Hip Pain and Lower Back Pain: Understanding the Hidden Connection Between Your Hip and Spine

Written by Dr Julian Simpson — Chiropractor with 15+ years of experience, Board Member of the Chiropractic Australia Research Foundation, and author/reviewer of 800+ health articles.

Hip Pain and Lower Back Pain: Understanding the Hidden Connection Between Your Hip and Spine

Why Hip and Back Pain Often Occur Together

Many people visit Health Wise Chiropractic in Sunbury and Melton seeking help for persistent lower back pain, hip pain, stiffness, or difficulty bending and moving comfortably. What many don't realise is that the hip and lower back are closely connected and often influence one another.

Research into what specialists call Hip-Spine Syndrome has shown that restricted movement in one area often causes increased stress and compensation in the other. This relationship helps explain why some people experience ongoing pain despite focusing treatment on only their back or only their hip.

Understanding this connection can be the key to achieving lasting relief and improving movement.

What Is Hip-Spine Syndrome?

Hip-Spine Syndrome describes the overlap between conditions affecting the hip joint and the lumbar spine (lower back).

Because the hip and lower back work together during everyday activities such as:

• Walking

• Sitting

• Standing up

• Bending forward

• Putting on shoes and socks

• Lifting objects

Problems in one region can create abnormal movement patterns and increased strain in the other.

For example:

• Stiff hips can force the lower back to move more.

• Reduced spinal mobility can place greater stress on the hips.

• Muscle imbalances around the pelvis can affect both areas simultaneously.

This often leads to symptoms that can be difficult to distinguish.

How the Hip and Spine Work Together

Recent biomechanical research has provided valuable insight into how these structures interact.

When you bend forward or sit down:

Step 1: The Hip Flexes

The hip joint begins to bend, allowing your body to move forward.

Step 2: The Pelvis Rotates

As the hip moves, the pelvis tilts backward to help maintain balance and efficient movement.

Step 3: The Lumbar Spine Adapts

The lower back then flexes and adjusts to keep your body aligned and stable.

Researchers found a strong relationship between these three movements:

• Increased hip movement resulted in less movement required from the lower back.

• Reduced hip mobility resulted in greater stress being placed on the lumbar spine.

• The pelvis acts as the critical bridge connecting the hip and spine.

In simple terms, when the hips don't move properly, the lower back often has to compensate.

Where Most Lumbar Motion Occurred

Standing → Sitting

Maximum movement occurred at:

• L4-L5: 52%

• L5-S1: 26%

• L3-L4: 22%

Overall:

• 78% had the most movement in the lower lumbar spine (L4-S1)

• 22% had the most movement in the upper lumbar spine (L1-L4)

Standing → Deep Forward Flexion

Maximum movement occurred at:

• L4-L5: 48%

• L3-L4: 20%

• L5-S1: 16%

• L2-L3: 6%

Interestingly:

• 56% had the most movement in the upper lumbar spine (L1-L4)

• 44% had the most movement in the lower lumbar spine (L4-S1)

This challenged the long-held belief that everyone moves primarily through L4-L5 and L5-S1.

Why Stiff Hips Can Lead to Lower Back Pain

Modern lifestyles often involve prolonged sitting, reduced physical activity, and repetitive postures.

Over time this can contribute to:

• Hip joint stiffness

• Tight hip flexors

• Reduced pelvic mobility

• Weak gluteal muscles

• Altered walking mechanics

When hip mobility decreases, the lower back may be forced to move more than it was designed to.

This extra workload can contribute to:

• Mechanical lower back pain

• Muscle tightness

• Joint irritation

• Recurrent episodes of back stiffness

• Increased strain during bending and lifting

• 
  

For every 1° increase in hip flexion, the lumbar spine flexed approximately 0.84° less.

Why Some People Have More Back Mobility Than Others

One fascinating finding from recent research is that not everyone moves through their spine in the same way.

Traditionally, healthcare providers believed most lumbar movement occurred in the lower segments of the spine.

However, researchers discovered significant variation between individuals.

Some people naturally move more through:

• Upper lumbar segments

• Mid lumbar segments

• Lower lumbar segments

This means two people with similar symptoms may have completely different movement patterns.

For every 1° increase in hip flexion, the pelvis rotated approximately 0.71° more.

AND

For every 1° of posterior pelvic tilt, the lumbar spine flexed approximately 1.58°.

At Health Wise Chiropractic, this is one reason we perform a thorough assessment rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach to care.

Signs Your Hip May Be Contributing to Your Back Pain

You may have a hip-spine movement problem if you experience:

Lower Back Symptoms

• Morning stiffness

• Pain when standing after sitting

• Recurrent lower back pain

• Difficulty bending forward

Hip Symptoms

• Groin discomfort

• Buttock pain

• Hip stiffness

• Reduced flexibility

Movement Difficulties

• Trouble putting on shoes or socks

• Difficulty squatting

• Reduced walking tolerance

• Pain when climbing stairs

Because symptoms can overlap, identifying the primary source is important for effective treatment.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help

At Health Wise Chiropractic in Sunbury and Melton, our assessment process considers the entire movement system rather than focusing on a single painful area.

Depending on your individual presentation, care may include:

Chiropractic Adjustments

Helping restore normal movement in restricted spinal and pelvic joints.

Hip Mobility Assessment

Identifying movement limitations that may be increasing stress on the lower back.

Soft Tissue Therapy

Addressing muscular tension around the hips, pelvis, and lumbar spine.

Postural Evaluation

Assessing how daily habits may be contributing to ongoing strain.

Rehabilitation Exercises

Improving strength, mobility, and coordination to support long-term function.

Why Early Assessment Matters

Ignoring hip stiffness or recurring lower back pain can allow compensation patterns to become more established over time.

Early assessment may help:

• Improve movement quality

• Reduce unnecessary strain on joints

• Enhance flexibility

• Support healthy posture

• Improve daily comfort and activity levels

The sooner movement restrictions are identified, the easier they are often to address.

Chiropractic Care for Hip and Back Pain in Sunbury and Melton

If you're experiencing persistent hip stiffness, lower back pain, or difficulty moving comfortably, the problem may involve more than just one area.

At Health Wise Chiropractic, we assess the relationship between the hips, pelvis, and spine to help identify contributing factors affecting your movement and comfort.

Our chiropractors provide care for patients from:

• Sunbury

• Melton

• Diggers Rest

• Gisborne

• Bacchus Marsh

• Taylors Lakes

• Caroline Springs

• Surrounding Melbourne western suburbs

Book an Assessment

If hip or lower back pain is affecting your daily activities, contact Health Wise Chiropractic today to arrange a comprehensive assessment and discover how improved movement may help you feel and function better.

How Chiropractic Care May Help

At Health Wise Chiropractic, we take a comprehensive approach to posture-related care.

Treatment may include:

• Chiropractic adjustments

• Postural assessment

• Soft tissue therapy

• Corrective exercises

• Ergonomic advice

• Laser therapy

• Shockwave therapy

• Spinal decompression therapy

We focus on addressing both the symptoms and the underlying biomechanical stress contributing to neck dysfunction.

About the Author

Dr Julian Simpson is an Australian chiropractor with over 15 years of experience in musculoskeletal healthcare and rehabilitation.

He is a Board Member of the Chiropractic Australia Research Foundation and has reviewed and written more than 800 evidence-based health articles focused on spinal health, rehabilitation, sports injuries and conservative care approaches.

His treatment focus includes:

• Chiropractic adjustments

• Sports chiropractic

• Massage therapy

• Shockwave therapy

• Laser therapy

• Non-surgical spinal decompression

Dr Simpson provides patient care through Healthwise Chiropractic, serving communities including Sunbury, Melton, Diggers Rest and surrounding regions.

Reference

Mills ES, Richardson MK, Wang JC, Chung BC, Romoff M, Heckmann ND. Defining the relationship between the hip, pelvis, and lumbar spine. N Am Spine Soc J. 2026 Apr 1;26:100883. doi: 10.1016/j.xnsj.2026.100883. PMID: 42212188; PMCID: PMC13213316.