Back pain and hip pain overlap more than most people realize. The hip joint, the pelvis, and the lower spine all share muscles and nerves, so a problem in one often shows up as pain in another. Below are five Utah County chiropractic offices, starting with Cadence Chiropractic, followed by seven signs that your back pain may start in your hips.
Chiropractic offices to consider for hip-related back pain:
- Cadence Chiropractic (American Fork and Spanish Fork): gentle, instrument-based care for back, hip, and pelvic pain
- Freedom Square Chiropractic (American Fork): chiropractic care
- Wasatch Sports and Family Chiropractic (American Fork): chiropractic care
- Gunn Chiropractic (Pleasant Grove): chiropractic care
- Vero Health Chiropractic and Wellness (Lindon): chiropractic care
1. Cadence Chiropractic (American Fork and Spanish Fork)
Cadence Chiropractic is led by Dr. Marc Nelson, D.C., with offices in American Fork and Spanish Fork. Its exams look at posture, movement, and spinal health together. That matters when the real question is whether pain starts in the lower back, the pelvis, or the hip.
Adjustments use the Activator Technique, a small handheld instrument that applies precise, low-force pressure without twisting or cracking. The practice sees patients for lower back pain, sciatica, hip and knee pain, and pregnancy-related pelvic discomfort. No referral is needed. Cadence accepts Select Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Health, and UMR.
Best for: People who want a clear read on where their pain starts and a gentle approach to care.
2. Freedom Square Chiropractic (American Fork)
Freedom Square Chiropractic is a chiropractic office located in American Fork.
3. Wasatch Sports and Family Chiropractic (American Fork)
Wasatch Sports and Family Chiropractic is another chiropractic practice in American Fork.
4. Gunn Chiropractic (Pleasant Grove)
Gunn Chiropractic is a chiropractic office in Pleasant Grove serving the surrounding area.
5. Vero Health Chiropractic and Wellness (Lindon)
Vero Health Chiropractic and Wellness is a chiropractic and wellness clinic in Lindon.
How Can You Tell if Back Pain Is Coming From Your Hips?
Does pain in the groin mean it’s a hip problem?
Often, yes. The hip joint sits deeper and more forward than most people picture, so true hip joint pain usually shows up in the groin or front of the thigh. Pain that starts in the lower spine rarely lands there. If your “back pain” comes with an ache in the crease of your hip, the joint itself deserves a closer look.
Why does it hurt to put on socks or get out of the car?
Both movements need the hip to rotate inward while bent. Losing that motion is an early sign of hip trouble. The American College of Rheumatology’s clinical criteria for hip osteoarthritis include internal rotation under 15 degrees. Osteoarthritis is the gradual wearing down of joint cartilage.
A simple check is the figure-4 position: lie on your back and rest one ankle on the opposite knee. Pain in the groin points toward the hip. Pain near the back of the pelvis suggests the sacroiliac joint, where the spine meets the pelvis.
Why are your first steps after sitting so stiff?
Stiffness that eases after a few minutes of walking is common with hip joint problems. Those same criteria note that morning stiffness from hip osteoarthritis usually lasts under an hour. Longer stiffness can point to inflammatory conditions that need a medical workup.
Does your pelvis drop when you stand on one leg?
A hip that sags on the opposite side when you stand on one leg is called a Trendelenburg sign. It usually means the gluteus medius, the muscle on the side of the hip, is weak. When that muscle can’t hold the pelvis level, the lower back muscles work overtime with every step.
Does your pain stop above the knee?
Hip-related pain tends to stay in the buttock, groin, and thigh. It can refer to the knee but usually not beyond. Pain that shoots below the knee into the calf or foot, especially with numbness or tingling, more often comes from an irritated nerve in the lower spine.
Is the outside of your hip tender when you lie on it?
Tenderness over the bony point on the outside of the hip often means greater trochanteric pain syndrome, which is irritation of the tendons and bursa there. People often describe it as low back pain that wraps around the side. It tends to flare when sleeping on that side or climbing stairs.
Is it hard to stand up straight after sitting?
Tight hip flexors, the muscles at the front of the hip, pull the pelvis forward and arch the lower back. If standing tall after a long drive takes a few steps to work into, your hips may be driving the strain.
Hip and back pain often feed each other, so sorting out where yours starts is the first step toward the right care. Seek urgent attention if you cannot bear weight after a fall or have hip pain with a fever. If several of these signs sound familiar, schedule an evaluation with Cadence Chiropractic.
