If You Have Hip and Back Pain, Start With THIS

Quick Overview

For combined hip and back pain, especially in a tall individual post-hip replacement, the primary recommendation is to immediately start strengthening the core (abs) first, followed by the glutes, as stronger core muscles help control the spine and support the hips, preventing the back issues from interfering with hip treatment progression.

Key Points: For combined hip and back pain, prioritize strengthening the core (abs) first, followed by the glutes, to stabilize the spine and support the hip. The caller, Sharon, is 58 years old, menopausal, 9 months post-total hip replacement on her right hip, and also has L1 through L5 herniations/bulging discs causing back pain. As a tall person (6'4"), the caller experiences issues where chairs and seating do not provide proper back support, leading to difficulty sitting straight up. The caller inadvertently triggered sciatica pain by overusing a massage gun on her glutes, highlighting the need for careful technique. Dr. David suggests a 70/30 split in exercise focus: 70% on lower abs and 30% on glutes initially, ensuring the back pain does not halt hip recovery. The caller mentioned that her father was a first-round draft pick for the Knicks, indicating a tall family history, which influences body mechanics.

Context: The video features Dr. David answering a live phone call from a viewer named Sharon who is experiencing simultaneous hip and back pain. Sharon is 58, menopausal, and 9 months post-total hip replacement on her right side, while also dealing with diagnosed L1-L5 spinal issues (herniation and bulging). She is seeking advice on where to begin her treatment protocol since she understands that the hip and back are connected, and she does not want to isolate the hip treatment while neglecting the back.

Detailed Analysis

Dr. David advises Sharon, who has complex hip (post-op osteoarthritis) and back issues (L1-L5 herniations), to start treatment by focusing on her core, specifically the lower abdominals, first. He recommends working on the abs (70% focus) before the glutes (30% focus) because strong abdominal muscles help control the spine, which is crucial for preventing the back issues from negatively affecting the hip recovery. This approach addresses the interconnected nature of her pain, as she noted that standard seating often fails to support her back adequately due to her height (6'4"). Sharon also shared an anecdote about inadvertently causing sciatica pain by overusing a massage gun on her glutes, having previously found great relief from those exercises before the flare-up. Dr. David emphasizes that both abs and glutes must be worked, but the core stability (abs) should lead to ensure stability is built before aggressively training the glutes, which in turn support the hip.