17/05/2026
π HOW YOUR HIPS AFFECT LOWER BACK COMFORT
Experiencing lower back discomfort? The answer might not be in your backβit could be in your hips!
We often think of the body in parts, but it works as one connected system. Your hips connect your lower body and spine, helping you bend, walk, twist, and change direction smoothly. When hip movement is limited, your lower back has to work harder.
HOW SITTING AFFECTS YOUR HIPS:
Prolonged sitting creates a double problem:
Hip Flexors Get Tight
Sitting keeps these muscles in a shortened position. Over time, they adapt and stay tight even when you stand, limiting how your pelvis and spine move together.
Glutes Become Underactive
Your powerful stabilizing muscles get lazy from underuse. They provide less support when you need them for standing, walking, or climbing stairs.
THE COMPENSATION CYCLE:
When your hips don't rotate or extend properly, your body finds workarounds:
Bending forward: Spine bends more if hips won't hinge
Picking up objects: Excessive lower back rounding
Walking: Spine rotates more with each step
Getting in/out of car: More spinal twisting required
Repeatedly bending or twisting through the spine instead of the hips irritates joints, muscles, and discs. Over time, this contributes to stiffness, muscle spasm, and chronic back pain.
SIGNS YOUR HIPS MAY BE RESTRICTED:
β Trouble comfortably crossing your legs
β Difficulty putting on socks or tying shoelaces
β One hip consistently feels "tighter" than the other
β Pain or aching around your lower back or groin
β Hip stiffness first thing in the morning or after sitting
SIMPLE SELF-TEST:
Try squatting down to pick something up. Keep your back upright. Now try again while keeping your hips as still as possible.
Notice your back working harder? That's compensation in action!
SOLUTIONS THAT WORK:
π― Take movement breaks every 30 minutes
π― Stretch hip flexors daily (kneeling lunge position)
π― Activate glutes with bridges and clamshells
π― Practice squats with good form
π― Use a sit-stand desk if possible
π― Focus on slow, controlled movement
HOW CHIROPRACTIC CARE HELPS:
At Adam's Back, we assess how your hips, pelvis, and spine move togetherβnot just where pain shows up. This comprehensive approach helps us identify the root cause and address it properly through:
Chiropractic adjustments to restore joint motion
Soft tissue therapy for tight hip flexors and underactive glutes
Customised rehabilitation exercises
Movement re-education
Ergonomic guidance
Strong muscles and mobile joints work together. When your hips move well, your back doesn't have to work overtime!
Read our complete guide in the comments with specific exercises and professional tips:
π Adam's Back, 881 Point Nepean Road, Rosebud
π 03 5986 5700