The pelvic girdle consists of many connecting bones that connect the torso to the legs. Ligaments attach the sacrum to other points in the pelvis to provide mobility and stability.
Pelvic Functions
The strong and rigid pelvis is adapted to serve a number of roles in the human body. The main functions being:
- Transfer of weight from the upper axial skeleton to the lower appendicular components of the skeleton, especially during movement.
- Provides attachment for a number of muscles and ligaments used in locomotion.
- Contains and protects the abdominopelvic and pelvic viscera.
Injury and Instability
The pelvic girdle acts as a connecting point for forces between the torso and legs. It is especially important for twisting and turning while running and kicking. Because of this, injuries in sports such as football, basketball and running are common.
It is also important to have good flexibility in the muscles around the hip to decrease the chance of injury when running, walking, going up or down the stairs or playing sports.
Symptoms
Due to the large number of bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments involved, there are a wide range of injuries possible within the pelvic girdle. Bone stress injuries can occur, and are more common in women than men, with bone density playing a part.
Some common hip injuries include: Femoral acetabular impingement, groin strains, arthritis, or bursitis.
The most common symptom is pain. Often hip instabilities can manifest as low back pain or cause problems lower down the kinetic chain in the knees or feet. If you don’t move well at the hip you will often compensate using other joints.
Pelvic girdle pain can also occur during pregnancy.
Treatment And Prevention
Pelvic girdle injuries can be separated into two categories: fractures and all others. In the past fractures have been treated non-operatively, with rest, although surgical intervention has been more common recently.
Non-surgical treatment for the most part consists of rest, stretching, and strengthening of the muscles and tendons in the pelvic girdle.
The hip is a very mobile joint, much like the shoulder. It has the freedom to move in all directions which means it requires a lot of muscles to stabilize it. As a result, core strengthening and glute strengthening assume more importance.
How Apex Can Help
Whether nor not you have been diagnosed with pelvic girdle pain, the health professionals at Apex can help define your problem. Once identified, we will set up a program tailored to your specific needs that is designed to deal with your pain and help you return to normal activities as quickly as possible.
