You may have heard of internally rotated hips, but you might be wondering what this means and why it matters. Internally rotated hips occur when the hip joint is tilted inwards so that the thighbone (femur) is angled more towards your other leg than it normally would be. This can cause increased stress on your hip joint and lead to problems like low back pain and difficulty with activities such as walking, running, or even standing for long periods of time.
Internally rotated hips can be caused by a variety of factors, such as muscle imbalances, previous injuries, or even poor posture. These underlying issues can lead to the hip being pulled out of its natural alignment, resulting in internal rotation.
The good news is that there are ways to help address this issue through physical therapy! As a physiotherapist I would work on improving the range of motion in your hip by stretching tight muscles and tendons around the joint, strengthening weak muscles surrounding the area, and improving your overall posture. Additionally, specific exercises can be recommended to improve hip control and stability such as side-lying leg raises, single-leg bridges, and clamshells.
It’s important to keep in mind that if you have internally rotated hips, it’s best to address the issue sooner than later. This will help ensure that any underlying conditions are identified and addressed before they become more severe over time. If left untreated, internally rotated hips can contribute to long-term problems including arthritis or tear of the cartilage within the joint, so it is essential to seek professional help when needed!
If you think you might have internally rotated hips, please reach out to us for an ‘initial assessment’ so we can help you find the best treatment plan for your individual needs. We can create a customised program to help improve your hip mobility and reduce any discomfort or limitations you are experiencing. Don’t wait – take control of your health and get on the road to recovery with R3 physiotherapy!
References:
- Baba K and others, ‘Impacts of External Rotators and the Ischiofemoral Ligament on Preventing Excessive Internal Hip Rotation: a Cadaveric Study’ (2022) 17 Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research 4
- Brunner R, Taylor WR and Visscher RMS, ‘Restoration of Heel–Toe Gait Patterns for the Prevention of Asymmetrical Hip Internal Rotation in Patients with Unilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy’ (2021) 8 Children (Basel) 773
- Nagamoto H and others, ‘Rotation-Related Sports Players Demonstrate Rotation-Type Lumbar Spondylolysis Fracture Angle and Decreased Hip Internal Rotation Range of Motion’ (2021) 28 Journal of orthopaedics 101