Defined
Pain in the ball and socket joint
Symptoms
Pain when exercising in the hip region
Biomechanical Etiology
The hip joint is the ball-and-socket structure that gives us the ability to walk on two legs.
The "ball" is the head of the thigh bone (femur), covered in protective cartilage, that fits into the "socket," a cavity in the pelvis where three bones meet. These three bones (the iliac, the pubic, and the ischial) are collectively referred to as the hip bone.
Like the knee, the hip is secured by strong ligaments – elastic tissues that provide strength and stability. Often an imbalance of the leg structures either caused by a functional or structural leg length can cause the hip joint to ‘jam’ which leads to hip pain and hip wear out.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis of the hip. It occurs when the smooth cartilage that covers the head of the femur and the hip bone thins out, increasing joint friction. Joints that are used often, such as the hip, are generally more prone to becoming arthritic. And arthritis in weight-bearing joints, such as the hip, spine or knee, tends to be more painful than in the wrist or hand.
Hip pain can, however, be caused by many different conditions. See your practitioner right away if you are experiencing pain or stiffness in or around the hip.
Other diseases of the hip can cause joint pain as well. Bursitis, for example, is a painful inflammation of small, sometimes fluid-filled, sacs, called bursae, that normally cushion the bones, tendons, and muscles.
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Pain in the knee, thigh, or groin
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Pain at night, or pain when trying to sleep on the affected side
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Pain rising from a chair or climbing stairs
Treatment for pain in the hip caused by structural or functional leg length.
ICB Orthotics contain special realigning angles such as the 42 degree sagittal angle to control the longitudinal arch and the 5 degree rearfoot varus angle to align the heel to the lower leg. If a structural leg length is apparent the practitioner should support the short leg by attaching a ICB Heel Lift to the orthotic and using the orthotic for the long leg to correcting long leg compensatory pronation. | 
