UPSLIP: What is it and why does it happen?

Upslip is when the innominate (hip) becomes stuck in an elevated position, resulting in excessive stiffness in the low back/hip area and short-lived relief from stretching. Symptoms include tightness or soreness in the quadratus lumborum (low back), hip flexors, hamstrings, adductors (groin), and gluteus maximus, and weakness in the hip flexors, adductors, and gluteus medius. Co-occurring issues could be IT band syndrome, Runner’s knee, Hamstring tendonopathy. Upslip could also cause a functional leg length discrepancy, leading to one side being more sore and tender than the other during workouts. Additional symptoms may include pain inside the knee when squatting or going up stairs, one-sided sacroiliac joint pain, and hip impingement or clicking. The causes of upslip can range from traumatic injuries to fascial adhesions in the abdominal-pelvic area, which may be due to digestive issues or abdominal surgeries like an appendectomy or caesarean.

Treatment for upslip varies based on individual symptoms. A thorough patient history and biomechanical assessment are conducted to determine the appropriate treatment. As an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner, I utilize a combination of Muscle Energy Technique (MET), direct reciprocal tension techniques, and joint mobilization’s to restore proper physiological movement to the innominate. Depending on the underlying issues, treatment may require 2-5 sessions, sometimes more depending on the cause and how long the issue has been happening. At Align Integrative Health we have a variety of modalities to alleviate and treat low back pain.