Latin ~ Settling vs. Stepping ~ Left Hip Pain

[tangoking]

Recently I've been practicing International Cha. An important part of this dance is separating the placement of the foot from settling into the step. From my practice I have developed pain in my left hip. Nothing serious from a medical perspective. At this point is it nothing more than a warning from my body about an error in my form, but I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.

I think that I might be settling too far as I step, and then over-extending the hip as I force even more settling?

Any advice?

[xxtupikxx]

Recently I've been practicing International Cha. An important part of this dance is separating the placement of the foot from settling into the step. From my practice I have developed pain in my left hip. Nothing serious from a medical perspective. At this point is it nothing more than a warning from my body about an error in my form, but I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.

I think that I might be settling too far as I step, and then over-extending the hip as I force even more settling?

Any advice?

My guess is that you are trying too hard :). Perhaps you are using "muscles" to jam your hip into place putting a lot of stress on your hip joint. I suggest an alternative, simply relax your sides to achieve hip movement. Notice that by naturally relaxing to settle your hip you can achieve just as much hip movement without effort.

[Rugby]

I had this happen to me too. It was due to my being told to settle backward with my hip, which is not natural for the ball socket, rather than downward through use of the back muscles. I compress to go forward, not settle backward to now have to come back up on my leg to go forward.
This may not be your case but a lot of instructors teach settling the hip backward rather than compressing downward through use of the back. This is usually because when they see people doing it on film or in comps, they think that is what is being done but its an illusion.
I hate when I see that being taught. That and the leaning backward in the standard to make the person feel like they are advanced. I went through both and I have the hip joint and lower back problems to show for it. I'm just glad that I got away from that.

Good videos to get are the Donnie Burns Dance Dojo videos from Himawari studios, and available through Dancevision. He has rumba, cha cha and samba and they are all excellent.

[Angel HI]

W/o knowing more, these types of things are better discussed w/ a local physician than the DF. Don't want a serious injury to go unseen. Of course, in the meantime, do pay closer attention to technique and natural body alignment/movements.

[latingal]

I would agree with Angel, consulting a physician is wise.

However, when I started latin I too developed pain in my left hip. In my case, it cleared up after I made sure that my core was activated and held correctly, and my alignment was correct in the leg and hip when I settled. The two centers, the gravity and levity centers should move toward each other when settling, not away.

[tangoking]

W/o knowing more, these types of things are better discussed w/ a local physician than the DF. Don't want a serious injury to go unseen. Of course, in the meantime, do pay closer attention to technique and natural body alignment/movements.
It is not serious enough to warrant a doctor visit at this point. I've just been practicing the settling for a couple of weeks. I took a few days off and the pain is gone. In five years it might become a problem if I don't correct my form.

.. compressing downward through use of the back. This is usually because when they see people doing it on film or in comps, they think that is what is being done but its an illusion.
Would you mind explaining this in more detail?

[singndance]

You are getting good advice to see someone knowledgeable because you don't want this to become a big problem later on. I had this problem in my left hip as well, and I sought the advice of my physical therapist, who is also my pilates instructor. In my case, I was settling too far "out" to the side rather than moving my hip around my spine. My pro dance partner helped me see that my leg and hip action was incorrect, and thus my hip was getting stuck in a sideways position. When my technique improved, the pain went away. I did a lot of stretching the hip flexors, quads, and hams to deal with this too.

[latingal]

Welcome to DF singndance!

[Angel HI]

Very good advice from Singndance. http://www.dance-forums.com/showpost.php?p=615484&postcount=7

Welcome to the DF, Snd.

[tangoking]

So I took the above advice and got some professional instruction. I consulted the best instructor available to me and showed him my hip motion. First thing he said was, "That's incorrect. You're forcing your hip too far out. You're going to develop pain in your hip and it will run down your leg."

I guess I found that out the hard way.

Anyway, his advice was to let the settle occur as a result of movement in my rib cage. Bring the movement up higher in my body and allow the hips to settle naturally.

[Angel HI]

So I took the above advice and got some professional instruction. ....his advice was to let the settle occur as a result of movement in my rib cage. Bring the movement up higher in my body and allow the hips to settle naturally.

This sounds exactly correct...on the right course to the other techs that go w/ this, which he, no doubt, will get to. Good job.

[Some guy]

That's kinda what xxtupikxx said. If your movements occur by relaxation it'll be very hard to hurt something or move unnaturally.