08/21/2024
Frozen shoulder in the hip joint
A few days ago, during a consultation, someone asked me if it's possible to get "frozen shoulder" in the hip joint. When I asked what they meant, they explained that a Korean TV program called "Body God" compared hip joint pain to frozen shoulder. In Korea, where frozen shoulder (a condition commonly affecting the shoulder around the age of fifty) is as common as a national ailment, I thought it was a clever way to grab viewers' attention and help them better understand hip joint disorders by comparing it to something familiar.
It might seem puzzling how shoulder and hip joint disorders could be similar, but if you think about four-legged animals, the shoulder and hip joints are actually quite similar anatomically. Structurally, the arms are similar to the legs, and the scapula, where the arms are attached, is similar to the pelvis, where the legs are attached. Not only in structure but also in function, there are similarities: the scapula helps stabilize the arms while also anchoring muscles needed for head and neck movement. Similarly, the pelvis stabilizes the legs while anchoring muscles needed for back and lumbar movement. The shoulder and hip joints are closely related to the movement of the spine, not just the limbs. Every joint has two major roles: stability, which supports the body, and mobility, which allows movement. When a joint is under stress, it becomes unstable, and the body compensates by stiffening the joint, which reduces its mobility.
For the shoulder and hip joints to move normally, the spine needs to maintain its S-shape. This shape acts like a spring, effectively supporting the body's weight, including the head, and ensuring joint stability. This stability prevents stress from accumulating in the shoulder and hip joints, thus maintaining their mobility. However, when a person maintains a fixed posture for prolonged periods—whether in the kitchen, at work, or while looking at a book, phone, or computer—the spine gradually becomes misaligned. This misalignment alters the S-curve, causing the weight of the head and body to shift onto the shoulders and hips. As a result, these joints become stiffer and lose mobility, and any excessive movement of the limbs in this state can lead to tearing of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments around the joints.
In such a state, taking painkillers or getting injections might reduce the pain, leading the person to believe they are healed, but they continue to strain the joints. This cycle of pain and temporary relief leads to worsening joint damage, making the joint increasingly unstable. Eventually, bones may grow between the joints, or calcification may occur, rendering the joint immobile. The body does this to protect itself by completely restricting joint movement.
Therefore, to treat hip or shoulder pain, it is crucial to correct any misalignment of the spine, pelvis, or scapula to restore the joint's mobility and allow tense muscles to naturally relax through rest. Additionally, correcting poor posture is essential to prevent further joint misalignment and muscle tension. However, relying solely on pain medication, muscle relaxants, or pain injections might offer immediate relief, but eventually, the patient will have to face the consequences of not putting in the effort to address the root cause.
