The hip may seem like a simple joint, but it is actually a very complex ball and socket joint that moves in many directions.
There are muscles that attach the legs to the pelvis and to your low back and even muscles traveling from the hip to the knee.
And between all of these muscles and inside the joint we have ligaments, tendons, bursas, nerves, and blood vessels! No wonder hip pain is common, yet debilitating.
But don’t worry, there are Physical Therapists trained to help. In fact, Hip Physical Therapy is one of the best treatment options for your pain and limitations.
Physical Therapy Can Treat Various Hip Conditions
Hip pain can come on for several different reasons. From accidents or injuries, from a systemic disease or chronic inflammation, or from repetitive stress over time.
Some common causes of hip pain treated by Physical Therapy are:
- Arthritic conditions
Such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or degenerative joint disease. - Total Hip Replacement
Physical Therapy can begin before surgery to help improve outcomes and then resume after surgery to help you heal properly. - Femoroacetabular impingement
More commonly known as hip impingement syndrome. - Instability
When the hip joint is overstretched, moves too much, or is not strong enough for you to use properly. - Labral tears
A tear of the labrum inside of your joint which can also lead to impingement syndrome or instability of the hip.
- Bursitis
Inflammation of fluid filled sacs that help to make movement of the hip smooth. Trochanteric bursitis is one of the most common, however, bursas are found all over the hip joint! - Tendinitis
Inflammation of tendons of the hip joint. This can happen to any tendon, but is common in the hip flexor tendon. - Hip fracture
Fractures can occur at any point along the femur or pelvis, greatly affecting the hip and how you can walk and move around. Sometimes surgery is needed to stabilize the fracture. But whether you have surgery or not, Physical Therapy will help you to gain your strength, mobility, and ability to walk again.
