Jointed stirrups? Back, hip, knee pain!?

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I feell your pain sister. I have 30 years on you, but if I had to run a mile to save my life, I couldn't. (to save my horses's lives, maybe) I no longer jump due to the pain, and have switched to dressage. I do love it so much! It is more of a head game, but still physically challenging

I switched to jointed stirrups due to my knees, and I must say, they seem to help. I have the cheaper ones, not the sprenger ones which have 2 joints on each side. Those I don't like, they are like standing on ice. The $35 Korsteel are the ones I like. You will notice them for the first 10 min of the first ride, then you will never notice them again. You will notice if you ride another saddle without them though!

Do not get the offset ones that are supposed to keep your leg closer to the horse; those will really eat your knees.

I am an Occupational Therapist, so I see lots of people who hurt for various reasons. While the stirrups will help your knees, they won't do much for the hips and back; that is a balance thing. I have found a really wonderful help for me, my patients, and my riding students to help hips and backs. It's a book/small ball combination called "the Miracle Ball Method" by Elaine Petrone. At amazon.com it is $12.21. I recommend you get 2 sets; you can do upper and lower body at the same time. These are very, very helpful. Even my farrier is using them now, and swears by them!

I have had such good luck re balancing my and others' bodies that I have been able to get off at least some of the pain meds. I have really lousy knees and back.

I would have hoped that your chiropractor would have taken x-rays. (traditionally therapists and chiropractors don't agree, so don't ask me about that!)

I would get someone to evaluate your feet. Just like a horse will be off and prone to arthritis if poorly trimmed, so will it mess you up from toe to neck if you have pronating or flat feet. You may need custom orthotics just as some horses need special shoeing. That is where I would start. For me, it makes huge difference if I wear my orthotics or if I get vain one day and wear shoes without them!

edit--Filimin has a good point that meshes with what I have said. A good Physical Therapist or Orthothics maker will measure the length of your legs as well as evaluate the planes of your feet, and the miracle balls help to balance your pelvis and low back, and then you have to balance the thoracic back and neck too. I have gone from having lousy posture off horse to having great posture everywhere.

add-- These are only a bit over $20. if you hate them, you haven't spent a ton! I have these and like them. http://www.horseloverz.com/-----STA-BRITE-Jointed-Fillis-Stirrup-Irons-pr-188512.html They have held up well from 5 years of riding without breaking or rusting....Show more

I know how you feel for the most part... except I'm not riding at that high of a level. I have fms so I'm in excruciating pain all the time. I can hardly stand to walk some days but I still go down to ride. How you describe your pain reminds me of my own (which is supposedly post-traumatic from the injuries) ... maybe you should go get checked out for something different.

I have a pair of jointed stirrups and personally hate them. I need a lot of ankle support to have relief and the jointed stirrups just won't do it for me. Every person is different though... all you can do is try them. I know a lot of people like them....Show more

By jointed do you mean the ones like the sprenger ones with the rubber connection in the middle? If so couldn't recommend them enough, you really do notice the difference. I don't really need them anymore, but during my teenage years I got very stiff knees and ankles due to growing very quickly and riding could be very painful, but I really noticed the difference with those types of stirrups, you really do feel the extra bit of give they give you and they are so comfy. They are rather expensive, but they IMO they are worth it. I don't know how effective they will be in hip pain - as it's a different part of the leg to the knee and ankle that rely more on the stirrup - but they definitely helped me....Show more

I use to be that way and I found a simple answer for me I however use to ride western not English. I found out my right leg is longer than the other forcing the right side of my body to take the brunt of my wieght. Is that a thought. If your sturrups are the same on both sides maybe measurements are wrong. I am no way a doctor, but It was a horse trader that put me on the trail to my problem. I lengthened one sturrup until i felt comfortable and have since. If one side of the body is getting a harder work out you will be in pain. My pain included my ankle, knee, hip and back. I hope this helps

I have never used jointed irons, so can not comment...Show more

Yeah the Herm Sprenger ones are good. I'll post a link to another type of stirrups that I am interested in getting myself and they may help.

A saddle that doesn't fit the rider can also cause pain like this so maybe take it to your local tack shop and have them see if it fits you!...Show more