Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net Neck and shoulder pain, new research suggests it’s all in your hips. What if everything you ever knew about neck and shoulder pain was incorrect? For years, our office has explored this concept because everyone who had neck and shoulder pain and blamed it on stress seemed to also have a distorted pelvis. Apparently, new research is beginning to clarify why our approach has been effective in relieving people of neck and shoulder pain and chronic shoulder problems. While this new study was limited in its scope, and used the Patrick-Fabre orthopedic test to determine hip mobility and pain (read the synopsis here), it was found that people with hip pain and restricted mobility in the hip joints suffered from chronic neck and shoulder pain. After manipulation to the spine and extremity in the hips, the participants were relieved of upper body and neck pain. Why is a torqued core or pelvis significant? Most of the force we develop against gravity is developed through the pelvis. If the pelvis is distorted, it will also distort the upper back and the rib cage in compensation causing shoulder and neck pain, especially when sitting. If the hip joints (where the hip socket inserts into the innominate) is less flexible, it will affect the way you walk and the effect is for the hip to elevate, causing distortion in the upper back and since the joints in the pelvis do not release properly when you sit, the tightness will be felt in the upper back causing neck and shoulder pain. We have used this concept successfully to resolve many chronic neck and shoulder problems and people are surprised that the neck problem did not originate in their neck. Part of our regimen includes hip capsule stretches which improve the flexibility of the hip joints. This is part of our long term strategy to improve the way they feel and function. Since tight hip capsules are precursors to arthritic hips and knee problems, by resolving the neck problem, and loosening the hips, we have also helped improve the longevity of the hip joints and in all likelihood, decreased the chance of future knee problems such as meniscus tears. The likelihood of lower back problems and muscle pulls is also greatly reduced by this approach. What do you think? As always I value your opinion.