Physical Therapy Exercises for Hip Pain
The hip joint is one of the body’s largest joints that forms a hinge between the pelvis and thigh bone. Hip pain may result from simple wear and tear, but an injury can also cause it.
Seeing a doctor about sudden or ongoing hip pain is essential to find its source and relieve the discomfort. Back 2 Health offers various treatment options that can help with hip pain.
Physical Therapy for Hip Pain
Physical therapy is a non-surgical treatment option that decreases pain, increases mobility, and improves flexibility and strength of the hip joint. A physical therapist analyzes hip, low back, and leg functions to assess the origin of the hip pain.
The physical therapist assesses a patient’s gait, balance, range of motion, and strength to assess if the pain is due to injury or a muscle imbalance. The therapist also examines the hip to evaluate the construction of the hip and regulate the source of pain and swelling.
Physical therapy for hip pain includes:
● Manual therapy.
● An exercise conditioning program.
● Stretching and strengthening exercises.
● Balance and gait training.
A therapist uses various modalities to address pain in the hip, ice to reduce swelling and pain, heat to relax the muscles and stimulate blood flow to accelerate healing, ultrasound to deeply heat, penetrate, and relax deeper soft tissues, and TENS unit to relax tight muscles and improve blood flow to the joint.
Causes of Hip pain
Here are some of the conditions that cause hip pain:
● Arthritis: Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are among the most causes of hip pain, especially in older adults. Arthritis is due to the cartilage breakdown that cushions your hip bones. The pain gradually gets worse. People with arthritis also encounter rigidity and have a decreased range of motion in the hip.
● Hip fracture: With age, the bones can become weak. Weakened bones are more expectedly to break during a fall.
● Bursitis: bursae are sacs of liquid found between tissues such as bone, muscle, and tendons. When inflamed, they can cause pain. Inflammation of the bursae is due to repetitive activities that overwork or irritate the hip joint.
● Tendinitis: Tendons are the thick bands of tissue that link bones to muscles. Tendinitis is swelling or irritation of the tendons.
● Muscle or tendon strain: Repeated activities can pressure the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that support the hips. When inflamed due to overuse, they can cause pain and usually prevent the hip from working.
● Avascular necrosis: It happens when blood flow to the hip bone slows, and the bone tissue dies. Although it can affect other bones, avascular necrosis often occurs in the hip. A hip fracture or dislocation can cause it.
Hip Pain Symptoms & Treatment
Hip pain may be a sharp pain. You might notice pain in the hip joint or the muscles where the thigh bones meet the pelvis.
See a doctor if you have:
- Intense pain
- A joint bulge or another deformity
- A hip that won’t support your weight
- An incapacity to move the leg or hip
- Pain with chills, fever, or other signs of possible infection
Treatment:
- Injections and infusions: Some medications can be injected into the hip to treat your pain. These include corticosteroids to reduce inflammation. Medicines are delivered intravenously or directly into the muscles with infusion therapy to reduce inflammation.
- Lifestyle modifications: We may ask you to modify your daily routine, such as losing weight, performing a low-impact exercise to reduce stress on your hip, and using a cane.
- Pain Medications: Over-the-counter pain relievers are commonly used to ease hip pain. We may also suggest other prescription medications.
- Physical therapy: Rehabilitative medicine and exercise programs can stretch and strengthen the muscles and soft tissues of your hip joint to improve flexibility and hip support. Changing how you perform daily activities may also help alleviate hip pain by limiting the excessive strain on your hip. This can be aided by therapeutics and other apparel specially designed for hip pain.
Sometimes pain from other body areas, such as the back, can radiate to the hip. You might notice that your pain worsens with activity, mainly if it’s caused by arthritis. Along with the pain, you might have decreased range of motion. Some people evolve a shuffle from constant hip pain.
If the hip condition becomes severe, hip surgery becomes severe; hip surgery may be required. A physical therapist plays a critical role in preparing a patient for surgery and post-surgery rehabilitation to ensure a safe recovery and restored function of the repaired hip.
What to expect from physical therapy for hip pain
Your first visit to physical therapy for hip pain begins with an initial evaluation. This is essential to ensure correct diagnosis and management. The physical therapist will interview you to gather information about the history of your problem, the aggravating and relieving factors, and past medical history that may contribute to the overall situation.
- Gait evaluation: A gait evaluation assesses how you are walking. Physical therapists are trained to notice minor changes in the hip during different phases of walking. Your physical therapist may also perform a video gait analysis to identify nuances in your gait that may lead to your pain.
- Palpation: This involves using the hands to touch various structures around the hip to feel for abnormalities or to assess if a network is painful to touch.
- Range of motion: Measurements refers to how far your hip is bending, straightening, or rotating. The physical therapist may use special instruments to measure how the hip joint moves to help direct treatment.
- Strength measurements: There are many muscular attachments around the hip, and a measure of strength can help determine if muscular weakness or imbalance is causing your hip pain.
- Functional mobility tests: Your physical therapist may watch you walk, climb stairs, or run to determine how your hip pain affects your overall mobility.
After the initial evaluation, you and your physical therapist can initiate a treatment plan for your hip. The therapist may use heat or ice to help with inflammation.
The hip is a major weight-bearing joint in the body and is responsible for many functional activities. Pain in your hip may limit your activities. Are you experiencing persistent help pain? Call your physical therapist today to address hip pain early on and regain hip function.
