead to hip pain. Massage can help here, though, by stretching and lengthening hip flexor muscles.
Psoas: Also called the iliopsoas, this is a muscle that runs from the back all the way into the deep groin and even down to the femur. It’s a very deep muscle in the body that’s mean to stabilize the joining of upper and lower body sections. It also helps the hip flex. The psoas is known to “hold” a lot of our daily stress, and requires steady massage when it tightens.
Lower Back
There are several ways to tighten the lower back, including bad posture or lifting items that are too heavy. When various back muscles are tight or uneven, they can affect everything from how we stand and sit to how we move. They can also pull on pelvic bones, which is often the cause of resulting hip pain. There are a few different deep tissue massage techniques that can help release this tension and balance the muscles, however, including compression and effleurage.
For more on how various components of the body contribute to hip pain, or to learn how our massage services can help counter this pain, speak to the staff at Jenna Baker LMT today.