The ligamentum teres is considered a lesser-known structure in hip injuries yet is capable of being very painful and causing much dysfunction. Many people might associate hip injuries with major ligaments, muscles, and bones in this area, but the ligamentum teres still plays a crucial role in hip stability. These injuries can lead to chronic pain and restricted mobility, and in some cases, require specialised treatment. Chiropractic care has become a great option for managing these injuries and improving the quality of life for those affected.
What is a Ligamentum Teres?
Ligamentum teres is a small yet significant ligament within the hip joint. It attaches the femoral head to the acetabulum. While its function has been somewhat debated for a number of years, the general consensus is that the ligamentum teres provides stability to the hip. It helps maintain the correct position of the femur in the hip socket and supports the blood supply to the femoral head in younger people.
This ligament also diminishes in its blood supply function in adulthood but still is of some assistance in stabilizing the hip joint. The less common injuries to the ligamentum teres are those that generally create chronic problems and pain and are usually diagnosed as a hip ligament injury.
Ligamentum Teres Injuries and Symptoms
The ligamentum teres may be injured due to trauma, sports injuries, or changes in the hip joint. Many ligamentum teres injuries result from twisting injuries or excessive stress upon the hip joint and are often related to dancers and athletes involved in sports that involve quick directional changes, such as soccer, tennis, and netball.
Other symptoms of injury or tear to the ligamentum teres include:
- Hip pain: One symptom of a torn ligament relates to pain. The pain emanates from the innermost parts of the hip joint and at times extends to the groin area. It is accentuated with certain specific movements, especially those involving rotation or extension of the hip.
- Limited mobility: A person suffering from the ligamentum teres injury may present limited range of motion. Activities such as bending, squatting, or rotation of the leg become difficult and painful to perform.
- Clicking or locking sensation: Some may also feel a click or a pop in the hip joint when moving the hip. The most likely outcome of this symptom points toward an injury of the ligament itself and possibly other structures within the hip.
- Hip instability: It includes the role of the ligamentum teres in hip stability; therefore, any injury to it might lead to symptoms related to instability or “giving way” of the hip joint.
It is important to note that the symptoms of a hip ligament injury may overlap those from other hip conditions such as labral tears and arthritis; thus, accurate diagnosis is important for proper treatment.
Causes of Hip Pain Associated with Ligamentum Teres
These include, among others, ligamentum teres injuries. It also becomes necessary when diagnosing the causes of hip pain especially among active people or those who have had some kind of trauma to the hip area.
Sports injuries, falls, or even accidents can result in a tear of the ligamentum teres, resulting in painful functional limitation. Degenerative changes with either wear and tear, or age-related changes can lead to its partial damage, which then could be added to the causes of hip pains and instabilities.
Diagnosis of Ligamentum Teres Injuries
The very deep-seated position of the ligamentum of teres renders making a diagnosis of an injury to this ligament quite challenging. X-rays are usually the first type of imaging, but will not show any ligament injury. An MRI will provide a detailed view of the hip’s soft tissues, including the ligamentum teres. Arthroscopy is a minor surgical procedure in which a flexible tube is inserted into the hip joint, containing a camera and light to give a good, close look inside the hip joint and confirm an injury to the ligamentum teres.
Chiropractic Care for Ligamentum Teres Injuries
In fact, chiropractic care has become popular for musculoskeletal injuries, including the ones concerning the hip joint. The professional training of chiropractic practitioners allows them to handle issues about the functionality, range of motion, and alignment of the joints; hence, they should be suitable to handle ligamentum teres injuries.
1. Pain Management
Chiropractors use manual techniques involving adjustments and mobilizations in a tentative effort to help relieve teres pain. These adjustments are made to help restore function within the joints by alleviating some pressure from the surrounding tissues, thus reducing discomfort associated with a torn or injured ligament.
In such cases, chiropractic care helps to correctly align and mobilize the hip joint. It minimizes inflammation to allow natural healing. Non-invasive techniques are ideal for patients who want to avoid surgery or long-term medication.
2. Restoring Mobility
One of the common complaints presented among patients with hip ligament injuries is a limited range of motion. In chiropractic practice, there are certain techniques that work on increasing joint mobility, reducing stiffness, and improving hip joint functionality overall. In the event of an injury to the ligamentum teres, this may include focused manipulations of the hip and spine to take the pressure off of the injured ligament to improve movement.
Chiropractic treatments often incorporate exercises and stretches tailored to the individual’s needs. This set of exercises can be strengthening for the muscles around the hip, providing more flexibility, and can stabilize the joint in such a way that the risk for reinjury is minimal.
3. Holistic Approach to Healing
Chiropractic care approaches all types of injuries with a holistic approach, and treats the origin of the problem, not the cover-up symptoms. In an injury in the ligamentum teres, the chiropractor will also not limit their examination to that joint but can even involve other potential parts of the body, which, when irregular, may lead to the pain experienced on the hip joint itself-from the lower back or even down to the pelvis.
This is an inclusive approach, whereby the entire body will be in sync and can produce the ideal healing environment for the ligament so that there will be a lesser chance of re-injury. Since chiropractors can also help with potential compensations in movement patterns, they can avoid further straining of the hip joint and its ligament.
Prevention and Long-Term Care
Chiropractic care treats the current injury and helps prevent future issues, ensuring the hip and surrounding structures function properly. Regular chiropractic adjustments help in keeping athletes and other individuals participating in physical activities that put stress on their hips aligned correctly, thus reducing the possibility of future injuries.
This can also include chiropractic care as part of a long-term rehabilitation plan to recover from hip injuries and restore full function. This is especially important for patients who want to avoid surgery and return to an active, pain-free life.
Conclusion
The Ligamentum teres is a small structure, often poorly recognized, but has been found important for hip stability. Accordingly, injuries to this ligament cause sharp pain, limited movement, and other symptoms that can affect daily activities. Fortunately, it is possible to treat ligamentum teres injury through a non-invasive treatment involving chiropractic care; this is a holistic approach. Chiropractic management corrects the sources of pain and dysfunction to allow restoration of mobility and quality of life after these injuries. Whether you’re dealing with chronic hip pain or a recent injury, chiropractors in Australia may hold the key to your recovery.
