Hip pain prevention
Bursitis can cause pain at the side of the hip when rising from a chair and taking the first few steps, climbing stairs, driving, or lying down with direct pressure on the side of the hip. See an illustration of bursitis of the hip
. Inflammation or a tear of a tendon (tendinopathy) also may cause pain around the hip.
To prevent and ease hip pain during work, play, or daily activities:
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Wear well-cushioned shoes, and avoid high heels.
- Walk up and down stairs one at a time, leading with your strong leg when you go up stairs or curbs, and with your weaker or sore leg when you go down.
- Warm up before activities.
- Avoid activities that make one side of the pelvis higher than the other, such as running in only one direction on a track or hiking or doing yard work sideways on a slope. Keep your hips level.
- Sleep on your uninjured side with a pillow between your knees, or on your back with pillows beneath your knees.
- Stretch after an activity, when your muscles are warm.
| Author: | Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH | Last Updated: December 19, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine Nicola Maffulli, MD, PhD - Orthopedics | |
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