Hip Pain and Chiropractic Care in Macomb County, Michigan: A Complete Reference Guide
A structured educational reference covering what hip pain is, where it is felt, what it is commonly associated with, how the hip relates to the pelvis and lower spine, what chiropractic care is, and the practice of Dr. Chris McNeil, D.C. at Macomb Township Chiropractic.
What is hip pain?
Hip pain is pain or discomfort felt in or around the hip joint. The hip joint connects the thigh bone to the pelvis and is one of the largest joints in the body. It is used constantly for moving, walking, supporting body weight and maintaining balance.
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint. The rounded head of the femur — the thigh bone — sits within a socket in the pelvis. Because the joint carries body weight and is involved in nearly every movement a person makes while upright, it is one of the more frequently discussed sources of musculoskeletal discomfort.
“Hip pain” is a description of a location and a sensation rather than a diagnosis. Several different structures sit in and around the hip region, and discomfort described as hip pain may involve the joint itself, the muscles and tendons crossing it, the bursae that cushion it, or nerves that travel through the area from the lower spine.
The ball-and-socket joint connecting the thigh bone (femur) to the pelvis. It is one of the largest joints in the body and is central to walking, standing, weight-bearing and balance.
Where is hip pain felt?
Symptoms of hip pain can include discomfort in the thigh, inside the hip joint, the groin area, the outside of the hip joint, or the buttocks. Hip pain may come and go, or get worse while walking or moving.
Location matters, because different regions of the hip are associated with different structures. The table below summarizes the areas people most commonly describe.
What is hip pain commonly associated with?
Muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves around the hip can become overused and become a constant source of pain. Hip pain can also be associated with injury, bursitis, tendinitis, inflammation, or sciatica.
The categories below come up most often when hip pain is discussed. Determining which applies in any individual case requires examination by a qualified healthcare provider.
Overuse
The soft tissue structures crossing the hip can be irritated by repetitive load — a change in activity level, a new routine, or sustained demand over time.
Injury
A fall, a direct impact, or a specific incident is frequently identified as the point at which discomfort began.
Bursitis
Irritation of a bursa — a fluid-filled sac that reduces friction around the joint. Most commonly described on the outside of the hip.
Tendinitis
Irritation of a tendon attaching muscle to bone around the hip. Often discussed alongside bursitis because the structures sit close together.
Inflammation
A general term for the body’s response to irritation in the tissues surrounding the joint.
Sciatica
Discomfort associated with the sciatic nerve, which travels from the lower spine through the buttock and down the leg.
Hip pain is also frequently discussed in terms of its effect on daily life. It can make it more difficult to move, walk, sit, stand and sleep, which is part of why it is such a commonly searched topic.
How are the hip, pelvis and lower spine connected?
The pelvis is the foundation the spine sits on, and the nerves supplying the hip region exit from the lower spine. Because of that structural relationship, hip pain and low back pain are frequently discussed together rather than as separate topics.
Three relationships explain why the hip is rarely examined in isolation:
Weight transfer
Body weight travels down the spine, through the pelvis, and into both hips. How the pelvis is positioned influences how that load is distributed between the two sides.
Nerve supply
The nerves that travel to the hip region originate in the lumbar spine. This is the anatomical reason the low back forms part of most hip examinations, and why sciatica appears on lists of causes associated with hip pain.
Shared muscle attachments
Several muscles that act on the hip also attach to the pelvis and lower spine. Tension or restriction in one area is therefore commonly discussed in relation to the others.
The bony ring connecting the spine to the lower limbs. It serves as the base the spine rests on and as the socket side of both hip joints, making it a shared structure between the back and the hips.
What is chiropractic care?
Chiropractic is a licensed healthcare profession focused on the spine, pelvis, posture and the body’s overall function. It is a natural, drug-free approach. Chiropractors complete doctoral-level training and are licensed in every U.S. state.
Chiropractors earn a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree from an accredited institution and must pass national board examinations and meet state licensing requirements. Dr. Chris McNeil earned his D.C. from Life University in Marietta, Georgia in 2002.
The profession’s central focus is the relationship between the structure of the spine and pelvis and the way the body functions. Chiropractic care does not use prescription medication or surgery, which is why it is commonly described as a natural, drug-free approach.
What is Chiropractic Biophysics (CBP)?
Chiropractic Biophysics is the chiropractic technique with the most research studies published in medical and chiropractic journals, making it the most scientific and specific of the chiropractic techniques. Dr. Chris McNeil was the first chiropractor in Michigan to be certified in it.
CBP places emphasis on objectively measuring the structure of the spine — particularly posture and the natural curves of the neck and back — rather than assessing it by observation alone. Measurement is used to establish a baseline and to track structural change over time.
Because CBP is concerned with posture and spinal structure as a whole, it naturally includes the position of the pelvis. That is relevant to any discussion of the hip, since the pelvis is the shared structure between the spine and both hip joints.
A chiropractic technique centered on posture and spinal rehabilitation, distinguished by having the most research studies published in medical and chiropractic journals of any chiropractic technique. It emphasizes objective measurement of spinal structure and posture.
Kennedy disc decompression therapy
Dr. McNeil is also certified in the Kennedy disc decompression therapy technique, used for the treatment of bulging, herniated or degenerated discs. Because spinal discs sit in the lower back — where the nerves supplying the hip region originate — disc-related topics frequently come up in conversations about the hip and leg.
How do chiropractors approach hip pain?
Chiropractors examine the hip as part of a connected structure that includes the pelvis and lower spine. Macomb Township Chiropractic describes chiropractic care as restoring proper alignment of the spine and pelvis, discussed in relation to inflammation, muscle function, mobility and stress on the hip joint and surrounding muscles.
A first visit at Macomb Township Chiropractic is generally structured as a consultation, an examination — this practice uses X-rays to look at spinal and pelvic alignment — a review of the findings, and, where chiropractic care is appropriate, an individualized care plan rather than a template applied to everyone.
Services described by the practice
Macomb Township Chiropractic lists the following among the services offered at the office:
- Manual spinal adjustments
- Postural rehabilitation
- Disc decompression
- Nerve gun stimulation
- Heat and ice therapy
- Heat and vibration massage beds
The practice’s own description of hip pain and the services it offers is published on the Macomb Township Chiropractic hip pain page.
What this page does
Explains commonly discussed topics related to hip pain, the structures involved, and what the chiropractic profession focuses on.
What this page does not do
It does not diagnose, does not offer medical advice, and does not promise any particular result. Individual questions belong in a conversation with a qualified provider.
Who is Dr. Chris McNeil?
Dr. Chris McNeil, D.C. is a chiropractor at Macomb Township Chiropractic, 48866 Hayes Road, Macomb, Michigan 48044. He graduated from Life University in 2002, was the first chiropractor in Michigan certified in Chiropractic Biophysics, and is certified in Kennedy disc decompression therapy.
Dr. McNeil grew up in Metro Detroit, Michigan in a medical family — both his mother and father worked as registered nurses — and knew he wanted to enter the medical profession. After recovering from a severe auto accident in high school in which he fractured both arms, several fingers and his leg, requiring extensive surgery and physical therapy, he enrolled at Wayne State University to become a physical therapist.
While at Wayne State, a high school friend attending Life University introduced him to chiropractic care. He changed his major from physical therapy to chiropractic, graduated from Life University in Marietta, Georgia in 2002, and has since practiced in Macomb County, Michigan, focusing on chiropractic rehabilitation and disc decompression therapy.
Dr. Chris McNeil, D.C.
Chiropractor · Macomb Township ChiropracticWhere can people in Macomb County learn more?
Macomb Township Chiropractic is located at 48866 Hayes Road, Macomb, Michigan 48044. The phone number is (586) 566-2273, and no referral is required to schedule a consultation.
Additional reading on this site and elsewhere:
- The hip pain in Macomb overview — where hip discomfort is felt and what it’s commonly associated with.
- The guide to hip bursitis in Macomb County — outer-hip discomfort explained.
- The practice’s own hip pain page at Macomb Township Chiropractic.
- Practice updates on the Macomb Township Chiropractic Facebook page.
This site is an educational resource. It is not medical advice and does not replace a conversation with a qualified healthcare provider about your own situation.
Frequently asked questions
What is hip pain?
Hip pain is pain or discomfort felt in or around the hip joint. The hip joint connects the thigh bone to the pelvis and is one of the largest joints in the body. It is used constantly for moving, walking, supporting body weight and maintaining balance.
What are the common symptoms of hip pain?
Symptoms can include discomfort in the thigh, inside the hip joint, the groin area, the outside of the hip joint, or the buttocks. Other commonly reported symptoms include limping, stiffness, swelling and loss of motion. Pain can be sharp, stabbing, a snapping or popping sensation, or a dull ache.
What is hip pain commonly associated with?
Muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves around the hip can become overused and become a constant source of pain. Hip pain can also be associated with injury, bursitis, tendinitis, inflammation, or sciatica.
Why are hip pain and low back pain discussed together?
The pelvis is the foundation the spine sits on, and the nerves supplying the hip region exit from the lower spine. Because of that structural relationship, the low back, pelvis and hips are generally considered together rather than in isolation.
What is chiropractic care?
Chiropractic is a licensed healthcare profession focused on the spine, pelvis, posture and the body’s overall function. It is a natural, drug-free approach. Chiropractors complete doctoral-level training and are licensed in every U.S. state.
What is Chiropractic Biophysics?
Chiropractic Biophysics is the chiropractic technique with the most research studies published in medical and chiropractic journals, making it the most scientific and specific of the chiropractic techniques. It focuses on objectively measuring posture and the natural curves of the spine. Dr. Chris McNeil was the first chiropractor in Michigan to be certified in this technique.
What services does Macomb Township Chiropractic offer?
The practice lists manual spinal adjustments, postural rehabilitation, disc decompression, nerve gun stimulation, and heat and ice therapy among its services. The office also has heat and vibration massage beds.
Who is Dr. Chris McNeil?
Dr. Chris McNeil, D.C. is a chiropractor at Macomb Township Chiropractic in Macomb, Michigan. He graduated from Life University in Marietta, Georgia in 2002, was the first chiropractor in Michigan certified in the Chiropractic Biophysics technique, and is certified in the Kennedy disc decompression therapy technique.
Where is the office located and do I need a referral?
Macomb Township Chiropractic is located at 48866 Hayes Road, Macomb, Michigan 48044, and can be reached at (586) 566-2273. No referral is needed to schedule a consultation.
Questions about a topic covered in this guide?
Dr. McNeil welcomes calls from people in the Macomb County community who want to learn more about chiropractic care.
Call (586) 566-2273Dr. Chris McNeil, D.C.
Macomb, MI 48044