Hip conundrum...Bill, Eric, anyone!!!

[Ronrat7]

Hip conundrum:

A little background, I’m 38 and have been lifting approx. 10 yrs. About 9 yrs ago during Tae kwon do I noticed right hip and knee pain that eventually made me have to stop. I’d seen Dr.’s, etc. had physical therapy 3 different times, have had x-rays done (nothing), seen 2 different rheumatologists (for awhile they thought it was RA). Finally this past year I had an MRI which showed I had osteoarthritis in the greater troch. I’m not sure how that’s possible, as that area of the femur isn’t part of the hip joint. I personally thought it might be a calcification of the greater troch. But anyway, I have the pain under control using cod liver oil daily (the ONLY thing that has worked to stop the pain mind you), but now I’m a biomechanical mess.

My predicament is that I want to get back to deadlifting. This is my favorite lift but my body mechanics are so kerfunkled that I just risk further injury and imbalances.

Here’s the mechanical issues:

Standing upright normally, my right hip is rotated back farther than my left (my right hand is close to my body and left is out about 2 inches farther.

When I perform a squatting mvt., my left knee is higher than my right (even though I seem to have a 1 inch leg length discrepancy in my right i.e. it’s longer than the left). It’s like my right hip is tilting laterally down further than the left.

A physical therapist that I worked with had me doing piriformis, hamstring, and adductor stretches, but even after several weeks, plus working on my leg length discrepancy, but it didn’t really do anything to resolve the situation.

I know the proper form and biomechanics of squatting and deadlifting. However, my body doesn’t cooperate. I just end up making my left leg bigger (it overcompensates for the right), and the right just gets muscle soreness with no growth. The difference in the two legs is rather comical to see. For the last few months, I’ve basically been doing leg presses, leg ext/leg curls for bilateral work and the rest is unilateral exercises.

Any and ALL suggestions on what I may do to correct this would be GREATLY appreciated. I REALLY want to do deadlifting again someday!

Thank you,

R

[Bill Hartman]

Not exactly clear on your description, can you throw up a pic. It should show from foot to shoulder from the front. side view would be nice as well. No need to show your face. If you're not comfortable with that, email it to me.

When you spread your feet out wider than shoulder's width, does the leg length even out?

Bill

[Ronrat7]

Bill, thanks for the reply. My girlfriend is working late, so can't get a pic until tomorrow (at best late this evening). But will get them to you. I'll try to do the standing front/side and I'll show you one of me squatting to see the knee height issue.

I was doing sumo deadlifts for awhile, as the wider stance did help some, but there's still so much odd twisting/bodymechanics taking place that I finally quit those as well. I had one back surgery years ago (bulging disc), so not too wild about putting myself in a position to have another.

I just finished my clinicals and have to take the reg exam (occupational therapy), so don't have a job currently, hence no insurance. Of course, doesn't make a big diff, as I've seen many a person already regarding this.

I'll shoot you the pics asap. Thanks again,

Ron

[Lisa~]

conundrum - What a great word!