Have you found yourself turning down opportunities to do fun things that you normally enjoy, such as hiking or playing sports with friends? Do you find yourself having to go home early often because of hip or knee pain? If you’re nodding your head “yes” to either of these questions, physical therapy may be a great option for you. It’s time to stop saying no to living the life you desire.
We want to help you get back to your regular routine, so be sure to contact our office for a consultation with a licensed physical therapist, and learn how we can help relieve your pain!
A little about your hips and knees…
Knee pain is actually the second most common cause of chronic pain. Failing to address this kind of pain can cause huge issues in your life and keep you from doing things you love doing. Your knee consists of several ligaments and muscles, and it’s a pretty complex body part. Needless to say, if it’s bothering you, it’s a good idea to get checked out before your pain becomes a bigger issue.
Your hip joint consists of two parts: the femoral head and the acetabulum. The femoral head is the round, “ball-shaped” piece of a bone, and the acetabulum is the socket the femoral head fits into. Ligaments connect the femoral head to the acetabulum. Just like the knees, hips are complex, and both types of pain can affect people at any age.
The hips and knees are the largest joints in your body. They work closely with each other for optimum mobility and to support your body’s weight.
Needless to say, they have a pretty big job to do, so it’s important they’re performing at their best.
Physical therapy for hip and knee pain
If any of the conditions or symptoms above apply to you, it’s a good idea for you to see a physical therapist for a comprehensive evaluation. Your therapist can look at your gait, palpate, range of motion measurements, and run a series of mobility tests to form a custom treatment plan for your hip or knee pain.
Maybe you have a friend who has been in physical therapy before, so you might be thinking your experience will be similar to theirs. This isn’t true! Not all treatment plans are created quite the same. Different issues might require other kinds of therapy, such as heat or ice therapy, exercises, and ultrasound therapy. Research shows that joint mobilization techniques can help with long and short-term ailments involving the hip. Even better — there is usually improvement with overall mobility as well!
Your therapist will keep you on track to alleviating your hip and knee pain through weekly visits. Eventually as you begin to meet your targets and goals, you will have to come into the office occasionally for check-ups and to monitor your condition. It’s important to remember that physical therapy is 100% safe and natural; your therapist’s goal will always be to have you feeling better when you leave the office than when you arrived!
Causes of hip pain
If you’ve felt pain in your groin area or right inside your hip, there might be issues with your hip joint. If the pain is on the outside of your hip, it probably is due to issues with your tendons, muscles, and ligaments. It might even be hard for you to stand up if you experience hip pain, which can be a real issue because it will cause you to be inactive.
Hip pain can also be a result of the following conditions:
- Sciatica
- Hip fracture
- Sprains
- Osteoarthritis
- Bursitis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Causes of knee pain
Knee pain is very common, and it can also be a direct side effect of any number of injuries or diseases. It can also come about as a result of a car accident, a bad fall, or a sports related injury. People of any age can experience knee pain; it certainly does not discriminate!
Some of the most commonly experienced types of knee pain include:
- Fractures around the knee
- Anterior injuries
- Osteoarthritis
- Overuse (for example: too much running on rough, hard ground)
- Ligament strains and sprains
- Gout
Knee pain can affect your overall mobility as well as reduce your strength and affect muscle control. Having your condition assessed early on can save you a lifetime of pain. It can also prevent you from having to undergo painful, expensive surgeries.
Contact our clinic today for more information
If you’re suffering from hip or knee pain, make sure you contact us to schedule a consultation with one of our skilled and attentive physical therapists. They can help reduce or even eliminate your pain so that you can go back to living a normal life! We’re excited to see you and to help you get started with your recovery journey.
