A patient case from today. A 66 year old woman flying overseas tonight, booked in for a check-up after left pelvic joint pain the previous week.
Presenting complaint
She first came in on Friday last week with left pelvic joint pain. No leg pain, which is one of the first things we check when the pelvis is involved to rule out any nerve referral. She responded well on Friday. Today she booked back in because she is flying out tonight and wanted the area moving freely before a long flight.
What the assessment showed
Still a little tight and sore on the left. No change in leg symptoms. The left pelvic joint was locked again, but less so than Friday.
The clinical thinking
Pelvic joints do not like sitting for long stretches. Long flights, long drives and long desk days are a very common trigger for exactly this kind of localised pelvic joint pain. We see it often enough that it is worth saying out loud. The goal with a patient about to fly is not deep structural change today, it is to give them the best possible starting position and some simple on-the-plane strategies to keep the joints moving while they travel.
Care plan today
Straight mechanical adjustments through the left pelvic joint. A couple of stretches to take with her. On-the-plane advice: get up and walk the aisle when it is safe to, stretch at the back of the plane, do not sit through the whole flight if she can avoid it.
How she is now
Walking better on the way out. We will see her again when she is back from her trip.
Rebates at the counter
She is a Bupa member. As a Bupa Member First Provider our rebate through her cover was $32 on a $71 adjustment fee. She paid a $39 gap on her Mastercard.
If you are still deciding
If you have a long flight or a long drive coming up and your lower back or hip is already a bit tight, that is a good reason to book an initial consultation ahead of time rather than waiting for it to flare up mid-trip. We will assess what is going on and give you a plan you can take with you. Book an initial consultation.
Patient name has been changed. Individual results vary. This case study is shared for educational purposes and does not constitute a clinical recommendation for anyone else.
Frequently asked questions
Why do my hips and lower back hurt after long flights?
Prolonged sitting locks the pelvic joints, which rely on movement to stay comfortable. The pattern we see most often is a localised sacroiliac joint restriction that was already there before the flight and gets worse during it. Standing up and walking regularly on long flights helps.
Can chiropractic help prevent travel related back pain?
Yes, both before and during travel. A pre-trip adjustment to free up any already-locked joints, plus simple on-the-plane strategies (stand, walk the aisle, stretch at the back), is a common pattern we recommend for frequent travellers.
Related patient cases
- Patient case: acute lower back and leg pain, Medicare EPC covered
A 69 year old man came back to us with acute lower back pain and pain running down both legs. Here is how we cleared it and what a Medicare EPC visit looked like at the counter. - Patient case: 12 visit progress exam for a tall patient with lower back pain
A 51 year old patient hit his 12 visit progress exam today after starting care in June. Here is what the formal progress check looks like. - Patient case: 74 year old on maintenance care, stiffness and mobility limits
A 74 year old maintenance patient came in stiff and sore all over. Here is what we did and how she pulled up.
Add Comment