My right hip joint hurts when I do stetches/ kick in training? how can i stop this or make it better?

Question

I started training in Taekwondo (since January) and when I try the box splits and certain kicks I get a really sharp pain in my right hip and sometimes my lower back. is this just my body getting used to the training or is it something medical? Ive bought a leg stretcher and it has helped a little but the pain is always worse after training. Any ideas?

Answer 1

I'm no doctor, but what you describe sounds very similar to what I have experienced. You may want to make a visit to your GP (general practicioner) or to a PT (Physical Therapist) to be sure, but you may have a condition known as "Hyper-mobile" in the hip. Basically it could be that your hip joint moves around more than it is supposed to and it can cause various amounts of pain by compressing against nerves and/or muscles. I have this and have to be careful how I stretch. One thing you can try doing is to lay flat on your back, raise your knees, and place a large ball (soccer, basketball, etc.) between your knees. Squeeze your knees to your full extent for several seconds, then release, repeating 10 or 20 times. This can help "keep" your joint in place, if that indeed is why your hip is hurting.

Answer 2

Hi there

Firstly go get yourself checked out by the doctor. They usually say stop training or ease off for a while, which can be frustrating but is sound advice.

Secondly it is a well known fact that flexibility is the key to great kicks but it has its price. Don't over do the stretches. The box splits can be achieved by anyone in good health in just under a month. I use to hear this rather strange clicking sound when i did the splits which sounded like my hip dislocating. Then after a class i couldn't walk correctly. The key is everything in moderation. Stretch then have a days rest. Give your body time to adjust. Remember martial arts is a life long study! No need to rush just take your time.

Regards

idai

Answer 3

Second guy touched upon what may be part of the problem. You do not have enough strength in and around your hip area to support the joint when you are doing such prolong stretching. Do legs lifts without weight on all four sides with both legs, then with light weights after a little time. When you feel better move on to getting some weight training in to build the strength of your lower back and hips/legs to combat the imperfections of you hip structure. The strength of the muscles will take pressure off the joint and allow better movement.

Answer 4

See your doctor, don't take chances - I did experience something similar, mine was a stress fracture from what the doctor called incorrect body alignment during my kicks and low stances - I was dancing also at the time and tended to take a dancers stance instead of the correct (pelvic turned inward) Shotokan stance (which are very low). I worked with Sensei who had 40+ years of experience plus military training so he had seen it happen before, we corrected my form which had a lot to do with my back alignment over my hips and I am happy to say I have not had that happen since, that was when I was about 11 (I think), I am now 29 and still practicing Shotokan. Good Luck, feel better

Answer 5

If you use the leg stretcher too much, it will cause you hip pain. I never used a stretcher. What you probably need to do is go to the health food store and get some Glucosamine. It helps with joint pain by encouraging your body's own ability to lubricate the joints and rebuild cartilage that may have been damaged.

You're just training hard! Good for you!

Answer 6

See a chiropractor. Sounds like you just have your back out. It could be that it's been out a tad bit for quite a long time - hence it only bothers you when you do the kick. The chiropractor will do x-rays, and from that will be able to tell you if it's something structural causing the hip pain.

Chiropractors are much cheaper than the GP or physical therapist and get faster results.

I get pains in my hips when my lower back is out. Since you are also getting the pain in your lower back, that is probably where the issue is stemming from.

Answer 7

i got the exact same problem when i just started karate, it felt a little like my left leg was being pushed out of my hip joint and it REALLY hurts, i feel your pain.
i found it stopped after my body got used to the stretches, just dont push yourself too far, which i think it what i did.

Answer 8

1

Answer 9

Fatter

Answer 10

i used to get that all the time when i first started...i don't know if it's the same, but with me it's just your hips getting used to the unnatural stress and positions it has to go through...i just stretched until it popped and it felt better.