Your hip alignment may be causing back pain.

May is Posture Awareness Month, and here at Kauffman Chiropractic we are talking about how hip alignment affects lower back pain.

The hips serve as the foundation for the spine. When the hips are properly aligned, it helps maintain the natural curvature of the spine, including the lumbar (lower) and thoracic (mid-back) regions. Your hips should be aligned so that your hip is right underneath your lumbar spine.

So if we have a hip misalignment where your hips are tilted forward, that is going to put more pressure on your lower back. We see that more with people with weak abdominal muscles or people who wear high heels or high boots. That puts their pelvis forward, and then they have to lean their lower back backwards. Your hips should be aligned right over your lumbar spine. However, if your hip starts to move forward and your lumbar spine moves back, that puts a lot of pressure through your lumbar spine, through your facet joints right at the bottom of the spine, and that is more likely to give you back pain. The opposite problem is when your hips are pushed too far back compared to your lumbar spine. So if you are in that forward leaning posture, that usually means that you have had chronic lower back pain also known as lower back dysfunction for quite a while.

Proper hip alignment is essential for maintaining overall postural integrity. It supports spinal alignment, pelvic stability, muscle balance, and postural symmetry, all of which contribute to a healthy and balanced posture. Regular exercise, stretching, and chiropractic care can help optimize hip alignment and promote better posture.

If you are concerned about your posture and specifically, hip position, chiropractic can help. To learn how to get started with chiropractic care in Loveland OH, just visit our website at kauffmanchiropractic.com.